Audi A8 discontinued, new flagship Q9

Audi has officially stopped production of the Audi A8 at its Neckarsulm factory in Germany. The last vehicle rolled off the assembly line in mid-October, closing the 32-year story at the facility. But the brand is not withdrawing from the luxury sedan segment; Successor arrives before 2030.

32 years of production for the Audi A8 has ended

According to Auto Motor and Sport, the last A8 was produced in October. The model debuted in 1994 as the D2 generation. It rivaled the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series with its aluminum-dense structure and Space Frame technology. Thus, the model became Audi's representative in this class.

The D5 chassis of the model, which developed over four generations and was introduced in 2017, saw a facelift in 2021. Audi stopped individual orders in Germany in February. Therefore, production continued for several more months after order closing.

The vacant assembly capacity will be used for the A5 Sedan, A5 Avant and their S and RS versions. Because the demand for luxury sedans is not as high as before. The S-Class and 7 Series continue, but the Lexus LS in the segment will also bid farewell soon.

Audi A8 successor coming before 2030

Model line spokesman Marcel Bestle said a decision was made for a new successor at the beginning of this year. Bestle said: "The decision has been made on the successor to the A8 and we plan to introduce it towards the end of this decade. We will share more details in the future." So the Audi A8 line is not completely closed on the sedan side.

The first sedan to switch to the new design language will be the new generation electric A4. Audi gave clues to this line with models such as Concept C and Nuvolari. On the other hand, this design language will first be seen in a smaller sedan.

While there is no Audi A8, the flagship is the Q9

Until the sedan's successor arrives, the brand's top model will be the Q9. Positioned above the Q7, this large luxury SUV appeals to customers who want more space and a larger stance than a traditional sedan. According to Bestle, the Q9 will expand the portfolio at the highest point as a large full-size SUV.

Produced in Bratislava, Slovakia, the Q9 enters the three-row full-size SUV market. This segment included the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7. Q9 will fill the place that Audi has left vacant for a long time. For now, this SUV will hold the top spot vacated by the Audi A8. The sedan successor will be introduced towards the end of this decade.