Audi to Launch All-New Q9 SUV in U.S. Market First

Audi is breaking with tradition by introducing its new model in the U.S. market before its global launch for the first time. The all-new full-size SUV, the Q9, will debut in the United States in 2027 before being rolled out worldwide, marking Audi’s first large SUV in this segment. According to Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, the Q9 and the next-generation Q7 are crucial to the brand’s positioning in the U.S. market. Both models will be produced at Audi’s plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, and will be offered with internal combustion engines and plug-in hybrid powertrains—but not as fully electric variants. The Bratislava facility also produces vehicles such as the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Passat. Additionally, Audi confirmed that the A2 will make a comeback, the electric Concept C sports car will enter production in 2027, and the successor to the A8 will be launched later this decade. Analysts note that the Q9 is specifically tailored for the U.S. market, aiming to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7, and that an even more premium Porsche flagship SUV variant could follow in the future.