Audi unveils compact A2 e-tron

Audi has introduced the A2 e-tron, a compact electric vehicle that could help the German automaker regain ground in Europe as competition from more affordable Chinese models intensifies.

The new model revives the A2 nameplate from the early 2000s, this time with an electric powertrain. Audi presented the vehicle to journalists in Paris on 7 September as it seeks to reverse two consecutive years of declining global sales.

According to Audi, the A2 e-tron consumes 12.8 kilowatt-hours of electricity per 100 kilometers, making it the most energy-efficient model in the company’s history. It also has a claimed maximum driving range of 646 kilometers on a full charge.

Production will take place at Audi’s Ingolstadt factory in Germany, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in December.

Audi chief executive Gernot Doellner said European buyers increasingly need smaller vehicles that consume less energy.

“In Europe, we need compact and efficient cars for the future,” Doellner told Reuters during the presentation.

The introduction comes at a difficult period for Audi, which is part of the Volkswagen Group. Its global sales fell seven percent during the first half of 2026 as competition in China and US tariffs affected demand.

Volkswagen is also reviewing its manufacturing operations after its supervisory board approved extensive job cuts in September to address excess production capacity and pressure from Chinese competitors.

Audi’s Neckarsulm factory in southwestern Germany is among four Volkswagen Group plants that face possible closure after 2030.

Doellner acknowledged that no new vehicle has been allocated to the Neckarsulm facility beyond 2034. He said Audi would work with union representatives to find ways to improve the factory’s operations.

The A2 e-tron gives Audi another entry in Europe’s compact electric vehicle market, where price and energy efficiency have become important considerations among buyers.

Audi has not announced pricing or plans to introduce the A2 e-tron in the Philippines.