---
title: "Audi’s Electric Slide: Three New EV Models by 2020"
description: "The ongoing electrification of Audi's model lineup got a big boost today at the company's annual press conference in Germany, where Chairman Rupert Stadler confirmed the companies plans to follow up next year's E-Tron Quattro SUV and Tesla Model X-fighter with two more electric models."
date: "2017-03-16"
modified: "2021-09-13"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/8351/audis-electric-slide-three-new-ev-models-by-2020"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Audi"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "EV News"
  - "Volkswagen Group"
---

# Audi’s Electric Slide: Three New EV Models by 2020

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The ongoing electrification of Audi's model lineup got a big boost yesterday at the company's annual press conference in Germany, [where Chairman Rupert Stadler confirmed](<https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-sets-strategic-path-in-challenging-year-2016-7430>) the companies plans to follow up next year's E-Tron Quattro SUV and Tesla Model X-fighter with two more electric models - possibly including a compact car to go head to head with BMW's i3. The moves are part of a larger plan by Volkswagen Group to bring electric power to over 30 models across its platforms by 2025, with its flagship luxury brand leading the charge.

The model range will likely be built around the E-Tron name, currently used to denote hybrids in the company's lineup, as Audi sales and marketing head Dr. Dietmar Voggenreiter [confirmed to Top Gear](<https://www.topgear.com/car-news/detroit-motor-show/audis-fully-electric-suv-coming>) in January. He likened it to the introduction of the "Quattro" nameplate for a single model in the 1980s that spread to identify every all wheel drive Audi.

While companies like Tesla have a clear edge in the electric car market so far, Audi claims to be developing technology that could quickly close the gap, including wireless charging, solar-paneled roofs and four wheel steering. In a bit of put down to their American rival, though, Voggenreiter [told Autocar](<https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/audi-e-tron-electric-suv-arrive-2018-310-mile-range>) that they are "the first real premium manufacturer doing a premium electric SUV" - a statement that also ignores the Jaguar I-Pace, also set to launch next year.

In an interview earlier this week at the Geneva Auto Show, Stadler claimed another advantage, pointing to their ability to work with VW's new modular EV platform, which also underpins the retro microbus-inspired ID Buzz concept [unveiled earlier this year.](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/6859/the-vw-i-d-buzz-concept-is-the-electric-microbus-of-tomorrow>)

The push is especially important in the wake of Dieselgate, as the VW Group struggles to rebuild its identity and goodwill with the public. Before detailing Audi's efforts to retrain its workforce and build the quick-charging infrastructure necessary to support electric vehicles, [Stadler acknowledged](<https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/audi-sets-strategic-path-in-challenging-year-2016-7430>) the elephant in the room.

"2016 was a very challenging year for our company," he said.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)