Audi Challenges Tesla in Electric SUV Market
Audi and Amazon.com are sparking a fight with Tesla.
The German car maker introduced its first electric SUV on Sept. 17 in California, where its primary competition, Tesla, is based. Audi also has struck a deal with online retailer Amazon to provide equipment for recharging the new midsize SUV, according to a report by Reuters.
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“I want Audi to be the No. 1 electric-vehicle seller in America over the long term,” Audi of America President Scott Keogh told Reuters. Audi’s e-tron will be available to consumers toward the middle of next year.
Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Volvo also are moving into the electric SUV market. Audi’s vehicle will cost $75,795 and include a $7,500 tax credit. The home charging stations sold by Amazon will price around $1,000 each, which includes installation.
Not to be outdone, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Sept. 17 that his SpaceX space exploration company has booked its first passenger to fly to the moon — Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa in 2023 if all goes according to plan.
Until now, Tesla has dominated the electric automobile market. Its charging units cost $500.
