When it comes to electric vehicles, Tesla is a force to be reckoned with. However, traditional auto manufacturers are quickly catching up with the American company. The best inline is Audi, the German automaker that is making headlines with its e-Tron.
Why is the brand faring in the market?
The EV market is still maturing, and the first vehicle from traditional automakers that are giving Tesla some serious competition is Audi’s e-Tron. The $75,000 car is Audi’s first venture into electric automotive, and the bet has finally started to pay off. Currently, the car contributes 5% to the company’s sales mix.
In the US, the company sold 856 e-Trons in May alone. Tesla still took the lead as it sold 1000 units during the same month. However, if the German automaker is compared with Jaguar I-pace, the difference is clear. I-Pace sold only 228 units in May.
However, from a more comprehensive perspective, e-Tron’s numbers don’t look too small. May was the first month that the car was available at dealerships in the US. The performance specs of the vehicle rival that of its combustion-engine peers from the same parent. It comes with 400-horsepower running on a 95-kWh battery. It offers an off-road mode and all-wheel drive and comes with a 4,000-pound towing capacity too. Audi’s statement luxury is visible with the walnut wood trim and leather interiors.
Why is the e-Tron a special car?
According to Ed Kim, vice president of industry analysis at AutoPacific, e-Tron ends the auto industry’s years-long search for a credible Tesla rival. He said,
“The Audi E-Tron is among the first to meet Tesla head-to-head with a luxurious long-range product. The E-Tron has the usual levels of Audi fit and finishes, something all Tesla products are lacking in, and it looks nice.”
The car comes with its own shortcomings. It has a shorter 204-mile range when compared with Jaguar I-Pace, Model X and two upcoming models- M-Byte from Byton, a Chinese auto company and the highly anticipated EQ C from Mercedes-Benz. The good news is that the car charges quickly and adds 54 miles for every 10 minutes of charge. Within 30 minutes, a user can charge their car up to 80% of its battery-range.
To combat its American rival, the German automaker is teaming up with Electrify America to bring up a network of 300 highway charging stations. Another 650 chargers will be put up at metro locations by the end of 2019.
