Audi confirms A2 e-tron EV as entry-level model, debut set for 2026

Audi has confirmed a new all-electric entry-level model, the A2 e-tron. The announcement was made at the company’s annual media conference, in which a preview image of the vehicle was also shown ahead of its full unveiling in autumn 2026.The A2 name returns after more than two decades. The original model was produced from 1999 to 2005. Audi said the new name is a “deliberate nod” to the earlier car, which “pioneered efficiency and urban mobility over 25 years ago.”

The A2 e-tron will be built in the Ingolstadt facility in Germany and will sit at the base of Audi’s electric range. It will indirectly replace the A1 and Q2, which are set to be discontinued. Pricing is expected to start below £30,000.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner said the model is aimed at expanding access to electric mobility. “The A2 e-tron is our promise to deliver exactly that – efficient, compact, and confident. We’re making entry into the electric Audi world easier and more relevant than ever.”The A2 e-tron will be based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform and will be similar in size and specification to the Volkswagen ID.3. It is expected to feature a rear-driven layout in some variants.

The design will combine crossover and MPV elements. Spy shots and sketches show a profile similar to the original A2, with a focus on aerodynamic efficiency.

He added, “It’s a highly efficient entry-level car into the Audi universe, and positioned within the core of the A-segment. It’s compact on the outside, yet very spacious on the inside. We’ll inform on price positioning at the given time ahead of launch, but it’s going to be our electric entry-level car, so it will be below what we’ve offered so far on electric cars in the Audi universe.”

The model will target customers looking for an electric car for daily use. Audi said it will focus on efficiency, urban practicality, and digital features. The car is intended for a broad international customer base.

Production in Ingolstadt is part of Audi’s plan to expand electric vehicle manufacturing in Europe. Döllner said, “The A2 e-tron is crucial for our brand and also for our German home. With the production of an additional fully electric model family in Ingolstadt, we are securing jobs and delivering electric mobility ‘made in Germany’.”

The A2 e-tron will be one of Audi’s key launches in 2026, alongside the larger Q9. Audi said the model will strengthen its compact electric portfolio as demand for city-focused EVs grows.

The A2 e-tron will compete with models such as the BMW iX1, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Volvo EX30, Volkswagen ID.3, and Renault Megane E-Tech Electric. Audi will position it below the Q4 e-tron to attract first-time EV buyers and customers moving from combustion hatchbacks.