Audi’s next-generation electric A4 has reportedly been delayed until 2029, with production now expected to begin in March at the earliest, according to industry sources.

The A4 e-tron was previously expected to enter production in mid-2028, following Audi’s plan to launch the car later that year. However, insiders reportedly believe production could slip further, potentially to late April or early May 2029.

The main issue is Volkswagen Group’s Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), the next-generation architecture intended to eventually replace both the MEB and PPE platforms. Despite being announced in 2021, SSP has yet to underpin a production vehicle.

Volkswagen has reportedly reduced the number of planned SSP variants from eight to four as it attempts to simplify the programme and increase component sharing. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner is also said to have added a 48-volt electrical system to the A4 programme, requiring changes to the platform’s electronic architecture.

Software development is another complication. SSP’s software architecture, being developed with Rivian, was originally designed around a 12-volt low-voltage network and now needs to accommodate the 48-volt system.

The delay could affect other models, including the electric Volkswagen Golf and T-Roc, which are reportedly being discussed as 2030 launches.

For Audi, the A4 nameplate has already undergone a major transformation. The previous combustion-engined A4 ended production in 2024 and was replaced by the A5. The electric successor is expected to return as both a saloon and Avant estate.

If production begins in 2029, SSP will arrive roughly three years later than originally planned.