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Just a few days ago, we reported that Audi had unveiled its new A2 e-tron electric car, and now the company has begun mass production of this model at its plant in Ingolstadt. The first cars rolled off the assembly line in the presence of Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder.
According to Audi representatives, the company managed to shorten the development time for the new A2 e-tron by a full 21 months compared to “previous vehicle projects.” This was made possible by using fewer parts and implementing measures to reduce complexity, space requirements, and “logistical efforts.”
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In Ingolstadt, Audi is applying the so-called “strings-of-pearls” production principle for the first time, a method previously successfully implemented at the company’s plant in Neckarsulm. Under this system, the sequence of customer orders is determined six days before assembly begins and is then processed across all production areas. This type of production management offers several key advantages: among other things, it simplifies the process, as the fixed sequence allows parts to be manufactured directly by the supplier in the correct order and packed into the designated container. In addition, Audi improves the cost-effectiveness of the production process, as areas for storing and sorting parts by sequence are no longer required.
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Audi’s flexible production capacity planning allows for the manufacture of A2 bodies alongside A3 bodies. Fully automated robotic stations install the wheels, and robots can even retrieve small body components directly from “disordered containers” and feed them to the next stage of production.
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The company uses “a range of AI-supported knowledge assistants across production sites.” The Supply Chain chatbot “helps employees search for expert knowledge, processes, and documentation,” while the maintenance chatbot “supports maintenance teams with fault analysis and finding solutions.”
The company states that the production process for the new A2 is “an example of Audi’s transformation,” as production becomes less complex and more automated. At the same time, people remain the central factor in success, and modern technologies merely provide “targeted support to employees in their tasks.”
Audi developed the A2 e-tron specifically to meet the needs of European buyers. The company has already begun accepting pre-orders, and the official sales launch is scheduled for December. The starting price for the electric vehicle will be €38,200, which is equivalent to approximately $44,300.
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