Audi A8 production ends, successor may be made in China on Huawei platform - report

The Audi A8, once an aluminium pioneer and the brand's flagship model, is no more. Although a successor has yet to be confirmed, the company is reportedly mulling two follow-up models.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, production of the fourth-generation A8 has concluded at Audi's plant in Neckarsulm.

The space formerly used to manufacture the large sedan has been used to expand production capacity for the Audi A5 sedan and wagon.

As we've reported before, no direct successor to the A8 has been lined up, meaning the Q9 large SUV unveiled in July has become Audi's flagship model, for now.

While a fifth-generation A8 has yet to be approved, a report late last month from Manager Magazin, indicated Audi is planning two successors for the large luxury sedan.

The German publication understands Audi is in discussions with Huawei to use the Chinese tech firm's EV architecture for a China-specific A8 model.

This A8 could be built at the Changchun factory that's run as a joint venture with FAW. Opened in 2024 to produce the electric Q6L SUV and A6L sedan for the local market, the plant is running far below capacity with the combined sales for both cars totalling just 12,000 so far this year.

It's thought the Huawei A8 plan might be brought to a board vote as early as this month. If approved, the new Chinese A8 could be on sale by the end of 2028.

The plan might face significant push back, partially due to a loss of face, but also because it would still require significant investment in tooling and buy in from FAW. The board may decide to invest its money elsewhere given sales in China have fallen by 30 per cent this year.

Huawei is also reportedly working with Maserati to develop an electric successor for the Quattroporte. If recent reports are correct, the new Quattroporte could be closely related to the Maextro S800 with the body and drivetrain to be made in China, and interior fitment and production to be completed in Italy.

For the rest of the world, Audi is reportedly a separate A8 based on the Porsche-developed MSB rear- and all-wheel drive platform for cars with longitudinally-mounted combustion engines.

Not only would this A8 be closely related to the Porsche Panamera, it will be built in Porsche's Leipzig factory. While the Chinese A8 will be a purely electric proposition, the Porsche-built A8's architecture supports both petrol and plug-in hybrid drivetrains.

Again, it's unclear if the mooted Porsche-based A8 will be given the go-ahead, especially with buyers preferring SUVs to sedans, the Volkswagen Group's deteriorating financial situation, and the automaker's stated desire to cut its model offerings by half.

MORE: Explore the Audi A8