Zero-emission-vehicle requirements in California and nine other U.S. states are pushing more battery-electric and fuel-cell cars into the market, despite continued uncertainty over whether a significant number of consumers will buy them – or automakers will be able to turn a profit on them.
Audi answers the call with its upcoming A3 Sportback e-tron, but a top U.S. executive says no one should consider the new model a “compliance car,” aimed solely at satisfying those regulatory targets.
“We’re not in the business of making a loss vehicle, or a compliance car,” says Audi of America President Scott Keogh. “We believe in a car the customer wants to pay for and we have a business case for.”
Read Article