This engine was going to be a failure, and Audi dared to create it: They are now producing 2000 per day
Audi decided to stake its reputation on something that many consider pretty reckless when the market slowly shifts to EVs. Nevertheless, they continued with the development of a new electric engine. Fast forward to today, and this very engine is an integral part of unprecedented electric motor manufacturing in Hungary, where Audi is now churning out 2,000 cars daily.
Here is how the bold move made by Audi changed a probable failure into a success story.
How Audi revolutionized the electric motor production landscape in Hungary
Audi’s venture into mass production of electric motors began in Gyor, Hungary, where the company developed electric drive systems for its Premium Platform Electric (PPE). This platform, which will underpin models such as the Audi Q6 e-tron, is a considerable step change in automotive architecture. Audi chief executive Gernot Dollner said that Gyor was selected for its strategic importance because there was already much experience building engines in the region.
Since 2018, the site has delivered more than 400,000 electric drive systems. This valuable experience has made Audi one of the leaders in electric mobility. Nonetheless, Audi made three new production lines for this complex motor, with 28 procedures for manufacturing stators and 190 procedures for assembling axles.
The dedication to innovation was critical in fighting against the technical and practical difficulties of the increase in mass production at Audi. This has changed from being a high-risk investment to becoming highly efficient at producing 2,000 electric motors per day in a factory that functions on three shifts.
Audi’s commitment to sustainability: leading the way in green production
In the following segments, we will show you that electric motor production at AUDI is not only about the latest engines but also about the future. The Gyor plant was net carbon neutral from 2020.
This impressive achievement fits Audi’s plan for the “360factory,” a new vision of the future industrial production: modern, digital, and sustainable. Audi has done its best to make its production process as environmentally friendly as the cars themselves, with the most extensive roof-mounted photovoltaic system in Europe and using geothermal energy. The motors used in the first Audi Q6 e-tron series will be transported from Gyor to Ingolstadt with net CO2-neutral logistics.
DB Cargo is Audi’s strategic rail freight partner, and through this cooperation, Audi has been able to transport its components without emitting carbon. Such focus on sustainability makes a point that while Audi’s electric motors push technological advancement, they are equally part of the global efforts to address climate change.
Transforming challenges into success: Audi’s electric motor production journey
For Audi, at least, initial doubts that it could produce electric motors at such a scale have now been swept away. Today, one of the greatest success stories of calculated risk is their electric motor production facility in Gyor.
Audi Hungaria has over 12,000 employees and is one of the most prominent investors in Hungary. It has also been instrumental in putting Hungary on the map for EV manufacturing. Audi was established 30 years ago this year in Gyor, Hungary, and what better way to mark this historic event than with a company that initially dared to defy conventional norms of automobile manufacturing?
While Audi is still to start production of the Q6 e-tron series, the future of electric mobility at Audi seems to be brighter than ever. Further, the company intends to expand electric motor production for vehicles by employing Volkswagen Group’s modular electric drive toolkit (MEBeco); Audi’s focus on electric powertrains is set to rise. A project that many thought would be a complete disaster is now a success story that has placed Audi at the forefront of the electric vehicle market.
Audi’s success story proves innovation and risk can pay off
The firm’s commitment to innovate has turned what would have been a failure into one of the most significant successes in the automotive industry.
Risking their electric motors, Audi not only came up with a highly efficient and compact engine but also paved the way to green production. Today, their plant in Gyor is an example of how it is possible to succeed even with such projects in the future of automotive manufacturing, provided that all the necessary investment is made and the right formula of innovation and sustainability is found. Initially seen as a possible loss, it has become a gain as Audi manufactures 2,000 electric motors daily, setting the tone for future electric vehicles.
The story of Audi’s electric motor production is a classic story of how it is possible to go for the bold move and come out victorious.