Audi Defers Global Launch Of All-Electric e-Tron SUV

In the wake of Audi CEO Rupert Stadler's arrest a few days ago over the 'Dieselgate' Scandal, the German luxury automaker that was due to hold its annual 'Audi Summit' in August 2018 has postponed the annual event. The 2018 Audi Summit was also where the brand new all-electric Audi e-Tron SUV was supposed to make its official (and long awaited) global debut. Incidentally, the Audi e-Tron SUV will also be the first all-electric production car from the German luxury automaker and Audi has already received thousands of pre-bookings for the SUV even before an official debut. In a communiqué sent by the automaker, an Audi spokesperson said, "Today, we decided to cancel the Audi Summit on August 30 and 31, 2018, in Brussels due to organizational reasons. The Summit will take place on a later occasion in the United States."

Also Read: Production Ready Audi e-Tron Electric SUV Spied

(Audi E-Tron Spotted With Production-Ready Parts)

Moving the summit to the United States could also be a strategic move for the automaker since the Volkswagen 'Dieselgate' scandal first came to light due to third party testing of a range of Volkswagen group cars in the United States. The (diesel) cars, from brands like Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche were found to be letting out far more than the allowed levels of pollutants from tailpipe emissions - including CO, NOX and particulate matter. Since the scandal broke in 2015, the fines resulting from this have already exceeded well over 30 Billion Dollars globally and have since led to the arrest of prominent automotive figures like Audi's CEO - Rupert Stadler.

(Audi E-Tron Spotted With Production-Ready Parts)

The Volkswagen group has been scrambling to change its image since the scandal with a surge of electric mobility solutions being offered across the board. The introduction of the Audi e-Tron all-electric SUV is a move towards that 'new' Volkswagen which has plans to become the largest electric car maker in the world and to have an electric or electrified (hybrid in some form) variant of every single car it offers across the world. While the electric push in the form of the I.D. range of cars for Volkswagen and the e-Tron range of cars from Audi continues, the group is also pushing hard to make a mark in motorsport - but with an electric twist too, with the likes of the new outright record at the Pikes Peak hill climb.