The electric Audi A4 E-Tron has been delayed, with production now scheduled to begin no earlier than March 2029. This timeline represents a nine-month shift from the mid-2028 target previously announced by CEO Gernot Dollner in October 2025. Reports suggest the date could potentially slip further to late April or May 2029.
The delay is attributed to technical challenges with Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). The primary issue stems from a decision to transition the platform's onboard electrical system from a 12-volt to a 48-volt standard during the development phase. This change impacted engineering processes across the entire group and its suppliers.
The SSP platform, originally announced in July 2021, is now trailing its initial 2026 launch deadline by approximately three years. Volkswagen has also reduced the number of planned SSP variants from eight to four. Other models, including the electric Golf and T-Roc, face potential delays into 2030, while SSP vehicles utilizing Rivian technology are expected by the end of the decade.
Despite the setbacks, the A4 E-Tron remains planned as both a saloon and an Avant model, drawing design inspiration from the Concept C. For the remainder of the decade, Audi will continue to rely on its existing MEB and PPE electric vehicle platforms, as the transition to the SSP architecture has been significantly postponed.
