Audi is planning a wave of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for the Chinese market to meet rising demand for 'New Energy Vehicles' (NEVs).
Speaking to The China Daily, Audi China boss Joachim Wedler said: "We now will deliver more PHEVs to the market, and then the battery technique gives the real advantage to the customer, that is the distance customers can drive in a battery electric vehicle."
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He pointed out that Audi has already launched A3 e-tron, the Q7 e-tron, and the A6 e-tron in a long version for China. "The next part is shown in the concept battery SUV with a driving range more than 500 kilometres," he said.
"We will deliver enough NEVs to the Chinese market, locally produced and imported", he said. He also said that more charging stations are needed. "From the customers' daily usage point of view, they need charging stations. We need to play our role in investing charging poles for NEVs with societies, communities, independent brands and the government. To break through our strategy, we need a complete, functional charging structure all over China."
On the question more generally of prospects for the Chinese market, he acknowledged conditions of slowing demand. "We are facing the 'new normal' in China. We have seen a substantial growth rate last year, and everybody sees a growth slowdown now."
