Car Leasing News

Audi has stalled the import of the Q7 hybrid to the US markets, amid growing concerns for the plight of the US economy and the rapidly falling US dollar. The Audi hybrid concept was developed alongside Porsche and Volkswagen and the schedule was to bring out the Audi Q7 Hybrid in 2008. The launch was then put off until 2009 and they have now decided to abandon the idea altogether.

Audi has decided to stick with the diesel model of the Q7 for American markets. Johan de Nysschen, the head of Audi in the United States, made a case for this decision, stating that, “If you look at the way the economics are going, it was a very hard car to make the numbers work.” Speaking from the New York Auto show, De Nysschen said that although the hybrid will not go on sale in the US in the conventional sense, a few units may still be available for “commercial use”. He stated further that America had a primarily diesel market and that hybrids would be a very niche product and Audi was uncertain about stepping into a niche market at this point in time.

The Q7 diesel, will hit the markets in early 2009, although no exact price tags have been let out yet. The diesel option will probably prove to be a booster for the slumping Q7 sales.

Audi is more likely to release the Q5 hybrid in the US, which is a smaller car. Another Audi car in the offing is the A4 compact diesel which will probably debut after the Q7 diesel goes on sale. However a final decision about this is still pending as they have still to decide whether to launch this car as a V6 or a four cylinder engine.

Other Aspects:

Tags: Audi //