During the recent Capital Markets Day presentation, Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group, did not mince words when expressing his dissatisfaction with Audi’s performance. Blume openly criticized the luxury brand, citing severe software problems that have resulted in delays for Audi’s electric vehicle (EV) lineup. Furthermore, he highlighted Audi’s lack of competitiveness in the crucial Chinese market, which has led to a significant decline in sales.
Blume’s comments shed light on the challenges faced by Audi in delivering its highly anticipated electric products. The software issues have caused setbacks for multiple premium EVs, forcing the automaker to revise its launch timeline. For instance, the introduction of Audi’s EV offering, originally slated for 2024, has now been delayed until 2027. Bentley, another brand under the Volkswagen Group umbrella, has also faced setbacks, with their EV version postponed until approximately 2030 instead of the initial target of 2025.
