German luxury car maker Audi has launched the flagship SUV Q8 — a facelift version — with a petrol powertrain at a price point that is higher than the electric counterpart.

While the new Audi Q8 starts at a price of ₹1.17 crore, the Q8 etron 50, which is the EV counterpart of the Q8 is priced at ₹1.14 crore.

The sales split between the petrol and EV models of Q8 hovers around 65:35 in favour of petrol, said Audi India head Balbir Singh Dhillon at a function in New Delhi last week to commemorate the milestone of selling 100,000 Audis in the country.

The company, which has six EVs in its portfolio, has no plans of hybrids for India market, though its global portfolio has plug-in hybrids.

The global strategy is to move from ICE to electric, and it will stop rolling out ICE vehicles in 2033.

“In the next 10 years, we will become a fully electric company. Audi India too will follow similar transitions,” said Dhillon.

The company’s next-generation platform is the PPE: “The Q6 etron and the A6 etron will be based on this platform.”

The company has brought electric vehicles only in SUVs and sports cars.

Asked on electric powertrains in sedans and entry-level vehicles, Dhillon said: “We have tested electrics in SUVs and sports cars. In our space, SUVs are growing strong. Now our sales comprise 60 per cent of SUVs.”

On the prices of Q8 and Q8 etron 50, Dhillon said: “Both of these cars are close to each other in terms of price. We already had this car in the outgoing model too. And we were selling the ICE vehicle more. About 60 to 65 per cent of our customers bought the ICE version of the Q8.”

The company is evaluating launching the Q6 etron, which it showcased at the function. “We are still mulling over the price at this stage. We plan to bring it in Q1 of next year,” said Dhillon. The company now has six EVs in its portfolio including q8 etron gt, etron
gt rs.

Having overcome it’s supply chain glitches, Audi is poised for a double digit growth this year.

“The luxury market is set to grow in double digits. In the first half of the calendar year, it grew 8 per cent. In the second half, hopefully, it will touch the double digit,” said Dhillon.

“How we do in the long run will depend on how the industry moves and the availability of products. We are fairly confident that whatever shortfall we had in the first six months this year because of supply chain issues, we will overcome in the second half,” he said.