Production of the fourth generation of the A8, Audi's representative in the luxury sedan class, has officially come to an end. According to information confirmed by a company spokesperson to the German local press, the final A8 rolled off the assembly line in Neckarsulm in mid-October.
Audi had closed customer-specific orders for the A8 in Germany on February 18, 2026. It was stated that the production capacity vacated by the model will be used for the A5 Sedan and A5 Avant.
First introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1994, the A8 replaced the Audi V8. Standing out with its aluminum-bodied Audi Space Frame structure, the model carried the brand's luxury sedan ambitions against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series.
Positioned as Audi's showcase for technology and comfort throughout four generations, the final generation of the A8, the D5, was introduced in 2017 and underwent a comprehensive facelift in 2021. However, sales of the model have declined in recent years; it was reported that 2025 sales fell by approximately 14 percent compared to the previous year.
TIMELINE FOR THE NEW MODEL IS THE END OF THE 2020S
A8 product group spokesperson Marcel Bestle stated in an announcement earlier this year that a decision had been made for a successor model and that the car is targeted to be introduced toward the end of the 2020s.
It is being discussed in the German press that the new model could use the same architecture as the Porsche Panamera and that production could take place in Leipzig. For the Chinese market, the possibility of a different option utilizing Huawei technologies is on the agenda.
Following the farewell of the A8, the position of the largest model in Audi's product range has passed to the Q9, which was introduced in July. The SUV, which has a length of 5.31 meters and a wheelbase of 3.14 meters, was developed with the expectations of the US market in particular in mind.
In addition to the standard seven-seat layout, the Q9, which also offers a six-seat cabin option with two independent electric seats in the second row, features five-zone climate control, electric doors, and the largest panoramic glass roof in the brand's history. In Audi's schedule, the first deliveries are projected to begin in November 2026.
News Source: 12punto
