Audi India will focus on local production, plans to sell affordable EVs in the domestic market

Audi India, a luxury automaker, intends to begin assembling EVs locally. Because fewer cars will be purchased, the company will be able to increase the number of people who use its services across the nation. 

In the Indian auto market, the carmaker currently offers the Q8 50 e-tron, Q8 55 e-tron, Q8 Sportback 50 e-tron, Q8 Sportback 55 e-tron, e-tron GT, and RS e-tron GT. These days, the majority of these cars are imported. Nonetheless, the company uses its Aurangabad, Maharashtra, facility to assemble petrol models such as the Q3, Q3 Sportsback, Q5, Q7, A4, and A6.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Audi India chief Balbir Singh Dhillon said that local manufacturing of EVs is in development and the same is being actively discussed with the global headquarters. They said-

We are working very positively with Audi AG and hopefully at some point we will be able to announce it (local assembly of EV models).

Asked about the expected timeline for the start of the process, Dhillon did not share any specific date but said the India unit is in very "positive" discussions on the matter with the global headquarters. "Hopefully at some point, we'll have some solutions. That's the time when you can reach even more (groups of customers) because that's when you'll get the best value in terms of price point," he said.

Currently, cars imported into India as completely built units (CBUs) attract customs duties ranging from 60 per cent to 100 per cent. The country's customs system treats electric cars and hydrocarbon-powered vehicles equally and imposes significant tariffs to encourage domestic manufacturing. Globally, Audi is looking to introduce several electric models in the next 2-3 years, many of which will also come to India, helping the Indian operations choose which ones to localise.