AUDI’S fresh jumbo-sized SUV will begin rolling off production lines next year.
The German manufacturer recently turned its back on its ambitious goal of going EV-only from 2032.
Audi Q9 SUV will be made available to petrolheads in 2026[/caption]
The manufacturer recently stepped back from going fully electric by 2032[/caption]
Instead, in 2026, the company will unveil it’s biggest Q model to date – the Q9.
According to Audi’s development boss Geoffrey Bouquot, the model will be unveiled alongside a new Q7.
However, Bouquot was tight-lipped when it came to the vehicles’ specifications.
Both newcomers will share the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) with the latest A5, Q5, and A6.
It comes after news that one of the most attractive EV ownership benefit programs looks set to end in a matter of days, and could cost drivers big.
Those accustomed to certain privileges offered by the program will need to be weary of their driving habits, or cough up $400 fines just for being in the wrong lane.
It was announced earlier this year that the federal government would not be renewing its Clean Air Vehicle Decal program, which allowed solo EV drivers to occupy carpool lanes.
The program will end at midnight on September 30. Stickers do not need to be removed, but their presence on a vehicle will bring no added benefits once the program expires.
This will force the thirteen states that participated in the program to both cease issuance of new decals, and begin ticketing those solo EV drivers who are occupying carpool lanes during restrictive hours.
In most states, these restrictive hours coincide with local rush hours, generally surrounding the 6 to 9 am and 4 to 7 pm timeframes.
Solo drivers, regardless of whether or not they’re in an EV, found occupying these lanes in these restrictive hours face fines of $400 or more depending on the exact state.
States in which decal owners received discounted or free use of tolls or bridges, such as California, will be discontinuing these benefits as well.
Affected states include Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.
Some state law enforcement agencies will use discretion in the immediate aftermath to “weigh severity, safety, and context,” per Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesperson Bart Graves via Axios Phoenix.
EV EXTINCTION?
This news comes after President Donald Trump and his administration announced the end of federal tax credits for the purchase of an EV earlier this year.
The United States Senate also set the stage for a battle against California’s goal to reach 100% of new model cars sold in the state being EVs by 2035 by blocking the state’s mandate to phase out gas-powered cars.
Automotive manufacturers are also distancing themselves from self-mandated and externally imposed EV goals, whether they’re in the entry-level or luxury markets.
