Germany knows exactly where it stands on the future of engines, and it has nothing to do with hydrogen.
Instead, the majority of the country’s biggest automotive names are pledging their full commitment to electric and sustainable fuels. Audi, in particular, is leading the charge, both on the road and in Formula 1, with a clear plan for the coming years.
Audi’s plan to ditch combustion for good
The days of petrol and diesel engines for Audi are numbered. From 2026, the German manufacturer will stop launching new combustion-powered models, and this includes hybrids. Instead, every new car that rolls out of Audi’s factories will be fully electric. This move will mean that some of the company’s more popular models, like the A3 and A4, will soon be gone.
However, Audi isn’t pulling the plug on combustion engines all in one go. Existing models will remain on sale for a while, but once they reach the end of their production cycle, they won’t be replaced with anything that burns fuel.
So yes, believe it or not, by the early 2030s, Audi’s entire lineup will just be electric.
This decision didn’t come out of nowhere. Audi’s CEO, Markus Duesmann, did say in 2022 that the company had no interest in spending any more of its money on new combustion engines. He blamed the strict European regulations, especially so the upcoming Euro 7 emissions standards.
Will Audi’s Formula 1 go electric too?
It’s not just Audi’s road cars that are changing. The brand is also shaking things up in motorsport, with its 2026 entry into Formula 1. Audi is taking full control of the Kick Sauber team, rebranding it, and bringing some of its own power units to the grid.
Back in 2022, Audi announced it would join F1 as a power unit supplier, as it looked to take advantage of new rules that will increase the importance of electric power.
While F1 cars won’t be fully electric, their hybrid engines will rely more on battery power than ever before.
Audi is building the future of racing
Audi isn’t wasting any time. The company has been working long and hard at its Neuburg facility, where its engineers are developing this new F1 power unit its talking about. The engine, electric motor, and battery are already running on test benches, and Audi has even completed simulated race distances.
Audi has experience in hybrid and electric racing from its years of competing in other motorsport categories, and it is this that is giving it an edge. The company has also partnered with an experienced fuel supplier to develop the sustainable fuel that will power its F1 cars in 2026.
The switch to sustainable fuel is a game-changer. Unlike hydrogen, which still faces major infrastructure and efficiency challenges, this fuel can work in high-performance engines without the need for a whole new setup of technology. For Audi, this makes more sense than investing in hydrogen-powered combustion engines (which is a wonder why these engineers are going in the opposite direction).
Germany has a strong stance on hydrogen
Audi’s moves are part of a larger trend in Germany. While some automakers experimented with hydrogen-powered cars, the country’s biggest brands want to now just be focused on battery-electric vehicles and sustainable fuels. Hydrogen’s inefficiencies, high costs, and lack of infrastructure have made it a tough sell compared to the rapid progress being made in electric vehicles.
Even in motorsport, where new technology often gets tested before making its way to regular cars, hydrogen isn’t part of any of the major conversations. Audi’s F1 project is proving that sustainable fuels can be a viable alternative, keeping high-performance engines alive while doing away with fossil fuel emissions as has been required of them.
Looking towards a future without fossil fuels
By 2026, Audi will have completely shifted its focus. The company’s road cars will be fully electric, and its F1 engines will run on a fuel that doesn’t rely on oil (much to the FIA’s relief).
Germany’s automotive industry has made its choice. The future will be powered by batteries and sustainable fuels, not hydrogen. And for Audi, that future starts now.
