Audi will likely be renaming its mannequin lineup to make a transparent distinction between full-electric and internal-combustion autos because it prepares a serious EV product push, CEO Markus Duesmann mentioned.

Even numbers will likely be used for EV-only fashions, whereas odd numbers will designate inside combustion ones, together with plug-in hybrids, Duesmann informed journalists final week at Audi’s annual information convention. The Heilbronner Stimme, a German newspaper, first reported the change.

“We’re increasing our product portfolio with new electric-drive fashions and that’s the reason we’re restructuring our naming conventions,” he mentioned.

The model’s first full-electric car was the E-tron, a big crossover that was launched in 2019; it additionally sells the E-tron GT, a big four-door sporty sedan. 

Presently Audi’s alphanumeric mannequin names don’t make a distinction between powertrains. The lineup begins with the small A1, and goes as much as the A8 flagship sedan, Q8 crossover and R8 sports activities automobile. 

German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have their very own naming conventions for EVs, with Mercedes including “EQ” to its letter collection, whereas BMW provides an “i” to its quantity collection.

Mercedes plans to drop the EQ designation, beginning as early as 2024, in accordance with German information studies.

Audi has already began to rename some fashions. The E-tron, which was up to date firstly of this 12 months, is now referred to as the Q8 E-tron. The model’s subsequent full-electric mannequin would be the midsize Q6 E-tron crossover. Duesmann didn’t say if the E-tron GT can be renamed. 

In keeping with the newspaper report, the A4 and A6 combustion fashions will likely be renamed A5 and A7, respectively.

The present A5 and A7 won’t have direct successors as inside combustion fashions, thus eliminating any confusion with the brand new A4 and A6 names.