The Electric A4 Is Paying the Price
With Volkswagen facing financial and structural challenges, it comes as no surprise that certain projects are getting delayed. One of these is the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), the Group’s next-generation electric vehicle platform, similar in concept to BMW’s Neue Klasse. As such, one of the first models expected to use SSP, the Audi A4 e-tron, has reportedly been pushed back from 2028 to 2029.
Germany’s Handelsblatt, citing sources within the Volkswagen Group, said the delay is caused by several factors, including technical problems, internal coordination delays, and cost-cutting pressure. With the postponement, Audi would be left without an entry in the all-electric compact luxury sedan segment for longer, as BMW and Mercedes-Benz prepare their i3 and electric C-Class, respectively.
BMW
Rivals Are Already Cashing In
The BMW i3 began production in August 2026 and is set to arrive in the U.S. in 2027. Meanwhile, the Mercedes-Benz electric C-Class is also making its way stateside next year. Notably, both models are underpinned by next-generation EV platforms, namely BMW’s Neue Klasse and Mercedes-Benz’s MB.EA.
As for the Audi A4 e-tron, production was originally scheduled to begin in mid-2028 but is now reportedly expected to start in March 2029 at the earliest, with insiders suggesting late April or early May. That could give the i3 and electric C-Class roughly a three-year head start, without a direct electric rival from Audi.
In addition to the A4 e-tron, other models planned to use SSP include the Volkswagen ID. Golf and ID. Roc – both of which are now reportedly expected no earlier than 2030.
Mercedes-Benz
Adapting on the Fly
Given the challenging circumstances, including the development of new software and electronics with Rivian, Volkswagen has scaled back SSP by cutting the planned platform variants from eight to four.
For now, many Volkswagen EVs continue to use the MEB platform, whose updated MEB+ architecture helps make affordable EVs possible, including the ID. Polo, which has a starting price of 24,995 euros (about $28,700 at current exchange rates). The recently unveiled Mission Efficiency prototype – which VW claims has the lowest drag coefficient of any road-approved car – also uses MEB+ components and shows promise in terms of EV efficiency. Porsche and Audi, meanwhile, use the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture designed for high-performance EVs.
2020 Audi A4
Audi
