‘AUDI’ in China has started series production of the electric E5 Sportback - created specifically for the Chinese market – at a plant in Anting, Shanghai. The car is the first to have been developed for a new AUDI-branded intelligent electric family of models under a strategic partnership between Audi and its Chinese partner SAIC.
AUDI (all characters capitalised) is Audi’s new China-only brand. Audi said last year that the new brand AUDI – without the four rings logo but spelled in four capital letters – signals both the connection to and differentiation from the sister brand. Gernot Döllner, Audi CEO said: “By launching this new brand for electric and intelligent models in China, Audi is breaking new ground to tap into new and more tech-savvy customer segments.”
Buyers in China can now preorder the AUDI E5 Sportback model, with the first vehicles planned to be delivered in September.
Fermín Soneira, CEO of the China-dedicated AUDI brand, said: “Every vehicle from the AUDI brand embodies the best of both worlds: iconic design, premium quality, technical precision, emotional driving dynamics, combined with China’s cutting-edge technology, innovation and digital ecosystem. With pre-sales now launched alongside production, the E5 Sportback enters the market fully equipped to deliver an uncompromising experience for Chinese customers. This milestone marks the beginning of a new era of ICVs.”
Dedicated production facility for AUDI models
To manufacture AUDI models, the two partners have established a dedicated production facility on the existing SAIC Volkswagen site in Anting, Shanghai. Initially, around 700 employees will produce the AUDI E5 Sportback there. Two additional AUDI models are scheduled to follow within the next two years. The manufacturing operations in Anting are defined by a high degree of automation, state-of-the-art technologies – including machine learning for quality monitoring – and a fully digitalized production management system.
The four-door AUDI E5 Sportback, is described as a fully electric fastback, combining dynamic proportions, power outputs of up to 579 kW and a maximum range of 770km. Four distinct powertrains offer rear-wheel or quattro drive for a ‘dynamic driving experience’, accelerating from 0-100km/h in up to 3.4 seconds.
The car is built on a new Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP) and offers ‘next-generation connected vehicle functionality and full-car over the air updates’.
