Audi has ended production of the A8 at Neckarsulm after 32 years, closing one of the defining chapters of the German flagship sedan. Until a successor to the A8 appears, the brand's interim flagship is the large Q9 SUV, positioned above the Q7 in the lineup — and it is produced in Bratislava, Slovakia. The handover places a Central European plant at the very top of Volkswagen Group's premium hierarchy.
With the A8 gone, Audi's top-of-the-range story is now an SUV story, and the Bratislava-built Q9 carries the flag until an A8 successor surfaces. The brand is also holding one emerging trend at arm's length: while the Volkswagen brand has confirmed it will export Chinese-made vehicles, Audi Australia says it is not looking to add models made in China to its lineup for now, keeping the four-ring marque's sourcing distinct from its sister brand's, at least in that market.
Demand-side signals are shifting as well. The BBC reports that the UK government is expected to reduce its EV targets, even as a spokesperson reiterated the commitment to phasing out new cars relying solely on petrol and diesel engines by 2030, and to 100% of new car and van sales being zero emission by 2035. For premium buyers weighing a last-of-the-line combustion flagship against an electrified successor, that regulatory wiggle room adds a layer of uncertainty. Electrification is nonetheless advancing across the market: Europe holds the world's second-largest stock of electric light commercial vehicles, at roughly 290,000 vans.
For dealers and buyers, the transition opens a narrow window. New A8 inventory is now finite, and the Q9's role as interim flagship will shape pricing at the top of Audi's range across Central and Eastern Europe. Those tracking either side of the change — hunting one of the last A8s or comparing early Q9 offers — can compare availability and prices across borders on WorldTrader24.de, where more than 70,000 vehicles are listed across Europe.
In a market where flagship formulas and EV rules are both in motion, timing a purchase matters more than ever. Readers looking for a vehicle — from outgoing flagship sedans to premium SUVs — can find sensational cars at sensational conditions at WorldTrader24, Europe's marketplace with over 70,000 vehicles.
