Audi to Phase Out Internal Combustion Engines by 2023

Audi recently made big headlines by claiming to be done producing new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2026. That doesn’t mean Audi will stop building cars with engines in 2026 but it will stop introducing new models with piston engines by that date. However, Audi has now announced that there’s a date when Audi will stop selling internal combustion engine cars — 2033.

According to this new announcement, Audi will slowly phase out internal combustion engines starting in 2026 and will eventually end in 2033. Which makes that date the date in which Audi will become a fully-electric manufacturer.

“Audi is ready to make its decisive and powerful move into the electric age.” said Audi CEO Markus Duesmann.

“Through our innovative strength, we offer individuals sustainable and carbon-neutral mobility options,” Duesmann continued. “I don’t believe in the success of bans. I believe in the success of technology and innovation.”

Customer demand for gas engines will continue in a few markets, most notably China, which is why they will still be sold until 2033. However, Audi has a roadmap for the piston-engine’s extinction and it plans on sticking to it.

“With this roadmap, we are creating the clarity necessary to make a decisive and powerful transition to the electric age. We’re sending the signal that Audi is ready,” said Duesmann

What’s interesting about this news is that it falls on the same day Audi announced the specs of its latest RS3 performance car, which uses the latest version of its most iconic engine configuration– the turbocharged five-cylinder. With 401 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the Audi RS3 makes more power than ever before from its gas engine and it’s being celebrated by Audi enthusiasts worldwide. So to hear that it could be the very last one is bittersweet. On one hand, Audi is moving into the electric future, and should be making some great new cars in the process, but on the other, we’re going to lose some great engines over the next decade.