- The third model from the AUDI brand specifically for Audi in China is the sedan.
- It’s coming next year and will join the E5 Sportback and E7X.
- All AUDI models will be pure electric.
It feels as if a new car brand is born in China every other day, but a recent product carries a familiar name. Audi and SAIC strengthened their relationship in 2024 by launching AUDI as a separate entity focused exclusively on electric vehicles. The E5 Sportback leads the way, positioned between an SUV and a wagon. The E7X is here this year as a true SUV.
In 2027, a third model will join the AUDI lineup. It will also not include the famous Four Rings, instead featuring the company name spelled in capital letters. The upcoming vehicle will be a sedan, which makes sense considering Chinese customers still prefer the traditional three-box shape. In fact, the A5 sold locally is a regular sedan with a trunk lid, while other countries get a five-door liftback.
Talk with ReutersThe CEO of the Audi Collaboration Project and SAIC shared some initial details about the third AUDI model. As well as emphasizing the sedan body style, Fermín Soneira described it as “a sporty model for the high end of the market”. The head honcho explained that it only took engineers two years to develop the car, as the process could be done quickly as it would only comply with Chinese regulations.
Meanwhile, sales of the first AUDI model have reached 10,000 units since the E5 Sportback was launched last September. The E7X goes on sale in the second quarter of this year, ahead of the sedan’s arrival in 2027. The existing model targets young and affluent buyers looking for something different from the general Audi range, as evidenced by its very different interior and exterior design.
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Source: Audi
Motorcycle Pickup1: The luxury sector is increasingly crowded in China, as the rise of local automakers increases competition with long-established brands. It’s too early to say whether AUDI can dominate its own market, but it certainly faces an uphill battle.
The A8 died this year, and Audi won’t have a replacement until the end of the decade. While AUDI’s large electric sedan won’t be a successor to its traditional flagship, we’re curious to see what “a sporty model for the high-end market” means.
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