Audi is working on an all-new model that will challenge the electric versions of the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The brand will launch this next-generation vehicle, dubbed the A4 E-Tron, in 2028.

The new Audi A4 will be fully electric

The new A4 E-Tron is set to launch with a striking design inspired by Audi’s Concept C, an all-new platform, and advanced software infrastructure. The model is expected to offer a range of around 800 kilometers.

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed the development of the electric A4 in a statement to Autocar, describing the launch as “part of the biggest transformation” in the company’s history.

To combat declining sales and rising costs, Audi is transforming its product line, design language, and corporate structure into a fully software-driven electric vehicle manufacturer. As part of this effort, the brand has withdrawn its controversial model naming strategy, phased out unprofitable models, and cut thousands of employees to reduce costs.

The A4 E-Tron is built on the Volkswagen Group’s SSP (Scalable Systems Platform). This platform will form the basis for new models from the group’s brands, including the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia, and Cupra Tindaya SUV, starting in 2028.

This means the A4 E-Tron will be significantly different technically from the current A6 E-Tron, which uses the Audi-Porsche-developed PPE platform. The SSP platform offers more advanced technology, longer range, and greater efficiency.

The new SSP platform represents a significant step forward in both hardware and software infrastructure. Audi is using this platform as the basis for a new software architecture developed in collaboration with Rivian.

This system, developed in partnership with Volkswagen Group and Rivian, will first appear on the Volkswagen ID.1 model, due to be released in 2027, but Audi will be the first brand to fully integrate Rivian’s software.