Volkswagen is postponing the launch of its electric Audi A4 E-tron, which is now expected to arrive no earlier than 2029. This decision follows the earlier delay of the all-electric Golf, which is currently pushed back to 2030 due to ongoing cost-cutting measures at the company's Wolfsburg plant.
The manufacturer is struggling to meet internal financial targets, reporting an operating loss of €5,9 billion in the third quarter. The Wolfsburg facility alone is reportedly €300 million short of its current cost-reduction goals, forcing the brand to re-evaluate its development timelines for models based on the Scalable Systems Platform.
Technical requirements for the Audi A4 E-tron also contributed to the delay. Audi requested modifications to the SSP platform, including a 48V electrical system and a battery repositioning to accommodate specific footwell designs. These changes deviate from the original plans for the platform, which was intended to serve as a unified architecture.
To address software development challenges, Volkswagen formed a joint venture with Rivian to create a next-generation electrical architecture. While the company previously aimed to reduce R&D costs by 30% compared to the MEB platform, the transition to the new SSP architecture has faced significant delays and budget pressures.
