Audi CEO Gernot Döllner told Wirtschaftswoche that “EV is simply better technology.” The brand backs the EU ban on new combustion cars from 2035 and is betting on the SSP platform plus an electric A4.
In a forceful interview, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed: “EV is simply better technology.” For automotive enthusiasts, that is a clear signal that Audi’s electric transition is gathering pace.
Speaking to German magazine Wirtschaftswoche, Döllner said EVs are not only key to cutting CO₂ but simply a better technological option. He backs the EU ban on new combustion-car sales from 2035 and calls attempts to soften it “counterproductive.” Regulatory uncertainty confuses customers, and EVs remain the only realistic path to transport decarbonization.
Audi has, however, stepped back from its plan to go fully electric by 2032. Combustion engines will stay in the lineup for another 7–10 years because the market dictates the pace. EV sales fell 7.8% last year to 164,480 units, just 9.7% of total sales. Combustion models still deliver higher margins and stronger demand, so Audi is opting for flexibility: combustion engines, plug-in hybrids and full EVs.
Audi is using the Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which can, among other things, let a combustion engine act as a generator within an EV. The first fruits of that architecture could be an electric A4, planned in eight variants across different segments. Against the backdrop of the IAA Mobility Show in Munich, where the EU is reviewing the 2035 ban, Audi is siding with electrification — unlike BMW and Mercedes, which are lobbying for looser rules.
The vision combines Audi’s legendary quattro drivetrain with EV strengths: better efficiency, quieter ride and instant torque.
Looking ahead, Döllner highlights Audi’s readiness for market challenges. EV demand is softening, but the technology itself keeps gaining ground. With the SSP platform and support for the 2035 ban, Audi is building a bridge between today’s lineup and its electric future. It is not the end of the combustion era, but an evolution — and EVs lead the pack.
Sources: Gernot Döllner interview with Wirtschaftswoche and Audi sales data.
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