01:11 31-01-2026

Audi rules out pickup truck, may develop rugged SUV instead

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has stated that the company has no plans to produce a pickup truck. In an interview with the Australian publication Drive, he described this format as the "last segment" he could envision for the brand. Döllner added that you can "never say 'never'," but currently there is no need for such a vehicle.

Consequently, Audi is not considering developing a model based on the upcoming Scout Terra, an electric pickup from the Volkswagen Group-owned Scout brand. Production of the Scout Terra is set to begin next year in Blythewood, South Carolina. It is also reported that a version with an internal combustion engine acting as a range extender will be offered for Scout.

Audi's previous stance was less definitive. In 2022, then brand chief Markus Duesmann said the company was exploring the possibility of launching a pickup. The Activesphere concept from 2023, which was an SUV with a rear section that transformed into a cargo bed, was mentioned as a potential direction, but it did not lead to a production model.

However, Audi does allow for the possibility of a more rugged SUV. Döllner hinted that a future model better suited for off-roading than the Q7 or the upcoming Q9 could emerge.