The world has two big challenges at the moment. The first is global warming, and the second is that the first one should be checked. For that, the widespread use of EVs is the cardinal step. China, which has another problem of not having any gasoline reserves, smartly has spent more than USD 30 billion to push the case of EVs by way of subsidies and other incentives.
The result is that Beijing, which used to choke earlier, is getting its healthy lungs back. More than 30% of all automobiles in China are running on electric power, except for luxury EVs which are piling up and moving slowly globally.
In India, Mercedes EQE, BMW iX, and Audi Q8 e-tron are hard sell today, and what is sold has lost way more value than its ICE counterpart in the after-sales market. Keeping all the above scenarios in mind, the Audi Q6 e-tron comes with a full tank of oxygen with the right shape, design, tech, range, driving dynamics and, hopefully, at the price point that will move the sales needle.
Today, consumers are nervous about getting a luxury green number plate that costs beyond one Crore. On the one hand, the Volvo C-40 recharge is of great value at the Rs 55 Lakh mark, and the ring is open with no luxury players stretching its range to touch the Rs 75-85 Lakh price point. This is the sweet spot that Audi is aiming for with its Q6 e-tron, which will be available in a few months.
It's a salivating tech proposition that should electrify Audi's portfolio and give the e-tron the muscle power it needs to clear the haystack on its road to electrification. The Q4 e-tron, which is already selling in other markets, does not make for a great price offering after taxes, and it will outprice itself for India, given the current scenario.
DESIGN & TECH
This story is from the July 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
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This story is from the July 2024 edition of BBC TopGear India.
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