Audi is transitioning its product range to electric vehicles in all of its core segments more systematically than any other established carmaker.
Sitting down with T&FME, Alejandro J. Pérez Álvarez, Electrification & Connected Vehicles manager at Audi Middle East says that the car-maker is ready to play its part in ensuring the region is ready to make its own green transition.
What is Audi’s vision in terms of sustainable personal transportation for the future? Is EV the future or does Audi envision a future comprising EVs, hydrogen vehicles, hybrids, etc?
Production for our last new combustion engine model will begin in 2025. Its rollout to international markets will extend into 2026, with all other Audi models launched on the global market starting in 2026 already being fully electric.
Based on this clear decision made as part of its Vorsprung 2030 corporate strategy, Audi is now taking steps to prepare its global facilities for the production of all-electric cars, which is part of a robust plan to have 20 all-electric Audi models on the road by 2025.
Share your thoughts on the state of play of EV infrastructure (in structures and in public spaces) in the UAE at present. What are some of the key markers that authorities have to hit in Audi’s opinion in terms of deploying EV infrastructure?
The UAE is the most advanced in the region when it comes to making strides towards electric mobility. Keeping in mind the Dubai Green Mobility strategy 2030, we know that the UAE has already implemented government procurement targets, incentives on both a federal and local level, as well as regulations on electric vehicle charging stations.
At Audi, we believe in success through technology and innovation, which is why we are continuously improving and innovating. With each electric model that carries the Audi badge, we are collaborating with key stakeholders to push ahead with infrastructure projects where possible, to help create a positive case for charging stations. These parameters include: Increase the number of High Power Charging Networks at the main road corridors; Creating open-source maps with information about charger locations; Real-time information about status and availability of the chargers; Charge Point booking options; and Being able to use one e-mobility service provider to access multiple charging points.
These are a few of the key markers that we believe will support in the already great strides towards the deployment of EV infrastructure in the country.
In other markets, Audi is working to create EV charging points – is Audi doing the same within the UAE and working with regional authorities? If so, please share details in terms of what that entails.
We know the UAE has set an ambitious target of having 10% of all vehicles on the road to be electric by 2030. This indicates a strong push towards the future of mobility opening exciting opportunities for automotive manufacturers like Audi.
For starters, we have an agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, and technology company, Siemens, to support in the development of a hassle-free network of charging infrastructure across the UAE. The MoEI have already installed ten fully connected, Siemens Sicharge D 160 kW ultra-fast chargers on highways in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. We look forward to further expanding this network through our partnership in the near future.
We have also collaborated with the Museum of the Future as their official automotive partner in order to be able to inspire the minds of the general public and open the doors to means of future mobility, while also enabling them to view and accept electric models as the future. As part of the brand partnership, we have been able to install a robust system of 21 chargers within the museum’s parking facilities to support the future vision of electric mobility in line with countries vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
How can regional authorities give sustainable development more support/a stronger push in the UAE? Where do you see challenges in getting more sectors to embrace sustainability?
The UAE has an incredibly progressive and forward-thinking government, which is definitely very advanced in this area.
A Federal Government decree to convert 20% of public sector car fleets to EVs in-line with national aims to have 42,000 EVs on the country’s streets by 2030 shows a push towards the future of mobility in the interest of the UAE government, which is exceptionally refreshing for us in the automotive industry.
Some of my recommendations to policymakers in the region would be to continue the implementation of electric vehicle incentives as they help greatly to increase the adoption of EVs.
Lastly, of course the increase of infrastructure projects but also promoting the use of green energy is essential and pertinent to the implementation of electric mobility in the region. The more infrastructure readiness we are able to achieve, the higher the demand for EVs and the more consumers will be willing to make the shift.
What are some of the unique challenges with regards to developing/deploying EV infrastructure in the UAE? How can these challenges be overcome?
While we are seeing an uptake in the sales of EVs, there are still a few challenges in their development and deployment in the UAE and region.
For starters, there needs to be more alignment between key players in the EV space in order to ensure each and every contributor is on the same page. There should also be further development and implementation of high-performance chargers as opposed to regular AC chargers as they are more efficient, quicker and provide customers with an easy and hassle-free charging experience. Our products are ready for this.
Another key challenge is that high-rise buildings are densely built-up and many of these towers do not provide the opportunity to install home car chargers for residents. This obviously needs to change so that residents can easily access and charge their electric vehicles.
Despite the challenges, we are currently working with market partners closely to raise awareness of these challenges and take the necessary steps needed to overcome them. This region has absolutely unimaginable potential. Along with great resources, it has such forward-thinking leadership that is determined to move full speed ahead towards the future.
What is the next game changer in the EV/EV infrastructure space? Faster charging technology/electrified roads to charge vehicles, etc?
The automotive industry is currently going through a massive transformation, the size of which hasn’t been seen or experienced in recent times, so it is truly an exciting time for us to work in this sector.
In terms of new technologies, we are already seeing the development of ultrafast hubs powered by second life batteries, which in turn reduce the impact in the energy system, along with connected vehicles with smart routing solutions, autonomous driving and the creation of new batteries that offer faster charging solutions.
As the world shifts towards sustainable mobility, this in turn evolves technologies and design of not just vehicles themselves, but what they can do, and ultimately, what they stand for and symbolise as well. At Audi this can’t be any more true, where we believe that the future is not only electric, but as importantly, fully connected and human-centric as well.
We are redefining the design process from the inside out and putting customers front and centre more than ever before. For example, our Audi “sphere” concepts, the Grandsphere, Urbansphere, and the Audi Skysphere, which we recently premiered locally here in Dubai, are all glimpses into a future that is electric and autonomous, but more impressively the way they are experienced overall.
What are some of Audi’s sustainability goals for the UAE/the GCC region? What resources has it committed to achieving these goals?
At Audi, our aim is to shape the future of premium mobility across our region. This has been our focus over the past two years with introductions of some of the most exciting products our industry has seen in recent times, and we continue this strong momentum into 2023.
Future focus remains the expansion of our electric portfolio, as we align our efforts, not only against our mobility strategies, but also the UAE’s and wider region’s green mobility vision for the future too. On the product side, our upcoming Audi Q8 e-tron, the latest offering in our electrification offensive, will see its regional debut this March, joining an already impressive e-tron lineup, spearheaded by the extraordinary e-tron GT.
Sustainability continues to be a key area of development. Audi carries its own sustainability standards through the entire value chain as well. We aim to be a net-zero carbon emissions company by no later than 2050, and carbon neutral by as early as 2025.
Our dealers will also support with local infrastructure projects to ensure a smooth transition to electric vehicles in their cities is reached in the shortest time possible, while also adjusting to online business models as well. Essentially, Audi has the right product portfolio, exceptional designs, and a desirable brand. We are already a step ahead – with a very strong line-up available locally and with more to come to fulfill this appetite as our customers’ needs increase. We hope this continues to serve as a catalyst and an enabler for more sustainable initiatives across the government and wider mobility sector.
What recent sustainable achievement in the UAE/GCC is Audi Middle East most proud of?
This region has tremendous potential and while we have already made great strides forward, we are excited for what the future holds. At Audi, we are proud of our robust product portfolio, from the e-tron S to the e-tron GT, which are available across the GCC and Levant region.
We are also proud of our dealers for renovating their facilities to include sustainable energy saving technologies. Each dealer in the Middle East has made strides to install high power chargers in their facilities, while also looking at methods to work on various infrastructure projects in their respective markets. In Oman for example, Audi have been working closely with local energy provider, EVO, installing over 70 chargers across the country in 2022. This network will be further expanded to over 250 charging points by the end of 2023.
We have also been lucky to work closely with the Museum of the Future in the UAE. As their official automotive partner, we have been able to showcase what the future of mobility will look like, through a unique line-up of concept vehicles. Working with the museum has also provided us the opportunity to install bespoke Audi charging units in its parking facilities. With 21 charging bays available to EV-driving visitors, this marks the first fully operational EV hub from Audi, in line with our goal to support the UAE’s future vision.
