Audi Admits Renaming A4 to A5 Was a Mistake; Classic Name to Return

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner recently acknowledged publicly that renaming the popular A4 model to A5 was a "mistake." Previously, Audi had planned to use odd numbers for internal combustion engine vehicles and even numbers for electric vehicles, which led to the A4 sedan and Avant (wagon) being merged into the A5 lineup—causing widespread confusion among customers and dealers. Following significant feedback, Audi has abandoned this naming strategy and canceled its original plan to rename the A6 as the A7. Döllner stated that the company will return to its traditional naming system: the "A" series will denote sedans, the "Q" series SUVs, with numbers reflecting the vehicle's class hierarchy. He also revealed that the next-generation A4 is expected to revert to its original name, with high-performance variants S4 and RS4 returning accordingly. This move also signals Audi’s decision to slow down its full electrification pace and reassess its product naming and market strategies.