Audi is the first car manufacturer in the UK to receive Electric Vehicle Approved (EVA) accreditation across its entire network of centres. Developed by the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), endorsed by the Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and independently audited by Energy Saving Trust, the EVA accreditation is a clear demonstration of electric vehicle expertise across all areas of automotive retail and Audi’s achievement is a reflection of the company being at the forefront of electric vehicle development.
Despite having one of the largest networks of retailers in the UK, Audi is the first brand to achieve 100 percent EVA approval across its 113 Centres. This achievement is a reflection of Audi’s commitment to electric vehicles and ambition to become the leading provider of sustainable mobility. The EVA scheme encourages dealerships to further develop their ability in selling and servicing electric vehicles and build consumer confidence in electric vehicle technology.
Andrew Doyle Director Audi UK, commented: “Audi has a clear and unwavering commitment to electric vehicles – from 2026 every new model we launch will be fully electric. It’s therefore essential that our expertise and knowledge are applied across the entire business and visible to all – especially to our customers.
“Being the first manufacturer in the UK to achieve 100 percent network EVA accreditation is a testament to our first-class teams across our dealer network and at Audi UK. We are matching rapid customer interest in our electric vehicles by equipping our company and staff with the tools and training they need to provide a seamless and confidence-inspiring experience to our customers as we accelerate the transition to a fully electric future.”
As part of the EVA accreditation, each Audi Centre is independently audited by the Energy Saving Trust to verify that they meet a set of standards covering EV sales and aftersales. These include the customer qualification process, staff knowledge and training, EV demonstration and handover processes as well as the availability of EV service bays and charge points on site.
In the first 10 months of 2022, Audi UK sold 9,781 electric vehicles representing a 12.6 percent increase year-on-year. Today’s lineup of fully electric models comprises the e-tron SUV and e-tron Sportback, e-tron GT and high-performance RS e-tron GT as well as the increasingly popular Q4 e-tron SUV and Q4 Sportback e-tron. In March 2023 will also welcome the new Q8 e-tron family into Audi Centres. Within the next three years, Audi’s product portfolio will expand to include at least 20 fully electric vehicles.
Commenting on Audi’s success, Sue Robinson, Chief Executive of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), which launched the EVA scheme, said: “Audi reaching 100 percent EVA accreditation across its entire UK network, is an incredible achievement and is another significant milestone for the NFDA’s EVA scheme itself. The financial investment and dedication to achieve this highlights the importance Audi places on the decarbonisation of UK transport and its expertise in the EV retailing sector. We are delighted to now call one of the most recognisable automotive manufacturers 100 percent Electric Vehicle Approved.
“The rapid growth of the programme means that consumers looking to make the shift to electric will be able to do so at an increasing number of EVA sites, benefiting from the informed sales staff, a better range of EV models and improved EV facilities and charge points. This will all contribute to improving consumer confidence and drive EV adoption. We hope that Audi is the first of many to achieve 100 percent accreditation as the scheme continues to gain momentum and increase its coverage of dealerships within the UK.”
