Why Audi Is Getting Rid of the A4

Audi is not killing the A4 outright but transforming it: beginning with the new generation, the A4 name for combustion models is being replaced by “A5,” while “A4” will be reserved for fully electric vehicles. This shift is part of a broader renaming strategy tied to Audi’s transition toward electric mobility and a clearer distinction between internal‑combustion and battery‑electric line‑ups.

A Nameplate in Transition, Not Disappearance

The question of why Audi is “getting rid of” the A4 stems from a branding overhaul rather than a cancellation of the car itself. For decades, the A4 has been Audi’s core midsize model, competing with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes‑Benz C‑Class. Now, as the industry pivots to electric vehicles (EVs), Audi is using the A4 name differently and repositioning its combustion successor under the A5 badge.

Audi’s New Naming Strategy: Even Numbers for EVs, Odd for ICE/Hybrids

At the heart of the change is Audi’s new naming logic: even numbers will denote fully electric models, while odd numbers will represent combustion or plug‑in hybrid cars. This policy has already been signaled with models like the Q4 e‑tron, Q6 e‑tron and the next‑generation A6 e‑tron, alongside combustion “A5” and “A7” siblings.

How the New System Works

To understand the implications of Audi’s naming shift, it helps to break down the rules the company has communicated and how they apply to existing and upcoming models.

• Even-numbered series (A4, A6, Q4, Q6, Q8, etc.): Reserved for all‑electric vehicles going forward. For example, the A6 e‑tron and Q6 e‑tron are spearheading this approach.
• Odd-numbered series (A5, A7, Q5, Q7, etc.): Used for internal‑combustion and plug‑in hybrid models in the next generation of cars.
• Audi’s stated aim: Make it immediately clear, from the name alone, whether a model is powered by an electric drivetrain or by a combustion-based system (including hybrids).
• Transitional overlap: Existing cars such as today’s A4 or A6 will keep their names until replaced; new generations are where the naming reset is applied.

Taken together, these elements show that the A4 badge is not being scrapped as much as re‑assigned, with Audi trying to make its portfolio more intuitive in an era when drivetrains are multiplying.

What Happens to the A4 Specifically?

The next generation of the combustion-engine A4 will be rebranded as the A5, while the A4 designation will shift to a future electric sedan and Avant (wagon). In practice, the “A4” as consumers know it—compact executive saloon and estate with petrol and diesel engines—continues under a different badge.

The Combustion Successor: A5 Sedan and Avant

For customers who want a familiar format but aren’t ready to go fully electric, Audi is rolling out a new A5 family that effectively takes over where the A4 leaves off.

• Body styles: The next generation will include an A5 Sedan and A5 Avant (wagon), filling the space traditionally occupied by the A4.
• Powertrains: Expect updated petrol and diesel engines plus mild‑hybrid and plug‑in hybrid variants, designed to meet tightening emissions rules while extending combustion’s lifespan into the 2030s.
• Positioning: The A5 range, previously associated mainly with coupe and Sportback variants, becomes a broader line: the core mid‑size combustion lineup below the larger A7 successor.
• Market rationale: Audi still sells large volumes of combustion A4s globally; fully abandoning the segment would be commercially risky, so the shift is largely in name, not in segment exit.

This means that for most buyers, the “end of the A4” will look more like a rename and redesign rather than the disappearance of a mid‑size Audi from showrooms.

The Electric A4: Audi’s Future EV Benchmark

On the electric side, Audi is preparing models that will carry the A4 name in line with its even‑number EV strategy.

• Platform: Future A4 EVs are expected to use advanced EV architectures like PPE (Premium Platform Electric), shared with models such as the Porsche Macan Electric and Audi Q6 e‑tron.
• Body styles: Industry leaks and Audi statements indicate electric A4 versions as a sedan and an Avant, preserving the wagon heritage for EV buyers.
• Role in the range: The electric A4 is intended to become Audi’s core mid‑size EV, analogous to today’s combustion A4 in importance.
• Timing: While exact on‑sale dates vary by market and Audi has not given a firm global launch schedule, these models are framed as part of the company’s push to have a largely electric portfolio in the early-to-mid 2030s.

In essence, the A4 name is being saved for a clean‑sheet electric successor, signaling that Audi sees it as too valuable a badge to retire—but also too important not to align with its zero‑emissions future.

Why Audi Is Making the Change Now

The renaming of the A4 reflects overlapping pressures: regulatory timelines, electrification targets, and the need for a simpler, more transparent product range for consumers navigating new drivetrain options.

Regulation and Electrification Targets

Governments in Europe and other markets are pressing automakers to accelerate the shift to EVs, with increasingly strict CO₂ and emissions rules. Audi’s decision to redefine what “A4” means speaks directly to that environment.

• EU emissions standards: Euro 7 and future regulations make it more expensive and technically complex to keep pure combustion sedans in the lineup without major updates.
• Audi’s public commitments: Audi has stated that it will stop launching new combustion models around the middle of this decade and aims to sell only electric cars globally in the next one.
• Investment focus: Development budgets are being redirected from fresh generations of classic ICE platforms toward EV‑specific architectures and software ecosystems.
• Portfolio simplification: By systematically separating EVs (even numbers) and ICE/hybrids (odd numbers), Audi can better plan future reductions in combustion offerings as regulations tighten.

The timing of the A4 changeover therefore coincides with Audi’s broader pivot: as it locks in its long‑term EV roadmap, it wants the names on the cars to reflect where its engineering and regulatory priorities lie.

Brand Clarity in a Crowded Line‑up

Another motivation is to make Audi’s catalog easier to understand at a glance, especially as the number of available drivetrains grows.

• Customer confusion: With e‑tron, TFSI, TDI, plug‑in hybrids and more, Audi’s labels have become complex; a clear numeric split helps signal what’s electric and what isn’t.
• Global consistency: A unified naming structure performs better across markets and reduces the risk of region‑specific variants undermining brand coherence.
• Heritage vs. future: By reserving iconic badges like A4 and A6 for EVs, Audi associates its most recognizable nameplates with its future technology rather than legacy engines.
• Marketing message: The shift supports Audi’s positioning as a forward‑looking premium brand, where the “mainstream” of the lineup will eventually be electric.

As a result, what looks to some like the end of the A4 is, from Audi’s perspective, a re‑anchoring of the name in a new technological era while keeping buyer navigation relatively straightforward.

What It Means for Current and Future Buyers

For drivers and fleet operators, the name change raises practical questions: resale value, future availability, and whether to hold out for the electric A4 or move to the new A5.

Impact on Existing A4 Owners

A nameplate change naturally prompts concerns about depreciation and support, but historical patterns suggest the shift is unlikely to hurt current A4 owners significantly.

• Residual values: Previous transitions—such as the evolution from Audi 80 to A4 in the 1990s—did not cause catastrophic drops in used values; demand for solid, mid‑size premium sedans has remained robust.
• Parts and service: Audi and its dealer network typically support models for many years after production ends, regardless of naming changes.
• Brand recognition: The A4 name is well‑established, and being repurposed for an EV may actually keep it in public consciousness longer, indirectly supporting desirability of older models.
• Market segmentation: Since the new A5 Sedan/Avant occupies essentially the same slot, existing A4s won’t be seen as “orphan” products in a vacuum.

Overall, owners are likely to see the change as a generational step rather than a discontinuation, with the “old” A4s retaining a clear lineage into the rebranded A5 range.

Choices for New Car Buyers

For prospective buyers, the A4 shift boils down to a decision between staying with combustion under a new name or waiting for the fully electric successor.

• Combustion-oriented buyers: Those prioritizing range, fueling speed, or lower initial purchase price can opt for the next‑gen A5 Sedan/Avant, which largely continues the A4 formula.
• Early EV adopters: Buyers willing to transition to electric may decide to wait for the A4 EV, expecting it to offer advanced software, over‑the‑air updates and strong performance.
• Company fleets: Fleet managers balancing CO₂ targets and cost may choose plug‑in hybrid A5 variants as interim solutions until EV infrastructure and pricing align with their needs.
• Regional considerations: In markets with strong charging networks and incentives, the A4 EV will likely become a central fleet and private choice; in others, the A5 combustion models may remain dominant longer.

In practice, buyers will see continuity of choice in size and purpose, even as the badges and underlying drivetrains evolve in line with Audi’s long‑term strategy.

Industry Context: Audi Is Not Alone

Audi’s renaming of the A4 sits within a wider industry trend as premium automakers reposition their core models for an electric future while trying to preserve their brand equity.

How Rivals Are Handling the Shift

Mercedes‑Benz and BMW, Audi’s primary German competitors, are experimenting with different approaches to the same core challenge: transitioning their key nameplates to EVs.

• BMW: Uses the “i” prefix (i4, i5, i7) for EV equivalents while keeping 3 Series, 5 Series and others for combustion; this preserves traditional names but creates parallel lineups.
• Mercedes‑Benz: Initially used the “EQ” branding (EQE, EQS) for EVs while continuing E‑Class and S‑Class for combustion; it has since begun integrating EVs back into the core naming, signaling a shift away from the EQ sub‑brand.
• Audi’s twist: Rather than parallel families (e.g., A4 and “E4”), Audi is reassigning existing core names (A4, A6) to EVs and moving combustion cars to adjacent numbers (A5, A7).
• Competitive stakes: All three brands are trying to balance loyalty to legacy buyers with a strong EV message that satisfies regulators and investors.

Seen from this angle, Audi’s decision to “get rid of the A4” as a combustion model is part of a wider arms race to define what premium motoring looks like in the battery‑electric age.

Summary

Audi is not simply scrapping the A4; it is reshaping the badge to align with a new naming strategy built around electrification. Under this plan, even numbers like A4 and A6 are being reserved for fully electric models, while the combustion‑engine successor to today’s A4 will appear as the A5 Sedan and A5 Avant. The move reflects tightening emissions regulations, a push toward electric portfolios in the next decade, and a desire for clearer branding as drivetrains diversify.

For drivers, the core proposition of a mid‑size premium Audi sedan and wagon remains intact, even as the familiar A4 label migrates to an EV future. The change underscores a broader industry transition: historic nameplates are being re‑anchored to electric technology, signaling that the next chapter of the A4 story will be written with batteries, not fuel tanks.