This marks Audi’s first locally assembled electric vehicle, potentially leading to competitive pricing. It also represents a significant milestone in the brand’s strategic plans for India moving forward.
The Audi Q6 e-tron is set to be Audi’s third electric vehicle in India, with a planned launch by the end of 2024. The vehicle will be assembled locally from CKD kits at the Skoda Auto-VW Aurangabad plant, marking Audi’s inaugural locally assembled EV in India. This strategic move is expected to position the Q6 e-tron at a competitive price point, significantly impacting Audi’s regional growth strategy. The Q6 e-tron was already observed during testing in India under ARAI evaluation before production commences.
Positioned between the Q8 e-tron and the overseas Q4 e-tron, the Q6 e-tron’s anticipated price of about Rs 85 lakh introduces a new bracket in the luxury EV market in India, a segment not yet explored by other luxury brands. In contrast, smaller luxury EVs such as the BMW iX1 and Mercedes EQA are priced lower, while larger models exceed Rs 1 crore.
Audi will offer a dual-motor Quattro AWD variant of the Q6 e-tron with 285kW (388hp) and a range of 625km from a 100kWh battery, alongside a single-motor 2WD version with 240kW (326hp), providing a range of 641km. A smaller battery variant is also rumoured, although the higher-spec 285kW Quattro variant is more likely to be released in India, given past preferences.
Furthermore, the more powerful SQ6 e-tron is expected in early 2025, with a price of around Rs 1.1 crore and enhanced features for performance enthusiasts. An even more potent RS Q6 e-tron is anticipated, though details about its introduction to India remain unclear.
Looking ahead, Audi plans to introduce the Q6 Sportback e-tron, a coupé SUV version of the Q6 e-tron, and later the A6 e-tron sedan, which will utilize the same PPE platform. This sedan is not intended to replace the current petrol A6 but will instead complement Audi’s evolving lineup as part of a restructured model naming strategy, with even numbers designated for EVs and odd numbers for ICE models.
