Audi No Longer Taking A8 Orders In Germany

Things are shaking up in the full-size luxury sedan market. Mercedes recently introduced a thoroughly updated S-Class as a preliminary answer to the upcoming facelifted BMW 7 Series. Lexus is discontinuing the LS after a 37-year run, and now we know that the future of the Audi A8 remains unclear.

After realizing that the Ingolstadt range-topper was no longer available in the German configurator, we asked Audi to confirm our fears. Indeed, the A8 can no longer be ordered on the domestic market. In fact, order books closed about two weeks ago, and customers can configure the final A8 on February 18.

When asked about global availability, A8 spokesperson Marcel Bestle told us it depends on inventory levels and other factors. Audi isn’t saying when production will end, but since the luxury flagship is no longer available to order in its home region, it’s a matter of when, not if.

The D5-generation A8 has been growing in popularity over time, having been around since 2017. The facelifted version introduced at the end of 2021 wasn’t enough to entice buyers away from the 7 Series or S-Class. The update also brought a more expansive version for China that revived the historic “Horch” name to go up against the Maybach S-Class, but it seems the effort was in vain.

While the future of the A8 is uncertain, there are reasons to remain optimistic. said Marcel Bestle Motor1 the company “will communicate further details about its possible successor at a later date.” However, the key word here is “maybe”, as it is still unclear whether the fifth generation has been given the green light. With no spy photos to date, the new A8 likely won’t go on sale for another few years.

Last October, German publication Mobilwoche learned from an Audi spokesperson that the Four Rings is “looking for a platform for a possible replacement.” Another facelift for the D5 has been ruled out due to stricter emissions regulations. With Euro 7 fast approaching, cleaner engines will have to comply.

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Motorcycle Pickup1: Audi once targeted to switch to fully electric cars by 2032, but has now changed its mind due to slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles. Renewed interest in combustion engines could lead to another ICE-powered A8, with a platform already available. The Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) is compatible with large vehicles such as the next-generation Q7 and the first Q9, so it can also likely be adapted for full-size sedans.

However, while this is technically possible, it’s no secret that demand for sedans isn’t what it used to be before SUVs took over. Some markets in Asia are also showing increased interest in luxury minivans, so the old-fashioned sedan is having a hard time. Investing in a new A8 that will follow the same formula used since the D2 arrived in 1994 may not be worth the hassle.

Even if a sedan is approved for production, there will likely be a gap of several years between the two generations. This should be good news for its domestic rivals, as BMW and Mercedes forge ahead with their biggest sedans. In fact, the three-pointed star has confirmed the next S-Class will arrive around 2029 with both combustion engines and electric power.