Audi has started production for its Tesla rival — here's what we know about it so far

audi e-tron

Audi

• Audi began producing its electric e-tron SUV in Brussels on Monday, the company said in a press release.

• According to Audi, the e-tron will have a range of over 248 miles, two motors that deliver 414 pound-feet of torque, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under six seconds.

• Audi plans to start delivering the e-tron to US customers in early 2019.

• The e-tron, along with Jaguar's upcoming I-Pace SUV, will be the first Tesla Model X competitors available in the United States.

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Audi began producing its electric e-tron SUV in Brussels on Monday, the company said in a press release.

The company said its Brussels plant had received extensive modifications to handle production for the e-tron, which is Audi's first fully electric vehicle. The plant is carbon-neutral, which means it releases net zero carbon dioxide emissions, mostly due to using renewable energy sources.

Audi has so far shared photos of the e-tron in a camouflaged exterior and will unveil the vehicle's production version and begin taking reservations from US customers on September 17. The automaker plans to start delivering the e-tron to US customers in early 2019.

According to Audi, the e-tron will have a range of over 248 miles, two motors that deliver 414 pound-feet of torque, and the ability to accelerate from 0-60 mph in under six seconds. When using a 150 kW DC high-speed charger, the e-tron will be able to achieve an 80% charge in around 30 minutes, Audi says. Depending on the trim, Tesla's Model X SUV has a maximum range of 295 miles and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds.

The e-tron, along with Jaguar's upcoming I-Pace SUV, will be the first Model X competitors available in the United States. Once the e-tron and I-Pace are released, they may give a sense of whether, in the short-term, luxury electric SUVs can capture market share primarily through increased demand for high-end electric vehicles, or by competing for a relatively static number of customers.

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