The new model will go on sale next year and slot below the Tiguan in both size and price.

The ID4 crossover is expected to be revealed globally on Sept. 23 and will arrive in U.S. dealers at the end of the year.

In a sign of the challenges facing incumbent EV makers in the wake of Tesla's success, Audi is lowering the price of its first battery-electric crossover to $66,995, including shipping, while increasing the EPA-estimated range from 204 to 222 miles.

EVs are at an inflection point as mass-market consumers gain reassurance that charging is widely available and designs look more traditional.

Onetime VW executive Oliver Schmidt will serve the remaining years of his prison sentence in his native Germany. A U.S. District Court magistrate approved a request by Schmidt to return home to serve the final two years of his sentence in a German prison.

Oliver Schmidt is expected to appear before a federal magistrate next week on his request to finish his seven-year prison sentence in his native Germany for his key role in VW's diesel-emissions scandal, the Detroit News reported.

The first undisguised images of VW's upcoming ID4 battery electric crossover have leaked online, showing that it will maintain styling close to the German automaker's fossil fuel-powered lineup while keeping elements that identify it as an EV.

The new office will employ about 60 engineers and initially use a fleet of specially marked Audi Q7s to gather data for development of advanced driver-assistance systems.

Volkswagen of America parted ways with Saad Chehab after just nine months. His successor will be the sixth marketing chief in a decade.

VW cited its suppliers and the state of the market as reasons for extending its U.S. plant's shutdown. Toyota plans a slow ramp-up. 

The plant, which makes the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport crossovers and the Passat sedan, has been shut down since March 21.

More automakers are stopping production at their U.S. plants to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

While cost, range, charging infrastructure and consumer apathy remain barriers to EV sales, those obstacles are weakening as battery technology improves and grows cheaper and charging infrastructure expands, said Audi of America's head of electrification, Cody Thacker.

Duncan Movassaghi will take over as VW brand's sales and marketing head in the U.S. He joined VW of America from Skoda in 2018.

Audi said the brand would evaluate auto shows to determine if they are the best platform for premieres of upcoming models.