Audi's current A8 flagship sedan will be remaining on sale for longer than anticipated, as its fully-electric successor has been pushed back. The delay is due in part to hesitation to launch the high-end EV in this market, as battery-powered vehicles have been experiencing a drop in demand. Audi is also happy with the success of the current A8 over in China, and it wants things to stay that way.

The next A8 was supposed to launch later this year, based on the elegant Grandsphere concept. It would be replacing the D5 model that debuted all the way back in 2017, before a refresh came in the second half of 2021 to liven things up. Now, Audi is considering yet another facelift for the D5-generation A8, as its electric successor won't be arriving until at least 2027.

A second facelift for the A8 would follow the recent strategy Audi has made with the Q7 crossover. That model debuted in its current form all the way back in 2015, and has just introduced its second refresh for the 2025 model year.

Another update for the A8 would keep demand steady in its strongest markets, namely China, where large gas-powered sedans remain very popular. In fact, Audi offers an even larger A8 L and an extra-luxurious Horch model exclusively for Chinese customers. While the A8 doesn't perform quite as well in places such as Europe and North America, the large sedan will remain on sale in those markets for the time being.

Meanwhile, the A8's biggest rivals from BMW and Mercedes have already introduced fully-electric equivalents to the 7-Series and S-Class. However, these brands are also moving to scale back their EV strategies, as their respective i7 and EQS sedans aren't selling very well. Those who would prefer an electric Audi sedan before the electric A8 arrives in 2027 will have to go for the sleek E-Tron GT, or the forthcoming A6 E-Tron.

Image Credits: Audi