Audi CEO Claims That One Of The Q9’s Best Features Is Its Standard Door Handles

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner revealed that switching to conventional door handles for the new Q9 just 45 weeks before production is one of his proudest achievements.

Why was this change implemented so close to the production deadline? Typically, automotive manufacturers invest significant time in refining prototype models to ensure they are perfected by the time the CEO conducts a final test drive. In this instance, CEO Gernot Döllner scrutinized the door handles and concluded that the proposed electronic design was impractical. Although Audi had developed a sophisticated, innovative handle, Döllner determined after his evaluation that, from a consumer perspective, the conventional handle remained the superior choice.

Engineering Experts

Döllner also expressed particular pride in the fact that his decision to revert to conventional door handles—made just weeks before production—did not disrupt the manufacturing timeline. While the mechanism for opening and locking a vehicle door may appear straightforward, implementing such a change late in the process is notoriously complex. Döllner commended the production team, noting that while modifying door handle designs typically requires a two-year development cycle, the engineering department successfully adapted the existing tooling to meet the revised requirements.

Regarding the design features that were ultimately discarded, the CEO noted that the innovative door handle was intended to feature a wing-type configuration positioned atop the door. This mechanism was designed to utilize piezoelectric technology, requiring only minimal physical pressure to activate. Although this feature was excluded from the final Q9 production, the CEO suggested that the technology may be repurposed for different market segments, noting its lack of suitability for a full-size SUV.

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