Audi and SAIC Motor are accelerating their collaboration, with a roadmap to launch three new car models within the next three years. Fred Schulze, CEO of the Audi-SAIC strategic partnership, confirmed that the plans are already in the execution phase.
Focus on China and Electrification
Schulze emphasized that Audi’s models developed under this partnership are specifically designed for Chinese consumers. The core mission for the coming years is to intensely focus on the Chinese market, ruling out immediate export plans to Europe for these particular vehicles.
This strategic move aligns with Audi China’s recent announcement of formalizing its partnership structure. By signing new strategic agreements with both China FAW Group and SAIC Motor, Audi aims to strengthen the distinct positioning and strategic focus of its ‘Four Rings’ brand and the ‘AUDI’ lettering brand. This initiative underscores Audi’s long-term commitment to the Chinese market under a ‘dual-brand, dual-partner’ channel architecture.
- China FAW Group will enhance the market leadership of the Audi ‘Four Rings’ brand in both intelligent luxury new energy vehicles and traditional fuel-powered vehicles.
- SAIC Audi will concentrate on the ‘AUDI’ lettering brand, focusing exclusively on the new energy vehicle (NEV) market and introducing next-generation intelligent connected vehicles tailored to Chinese consumer needs.
Innovation Hub and Future Platforms
Further supporting this strategy, Audi recently inaugurated its Innovation Center in Shanghai. This R&D facility is dedicated to the ‘AUDI’ lettering brand and possesses comprehensive vehicle development capabilities from concept to end-of-line production.
The collaboration between Audi and SAIC will leverage the Audi ADP 2.0 (Advanced Digitized Platform), a dedicated architecture designed for future intelligent connected vehicles. This platform will serve as the foundation for jointly developing four new ‘AUDI’ lettering brand models. The new product lineup is expected to expand and complement the existing range of Audi vehicles in China. The first model developed on this new platform is slated for release in 2028.
Autonomous Driving Ambitions
Beyond new model development, Audi is also setting clear goals in the realm of L3-level autonomous driving, signaling its commitment to advancing cutting-edge automotive technology within the Chinese market.
This intensified focus on the Chinese market and the strategic differentiation between the ‘Four Rings’ and ‘AUDI’ lettering brands, coupled with significant R&D investments and the upcoming new models, positions Audi for sustained growth and competitiveness in one of the world’s largest and most dynamic automotive landscapes.
