Audi A8: Successor could come from Leipzig from 2030
Audi is examining production of the next A8 at Porsche’s Leipzig plant. Porsche confirms talks about possible scenarios, but a decision is still open.
The successor to the Audi A8 could be built at Porsche’s Leipzig plant from 2030. Porsche has confirmed that it is talking with Audi about possible production scenarios for the next generation of the luxury sedan; the company did not name any concrete plans. According to the report, a final decision has not yet been made. A shared technical basis with the future Porsche Panamera is under discussion. The previous A8 went out of production at the start of 2026 without a direct successor, but Audi had announced a new model by 2030. Which powertrains are planned and how close the technical relationship with the Panamera will be has not been determined. The information so far also does not indicate a commitment to a purely electric A8.
Leipzig is considered a possible site because Porsche already builds the Panamera and Macan there and the plant is set up for different drive concepts. A shared platform for the A8 and Panamera could reduce development and production costs, which matters for large sedans with more limited volumes than SUVs and high-volume models. For Audi’s Neckarsulm plant, losing the A8 would be another setback: the site employs more than 15,000 people and is under cost pressure. Under the Volkswagen Group’s current planning, there is not yet any follow-up allocation for Neckarsulm after 2034. Audi is to present a robust plan by June 2027 to significantly lower production costs and improve the plant’s competitiveness; only after that does the group intend to decide on a future allocation or other use.
