Audi has officially confirmed the A2 e-tron. The fully electric successor to the cult model is set for its world premiere in fall 2026. The announcement was made at the brand’s Annual Media Conference in Ingolstadt. A second surprise was that Audi reported a 10% profit rise, bucking the broader industry trend of heavy losses.
CEO Gernot Döllner personally unveiled the news on the return of the Audi A2, framing it as a direct response to what the market is asking for. “Our customers want electric mobility that impresses in everyday life,” Döllner said. “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.”
A name with history
The A2 moniker is, of course, far from arbitrary. The original Audi A2 was produced between 1999 and 2005 and was ahead of its time in almost every respect.
Built around an aluminum body, the ultra-efficient city car featured a cab-forward layout and clever use of space. It sold in relatively small numbers, was only really appreciated during its lifetime by an in-crowd, but has since become something of a cult classic. It was designed by the Belgian automotive designer Luc Donckerwolke, who is still overseeing design at the Hyundai Group.
The new A2 e-tron consciously draws on that legacy, which married high-tech to frugality. Audi says the name “is a deliberate nod to the Audi A2, which pioneered efficiency and urban mobility over 25 years ago”.
The first design sketch already suggests the connection isn’t merely symbolic. The silhouette reveals a similar, upright body with a steeply raked windscreen and what appears to be a two-piece tailgate, echoing the original’s distinctive rear end.
Entry point for the electric range
With the A2 e-tron, Audi is lowering the threshold to its electric lineup, effectively filling the gap left by the discontinued A1 supermini and Q2 subcompact crossover.
According to Audi’s official press release, the model targets a broad international customer base that values everyday urban usability, sustainability, high efficiency, and digital connectivity.
Also similar to the original: production will take place at Audi’s home plant in Ingolstadt. In 2026, this is a deliberate signal amid uncertainty about German manufacturing jobs. “With the production of an additional fully electric model family in Ingolstadt, we are securing jobs and delivering electric mobility ‘made in Germany’,” Döllner said.
Audi has not yet disclosed technical specifications, powertrain details, or pricing. The world premiere is planned for autumn 2026, with sales expected to follow in Europe either late that year or in early 2027. Already in 2024, a group of apprentices showcased what an A2 e-tron could look like.
Profits rise
Another highlight from the media event was Audi’s financial report for the past year. Interestingly, after-tax profit rose 10% to €4.6 billion in 2025, outperforming both BMW (slight decline to €7.5 billion) and a sharply lower Mercedes-Benz (minus €5.3 billion).
However, the results come with an asterisk. CFO Jürgen Rittersberger acknowledged that the improvement was largely driven by a compensation payment from parent company Volkswagen Group, running into the “high three-digit millions”.
There are no details on the exact nature of the compensation, but it could be for the research and development of a D-segment platform that was later canceled. In any case, the rise in profits is not fueled by stronger trading.
In fact, operating profit actually fell by nearly 14%. U.S .tariffs alone cost Audi €1.2 billion, a burden it could not pass on to customers. For 2026, Audi expects revenues broadly in line with last year’s €65.5 billion. The company warns, though, that tariff headwinds will bite harder, as the full year will be affected rather than just nine months.
