Audi kills off its electric R8 supercar – report

Well, that was rather unexpected. The Audi R8 e-tron electric vehicle has been killed off by the German automaker, it has been reported.

First revealed in 2015, the vehicle has seen “fewer than 100” units being built before the perplexing decision to drop the model, according to Car and Driver.

“We could have built more than we did,” an Audi representative told the publication.

The car had a US$1-million price tag but was limited to the European market.

Got an Audi R8 e-tron? Well, you’re in an exclusive club now

The move comes as more and more car manufacturers jump on the electric bandwagon, led by Tesla, Chevrolet, Nissan and BMW.

Of course, the likes of Chevrolet and Tesla are in the process of building cheaper electric cars (in the form of the Bolt and Model 3 respectively) rather than pricey supercars. Most recently, BMW has announced plans for an electric Mini as well.

Nevertheless, Audi has established a reputation in the motorsport world for a green focus. The German marque has a works team in the World Endurance Championship, using a combination of 4L turbo diesel engine and lithium ion batteries.

The company is also stepping up its participation in the all-electric Formula E series, backing Team Abt with a view to a works team in the near future. In other words, this doesn’t appear to be a sign of a larger shift by Audi.