[See image gallery at www.autoguide.com]
When Audi revealed the e-tron it said that the order books were open. And the brand’s first electric crossover is going to stay on the order books.
The company isn’t planning to keep them in stock at dealers, letting buyers order their car instead of dealers holding large inventories.
That’s according to a new report from Automotive News who says that the move is an effort to cut costs and maybe help the electric vehicle do something that few others can manage. Turn a profit.
SEE ALSO: The $74,000 Audi e-tron Debuts in San Francisco
It’s not uncommon even for non-electric vehicles outside of North America. A few demonstrators are available, but you order the one you want, the way you want, from the factory. Audi of America President Scott Keogh likes the idea. “I think it would be a beautiful world if you can go to a dealer — and we’d like to find that beautiful world — with zero floorplan [expense] and proper, full gross on the car. This would be a beautiful state; so let’s go see if we can find this dream state.”
The premium dealer network Audi offers is still important to the company, Keogh said, and that it’s still an advantage over competitors like the Tesla Model X.
The new idea would help every Audi dealer to be able to sell the car. No need to keep several in inventory in a low-incentive state that might see only a few customers for an electric per year. But they could still easily get you one if you wanted it.
The wait will depend on demand, but it could be even a year or more, according to the report.
A spokesperson for Audi clarified that dealers could order for stock if they wanted to, and will have demos available.
[Source: Automotive News]
A version of this story originally appeared on Fourtitude.
The post Audi E-Tron Won’t be Stocked at Dealers – You’ll Have to Order One appeared first on AutoGuide.com.