Audi Logistics at the Neckarsulm site will use two trucks powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) to supply the site. The LNG trucks will replace conventional diesel vehicles and save up to 20% of CO₂ and around 85% of NO_x.

On its path toward CO₂-neutral production, Audi is considering the entire value chain. Logistics plays an equally important role as vehicle production itself.

Audi began conducting finished vehicle transports with “green trains” via Deutsche Bahn since 2010. In cooperation with Deutsche Bahn, this concept has been expanded gradually and consistently to include material transports and further sites. Further new train concepts are already being implemented.

Nevertheless, the infrastructure still requires the use of conventional trucks. Up to three CNG trucks (compressed natural gas) and one electric truck have been in use in local transportation at the site since 2016.

So far, the use of alternative drive technologies for medium distances and long-distance transport has not possible due to lacking infrastructure and technical restrictions. Together with a carrier, transport planner Alexander Graefe at the Neckarsulm site has now found a first alternative to diesel trucks that is also suitable for longer transport distances. Two trucks powered by LNG gas are now supplying the site with parts for the Audi A6 and A7 models. Another is to be added to the fleet by the end of the year.

LNG trucks have already been used successfully at the Audi Brussels site since 2018.

Audi bundles all activities and measures for reducing the ecological footprint in Production and Logistics in the cross-site Mission:Zero environmental program. The focus is on Audi’s key challenges of decarbonization, water use, resource efficiency, and biodiversity. One of the key objectives is to achieve CO₂-neutral production locations by 2025.