Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback, Porsche Porsche Taycan May Be Axed? Volkswagen Group Plans to Cut 50% of Models by 2030

The Volkswagen Group is advancing an aggressive product-line rationalization plan — according to Germany's Bild newspaper, citing internal sources, the group aims to reduce its global model count by up to 50% by 2030, with several electric models from the Audi and Porsche brands potentially retiring from production.

Although Volkswagen has not officially released a definitive list of discontinued models, multiple international media outlets, drawing on aggregated sources, report that a 'specific list' has surfaced. It covers both ICE and electric models — including the Audi Q5 Sportback, the all-electric Q6 e-tron Sportback, and the Porsche electric Taycan. The report states that Taycan will not receive a next-generation successor; likewise, the Porsche 718 series (ICE-powered Boxster/Cayman) is also slated for phaseout — but its battery-electric version does not appear on the list, suggesting that project remains active.

Notably, while the Audi Q6 e-tron Sportback is mentioned, its sibling — the Audi e-tron GT — is absent from the list; similarly, the Volkswagen ID.5 electric fastback SUV (sold in Europe and the UK but not launched in the U.S.) is rumored to be 'potentially discontinued', though no official confirmation has been issued.

Meanwhile, Audi is accelerating its new EV rollout: a compact entry-level electric A2 and a flagship full-size SUV — the Q9 — are both scheduled for launch in 2026. The Volkswagen Group is also shifting strategic focus toward its next-generation electrified platforms — including new models like the ID. Polo — to counter mounting competitive pressure from Chinese brands such as BYD and Xiaomi in efficiency, intelligence, and cost competitiveness.

Industry observers note this move is not isolated, but part of a broader restructuring that includes potential global workforce reductions of up to 100,000 employees. Phasing out legacy ICE vehicles and concentrating on core EV offerings has become a key pathway for Volkswagen to respond to structural market shifts — though final decisions on which models remain in production await official confirmation.