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Audi Says No A1 Plans For U.S., Again

 
5 4,196 views May 21, 2010
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2011 Audi A1

2011 Audi A1

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Depending who you're talking to, Americans are either SUV-loving small-car haters or clamoring for more Euro-hatches to be brought to U.S. streets. Audi thinks most Americans fall into the former camp, claiming that the country's car-buying populace just isn't ready for the A1 premium subcompact, despite the popularity of cars like the MINI Cooper.


The comparison is apt, as the MINI Cooper is arguably the only premium subcompact on the U.S. market at the moment, and Audi's new A1 is expected to target that size and market segment over the niche being eyed by Toyota's iQ or the Volkswagen Up.

Audi's new A1 goes on sale this Europe and demand over there may exceed the first year's planned production of 50,000 units. However, there remains no plans to bring it to local showrooms. The reasoning? Customers in the U.S. are unlikely to foot the expected $25,500 asking price.

While the A1 may be off the table for now, a larger A2 model is in the works and is a very real possibility for the U.S. market. It's not yet clear exactly when the A2 will be coming, though the wait will be long as current estimates put its release date at around 2014.

[Detroit Free Press]





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Comments (5)

  1. SCF Posted: 5/21/2010 7:01am PDT

    They can keep it, this car is just butt ugly.
     
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  2. John Hurlock Posted: 5/21/2010 8:49am PDT

    It sounds like a self fulfilling prophecy to me. If the Mini is successful and no one brings in a competitor, then how can the manufacturers say Americans don’t want a small premium car? Alfa, BMW, VW, Peugeot, Renault, Mercedes, Citroen, Ford and Opel all have premium hot hatches (and I don’t mean four door sedans that are forced on us like the new Fiesta) that many Americans want to buy. Do we really need 100+ SUV models to choice from and only one (until the FIAT 500 gets here) small three door hot hatch?? I think it’s the old American axiom, “small cars are cheap transportation and the customer really wants a big luxo barge if they could afford it”, still holds true unfortunately. Auto companies get a clue!!!
     
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  3. Axel Posted: 5/21/2010 9:52am PDT

    Duh! What part do I not understand from AUDI, Hello!! the Mini is the Bread and Butter for BMW the reasoning stated in not bringing the A1 is SOOOOO Stupid it defys the normal Cro-magnun's intelligence. Damn they are dumb, Fiat is coming with the 500 and VW with the Polo and possible the GTI aint that a motherf@#$%*! Like John stated we already over maybe a Thousand SUV models and many pocket rockets to choose from whats wrong AUDI? Big brother VW doesnt want compettion amungst themselves. Hey, many Americans do go the cheap way lets say Dodge, Ford etc and even they are jumping on the bandwagon of hot hatches WTF Audi get your act together. At least the A1 is of my list to possibly buy and BTW the A2 Hell no!! to damn ugly
     
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  4. tdy1339 Posted: 5/21/2010 2:19pm PDT

    Let me throw a different reason: Audi in Europe has already reached the pinnacle, topping Mercedes Benz and BMW in terms of prestige and perceived quality (which are synonyms in the old world). So it makes sense for Audi to release a premium sub-compact A1 to reach to the masses while still enjoying hefty profit margins.
    Not so much in the US where Audi still pales in sales volume compared to Lexus (even though in my mind they don't compete in the same category. Refer to the perceived quality comment above: it is all about the amount of foam on the dashboard surface and the narrower width between 2 body panels, 2 items that Americans don't value as much as Europeans. Lexus is still nowhere near to Audi in these areas).
    So Audi priority for the US is more the Q5, A5, A6 and upcoming A7 to be recognized as a premium car vendor. A1 will be for the next gen, in 5 years.
     
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  5. David Turnedge Posted: 5/22/2010 6:29pm PDT

    You'd have to say that the A3 is more suitable to the US market... the A1 is tiny.
    How does the VW GTI sell in the US? Is it a top 10 seller or a niche model?
     
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