Audi is the latest automaker to reveal plans for a lower-cost EV
Audi is joining the race as automakers gear up to introduce new, lower-cost EV models. The new entry-level EV will sit below the Q4 e-tron, which starts at just over $50,000.
Audi plots a new lower-cost EV, an electric A3 or Q3
After unveiling the new Q6 e-tron this week, its next-gen premium mid-size electric SUV, Audi, is planning a smaller, lower-cost EV.
The Q6 e-tron is the “start of an extensive product initiative,” according to CEO Gernot Döllner. “Despite the recent public debate, there is no doubt the future of the car is electric,” Audi’s boss explained.
“At Audi, we will electrify all core segments by 2027 and have defined a fully electric target portfolio.”
Döllner, who took over for Markus Duesmann in September, said the company is accelerating development on a new entry-level electric car that will be the electric equivalent to the A3 or Q3.
After retiring the A1 and Q2, the A3 and Q3 are Audi’s smallest models. Döllner said the luxury brand is launching an “additional electric model below the Q4 E-tron,” according to Autocar.
“It will be a wonderful, unique independent vehicle concept,” produced in Ingolstadt alongside the new Q6 e-tron.
Döllner didn’t give up any details, but given Audi’s preference toward SUVs, the entry-level EV could take more of a crossover-like design as a sibling to the Q3. The report notes that ex-tech chief Oliver Hoffman claimed Volkswagen’s MEB platform would underpin the EV rather than the new PPE powering the Q6 E-tron.
Audi’s boss said a “final decision on which platform we will use has not been taken,” suggesting it could change. The new electric car is expected to launch in 2027.
The race for more affordable EVs
The new lower-cost Audi EV is “not a four-metre car,” according to Döllner. “We won’t have a successor for the A1 or Q2, not a direct successor. But with the model below [the] Q4 in the [A3] segment, that will be definitely our entry-level car.”
Audi’s latest comments come as several automakers have made similar commitments recently.
Ford is shifting its plans to smaller, more affordable EVs. The American automaker is developing a new low-cost EV platform to underpin a smaller electric pickup and SUV.
According to Bloomberg Businessweek, Ford’s “skunk works” team working on the platform is led by Alan Clarke, who led engineering on the Tesla Model Y.
Sources familiar with the matter say the first model will launch in 2026 with starting prices around $25,000.
Tesla is also planning to launch its next-gen EV, with starting prices around $25,000. Although initial plans called for the EV to be built at Gigafactory Mexico, CEO Elon Musk confirmed it will be built in Texas.
American EV startup Rivian shook the internet after revealing the smaller, more affordable R2, which will start at $45,000. CEO RJ Scaringe unveiled an even smaller and cheaper R3 electric crossover.
Rivian has already confirmed that the R2 will launch in Europe as it expands overseas. According to Scaringe, the EV is already seeing demand, with over 68,000 reservations in under 24 hours.
Audi’s parent company, Volkswagen, announced it aims to begin producing its most affordable ID.1 electric car in 2027, starting at 20,000 euros ($21,700). VW brand leader Thomas Shafer said the ID.1 will offer “affordable electric mobility for everyone.” It will follow the ID.2, revealed as a concept last March.
Based on a new entry-level version of the MEB platform, the ID.2 will start under 25,000 euros ($27,000) with 279 miles range.
VW’s spokesperson for Design, Stepan Rehahk, posted a teaser of the ID.2 SUV, the affordable EVs bigger sibling.
Kia is also planning a series of low-cost models. Its entry-level EV3, starting at $30,000, is expected to launch by the end of the year. The EV4, Kia’s entry-level electric sedan, will follow next year, with starting prices expected around $35,000.
And this just scratches the surface. Automakers and startups from around the globe are racing to introduce lower-priced EVs as demand for affordable options builds.
Electrek’s Take
The rush to introduce more affordable EVs comes as low-cost automakers like China’s BYD continue expanding overseas.
Electric cars pushed China past Japan to become the leading export nation for the first time last year. BYD just expanded its footprint in Europe by launching its best-selling Atto 3 and Seal EV in Greece.
The global EV leader plans to more than triple its share of the European EV market before it even begins production in the region. BYD will start building EVs and batteries in Hungary in 2026, enabling faster deliveries at a lower cost.
Although BYD’s Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) starts at just $16,644 (119,800 yuan) in China, it costs around $40,000 (37,990 euros) in Europe. Once production begins, BYD looks to change that.
Legacy automakers, now Audi included, are rushing to compete with plans to launch their own lower-cost EVs.
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Veteran bicycle brand and e-mobility innovator Huffy is joining the Black Friday sales festivities with an exclusive deal for Electrek readers on its 36-volt Electric Green Machine drift trike. Use the promo code below for 30% off your purchase.
Huffy puts over 130 years of experience into its products
Huffy is easily a household name in bicycles. The company is celebrating over 130 years in the segment and has shown no signs of slowing down. The brand is sold across thousands of retail locations and ships millions of bikes to customers throughout the US and 40 additional international markets each year.
The Huffy name is known for products that deliver riders comfort, style, and durability. Whether on a bike, trike, scooter, or ride-on, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy. Since 2019, Huffy has been calling riders together with its rally cry, “Live the Ride,” which encourages families to celebrate togetherness by exploring the outdoors atop its products.
Whether that means leisurely rides through local parks with friends, family outings, traversing local trails, or exploring new cities during a summer getaway, Huffy strives to remind riders of the simple youthful joy that riding can bring.
Since Huffy launched the 20” Green Machine in 2023, teens and adults have been asking for a version that would allow them to experience the same adventure, fun, and thrill of each spin and drift. Huffy answered the call with their new Electric Green Machine, a nostalgic and electrified version of the classic drift trike Huffy fans know and love. This powerhouse drift-trike is packed with 36 volts of electric power and a 250-watt front hub motor that lets riders reach exhilarating speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Perfect for thrill-seekers ages 14 and up, the Electric Green Machine reignites the fun and excitement of childhood rides.
All of Huffy’s products, including the Electric Green Machine seen below, are thoughtfully crafted for the moments that happen when you pop up your kickstand and see where the path takes you. In the case of the E-Green Machine, Huffy wants riders to unleash a whirlwind of thrilling drifts and slides right when they climb into the cockpit.
To help even more riders experience holiday thrills this season, Huffy is offering an exclusive discount on the Electric Green Machine for Electrek readers. Whether buying it for yourself or friends and family, the Electric Green Machine is the perfect gift to put under the tree this holiday season. If you’re ready to start drifting, use the promo code below to save some “green” on your purchase⎯but only for a limited time!
Don’t miss Huffy’s Black Friday deal on the Electric Green Machine
The new Electric Green Machine is available on Huffy.com for $599.99. However, you can use promo code “ELECTREKGM” at checkout for 30% off your purchase (valid on the Electric Green Machine only).
Huffy’s Black Friday deals are available now, but only until 11:59 PM on December 8, 2024, so act quickly while supplies last. This year, holiday thrills start with red and green at Huffy. Be sure to take advantage of this limited-time offer and check out the other limited-time deals on Huffy’s site this week (offering up to 55% across a range of products).
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Environment
Watch Hyundai’s massive $7.6B Georgia EV plant go up in just 2 years in this video from space
Hyundai’s new EV plant in Georgia is now up and running. The massive $7.6 billion facility was built in just two years as the company preps for new US-made electric models like the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5 and its new three-row IONIQ 9. A cool new video from space shows just how quickly Hyundai worked to open the facility.
Watch Hyundai’s new EV plant go up from space
Production officially began at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County, Georgia last month.
The accomplishment comes after Hyundai broke ground at the site in October 2022. In May 2022, Hyundai announced plans to build its first dedicated EV plant in the US to meet new requirements for the federal EV tax credit, which provides up to $7,500 for clean car purchases.
Hyundai fast-tracked construction at the plant as it looked to gain an edge in the US, its most important market. The company’s initial $5 billion investment turned into a whopping $7.6 billion.
According to a study from the Center for Automotive Research, Hyundai’s EV plant will help create over 58,200 new jobs while attracting over $12.6 billion in investments in Georgia. Last month, the company secured its 18th supplier as it builds out an extensive US network.
A new video from space-based intelligence company BlackSky shows an impressive timelapse of the construction.
You can see the massive facility go up in just two years as Hyundai looks to secure a leadership role in the US auto industry.
Hyundai’s new EV plant will directly employ 8,500 workers to build up to 300,000 EVs per year. The first vehicle that rolled off the assembly line was the refreshed 2025 IONIQ 5.
The upgraded 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now features even more range (318 miles), a sleek new style, and it even comes with an NACS plug so you can charge at Tesla superchargers. The base, 2025 IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range model, starts at just $42,500.
Last week, after unveiling its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, Hyundai confirmed it would also be built at its Georgia facility.
Despite President-Elect Trump’s transition team reportedly planning to end the $7,500 EV tax credit, Hyundai is confident in the company’s future.
At the LA Auto Show, the company’s newly electric CEO, Jose Munoz, said in an interview, “Hyundai did not build our investment plan based on incentives; the plan was even made before Trump’s term.” Munoz explained even without the credit now, Hyundai is still gaining market share.
Ready to check out Hyundai’s best-selling electric SUV for yourself? With the new 2025 IONIQ 5 arriving, Hyundai is offering closeout deals on 2024 models. You can use our link to find the best deals on 2024 and 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealer near you.
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The world’s first electric muscle car is finally here, and Dodge is already sweetening the deal for buyers. The Dodge Charger Daytona EV is launching with 0% APR, making it even cheaper to finance than the outgoing gas-powered model.
Dodge Charger EV launches with 0% APR offer
The first all-electric Dodge Charger has arrived, and surprisingly, it’s already becoming more affordable. In March, Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona EV, kicking off “the next generation of Dodge muscle.”
According to Dodge brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, the electric Charger “delivers Hellcat Redeye levels of performance.” That’s for the Scat Pack model, which comes with a Direct Connection Stage 2 upgrade kit straight from the factory.
The upgrade delivers up to 670 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.3 seconds. It can also cover a quarter mile in around 11.5 seconds.
In comparison, the 807 hp Dodge Charger SRT Redeye Jailbreak edition, powered by a Supercharged 6.2L HEMI SRT V8 engine, takes 3.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph.
With a Stage 1 upgrade, the base R/T trim has up to 456 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0 to 60 mph time in 4.7 seconds.
Dodge opened orders for the 2024 Charger Daytona EV in September, starting at $59,995. The High-performance Scat Pack trim starts at $73,190.
According to a new dealer note viewed by online auto research firm CarsDirect, all 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV models are now eligible for 0% APR financing for up to 72 months.
| 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV trim | Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph time | Starting price |
| Dodge Charger Daytona R/T | 496 hp | 4.7 seconds | $59,995 |
| Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack | 670 hp | 3.3 seconds | $73,190 |
The offer makes the electric Dodge charger even cheaper to finance than the outgoing 2023 Dodge Charger at 5.9% APR for the same 72 months. However, this is an individual offer and cannot be combined with other deals. Based on CarsDirect analysis, the 0% APR offer is limited to the Northeast, Southern, and Central US regions.
Dodge is also offering a $1,000 loyalty bonus for Stellantis (Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler) lessees that trade in for the electric Charger.
With the $7,500 EV tax credit incentive, eligible customers can save up to $8,500 on the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV. You may want to act fast, as these deals expire on December 2, 2024.
Jeep, another Stellantis brand, launched lease prices at just $599 per month for its first luxury electric SUV last week, the Wagoneer S. Jeep’s electric Wagoneer is also available with 0% financing.
Ready to check out the world’s first electric muscle car for yourself? We can help you get started today. You use our link to find deals on 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona models at a dealer near you.
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