Audi Vigorously Stirs Rumors of Electric Car, US Chief Says it’s a Bad Idea
Just ahead of the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show, Audi is sending out *extremely* mixed signals on how involved it’s going to get in the development and production of electric cars. In the wake of the proclamation by Audi US President, Johan de Nysschen, that the Chevy Volt “is for idiots” and that electric cars are a mistake in general, Audi has just released a barrage of videos teasing about the power of electricity and hinting that they will be developing an electric car.
So which one is it Audi? Are you for or against EVs? Or is it that you just want to appear to be for EVs so that you can tame the “elite intellectual” crowd that you so heavily rely upon, while secretly being against? Perhaps a bit of nefarious greenwashing?
- » See also: Is the Renault-Nissan Alliance Going in Two Different Electric Car Directions?
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Whatever the case, some of the videos are humorous and some are just for the “shock” factor (sorry). You can watch them all over at Audi’s electricityuntamed.com site, but I especially like the one below.
In the past, Audi has been cagey about their EV intentions. My guess is that they will show off some kind of EV concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show, but that all it is is a hollow attempt to get on the EV bandwagon and convince their demographic that they are doing the right thing. Right now the best candidate for an Audi electric concept seems to the R8, pictured above.
The comments by Johan de Nysschen indicate that the high level management at Audi doesn’t care for EVs at all, which is an excellent indication of how serious the company is about EVs as a whole.
Source and Image Credit: Audi
Well if they are wrong and all of the other car makers do make the switch, it will be bad for Audi because they will be the last and frowned upon. They will be forced to rush something and might loose the reputation they have built up over the decades.
He did not say that electric cars are a mistake. Read carefully and analyze before you write.
With this promising health reform combined with a balancing function for price inflation in operation, Chevy Volt, too, is earning competitive edge in price along the way, together with Nissan Leaf.
I for one believe that the U.S. will lead the way in an EV field as the meaningful investing in a battery tech was made.
Even excellent hybrid cars and modern diesels are not comparable to EVs in light of fuel economy as the current fuel price went beyond the level of these autos and they failed to overcome this great recession, I guess.
Overall, It is solidly believed that Nissan Leaf and GM Volt are saving the world.
What a weird situation for Audi…it’s like they are truly missing a common vision from the “top” regarding EVs….there’s got to be more to the story.
I took de Nysschen’s “idiot” comment about the Volt as being a “sour grapes” attitude: since Audi doesn’t have a competitor to the Volt, he chose to put it down until they get their act together…this would be a classic dismissive marketing move. I personally see the Volt competing for Audi customer dollars because of the unique, cool, and practical allure of the car…maybe they do too.
I thought their “website” (http://www.electricityuntamed.com/) was about as lame as you could get…it’s just a Flash based page of fluff with their kinda-amusing videos. So maybe they threw this together to counter the Volt comment? Audi HAS to be very aware of the advantages of EVs even though they’re pushing diesels. There’s only so far they can take denial…especially when the country they’re from (Germany) is leading the world on Renewable Energy adoption (Wind+PV = Watts…not diesel).