Audi A8 May Be Living on Borrowed Time As Germany Stops Taking Orders

Key Points

• Audi A8 orders closed in Germany, raising questions about sedan's production future.
• Audi spokesperson: “will communicate further details about a possible successor at a later date.”
• U.S. A8 sales dropped, reflecting declining demand for large luxury sedans.

The First Domino Falls

While the Audi A8 can still be configured in the U.S., the luxury full-size sedan is no longer available on the configurator in Germany. Motor1 reached out to the German marque, which confirmed that the order books closed on February 18.

Closing the order books can signal several things, including that the end of production may be approaching. If that’s the case, it reflects the broader market reality for large luxury sedans, with Jaguar and Maserati already ending production of the XJ and Quattroporte, respectively. Lexus is also ending the LS, even releasing a Heritage Edition as a send-off for the model.

A Future Still Up in the Air

However, nothing has been confirmed as of this writing, with A8 spokesperson Marcel Bestle telling the publication that Audi “will communicate further details about a possible successor at a later date.”

The use of “possible” suggests it is still unconfirmed whether the current D5 generation — introduced in 2017 — will receive a successor. The model has served as the brand’s full-size luxury sedan since 1994, offering posh in-car features such as a chauffeur-style rear seat with a touchscreen controller integrated into the center armrest.

The A8 competes primarily with the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class — both of which are still receiving significant updates. For instance, the S-Class has been updated for the 2027 model year, with about 50 percent of its parts new or re-engineered.

Sales Paint a Clear Picture

In the U.S., Audi sold just 1,406 A8s in 2025, down 14 percent from the previous year. That figure is also significantly lower than its SUV counterpart, the Q8, which moved 10,881 units. The disparity highlights the growing pressure on the sedan segment, raising questions about how Audi plans to approach the market going forward. Reports suggest a potential successor won’t arrive until 2029 — if the company ultimately decides to build one.

With the order books now closed in its home market, it could signal that other markets may soon follow. For those still looking to get one while it’s available, the 2026 A8 starts at $95,100, excluding the $1,295 destination charge. The more performance-oriented S8 — starting at $130,000 — is also still available on the U.S. configurator, packing a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 563 horsepower.