Audi targets sharper design, streamlined structures and balanced EV-ICE mix to stay competitive
07 Sep 2025 | 3592 Views | By Ketan Thakkar
Audi is entering a new transformation phase. CEO Gernot Döllner outlines a strategy built around portfolio renewal, organisational clarity, and a sharper design identity to reinforce the brand’s position in the premium automotive market.
Over the past two years, the company has launched 20 new models, spanning internal combustion ...
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Audi is entering a new transformation phase. CEO Gernot Döllner outlines a strategy built around portfolio renewal, organisational clarity, and a sharper design identity to reinforce the brand’s position in the premium automotive market.
Over the past two years, the company has launched 20 new models, spanning internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids, battery-electric vehicles, and RS and S performance lines.
By the end of this year, Audi expects to have the youngest portfolio in the premium sector, positioning it firmly against rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz and fast-growing EV entrants from China.
Döllner said Audi’s new guiding principle is clarity — in products, processes, and governance. “In a world that is getting increasingly complex, our answer is clarity. Portfolio, processes, and structures will focus on the essential, creating space for innovation and technological leadership,” he said.
As part of this direction, Audi has introduced a new design philosophy under Massimo Fraschella, focusing on simplified digital interactions, refined materials, and purposeful innovation. Future models are expected to emphasise usability and emotion without overwhelming customers with technology.
Against this backdrop, Audi unveiled the Concept C, an all-electric sports car that serves as the first physical expression of its new design language. Döllner positioned it not as a standalone showpiece but as a preview of how Audi intends to combine performance, innovation, and clarity across its upcoming lineup.
The transformation comes at a critical time for premium carmakers. Global EV adoption has slowed in Europe and the US, Chinese manufacturers are intensifying competition, and regulatory pressures are tightening. Audi’s strategy of balancing volume stability through ICE and hybrids with scale-building in EVs is designed to mitigate these risks while ensuring long-term growth.
With its refreshed portfolio, streamlined structures, and new design identity, Döllner said Audi is preparing for what he described as a once-in-a-generation transformation. The Concept C illustrates the design and product direction, but the broader shift — renewing the portfolio and reshaping the company — is at the heart of Audi’s new chapter.