It was an audacious statement, but there it was.
Audi of America president Scott Keogh with Audi e-Tron Quattro Concept, 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show
Audi expects that 25 percent of the cars it sells just 10 years hence will be either battery-electric or plug-in hybrid models.
And it came directly from Scott Keogh, president of Audi of America, in front of a packed media audience at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Audi sold 1.7 million cars globally in 2014, of which 182,000 went to U.S. buyers. Assuming at least 2 million vehicles by then, that means the company would sell half a million electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles a year in 2025.
The public projection culminated an intensive week of activity by Audi to talk more openly and candidly about the addition of plug-in vehicles to its portfolio, and how it intends to roll them out over the next few years.
The media events were planned well before the Volkswagen diesel-emission scandal broke in mid-September, executives say, and reflect a public commitment by the second of Germany’s luxury brands to commit to a broad program of electrified vehicles.
Read more: Green Car Reports