Just a few weeks after unveiling the new look of the 2026 Audi Q3, the German manufacturer has officially confirmed the arrival of the premium SUV and its Sportback configuration in the national market, with production taking place in São José dos Pinhais (PR). The plant in the Curitiba metropolitan region has been producing the Q3 since 2016 and is currently undergoing adaptations to accommodate the arrival of the two models next year.
The third generation of the Q3 features notable visual changes. The SUV has grown 4 cm in length and now measures 4.53m. The front grille has a new format, has been widened, and features horizontal elements. The headlights are now divided into two parts, with the DRL at the top and the main unit below.
The rear of the SUV features a illuminated bar connecting the taillights, and the new bumpers add more robustness to the vehicle. The cabin has also undergone significant changes, from the steering wheel to the larger and more technologically advanced instrument panel and central multimedia system.
“We are very excited to announce this new phase of our factory in Brazil. From 2026, we will produce a new model, reinforcing our confidence in the country and our commitment to offering our latest innovations to consumers,” says Philippe Siffert, Executive Director and CFO of Audi do Brasil.
The history of Audi’s production in Brazil began in 1999 with the first generation of the Audi A3, which had its production interrupted in 2006.
In 2012, the Brazilian government created the Inovar-Auto program, a subsidy program designed to foster technological innovation and strengthen the automotive production chain. As a result, Audi do Brasil decided to resume vehicle production in the country, which resumed in 2015 with the Audi A3 Sedan. After the arrival of the Q3 in 2016, the manufacturer also began producing the Q3 Sportback in the country in 2022.
The Audi factory in São José dos Pinhais plays a strategic role for the brand in South America and has been responsible for introducing new technologies to the national automotive market. These include the iconic quattro all-wheel drive and eight-speed tiptronic transmission in a vehicle with a transverse engine, both of which are being produced for the first time in the country.
“The production of the new Audi Q3 in Brazil demonstrates the brand’s confidence in the Brazilian market. At this moment, we are entering the adaptation phase, and soon we will be able to reveal all the technologies that we will offer in this car in our country,” says Rogério Varga, head of Government Affairs and Legal at Audi do Brasil.
