Audi and China’s SAIC (owner of MG) have an alliance that will allow the German firm to enter a highly competitive market in China from 2023: that of electric cars. That is why they have decided this year to further strengthen their ties to launch three pure electric vehicles in the B and C segments thanks to SAIC’s platform, “but with Audi DNA.”
However, it seems that these models will not be so easily identifiable, since Audi could do without its four-ring logo.
A question of brand image
According to sources consulted by Reutersthe premium brand of the Volkswagen Group has decided to remove the four rings from its new Chinese electric cars (whose internal name is ‘Purple’), for “a consideration of brand image”. These will feature the jointly developed ‘Advanced Digitized Platform’, thanks to which Audi will be able to significantly reduce the time to market by more than 30%, with the first model landing on the market in 2025.
However, the Q4 e-tron, made with its joint venture partner FAW, the Q5 e-tron SUV, made with SAIC, and the Q6 e-tron, made with FAW and due to be launched later this year, are all sold in China with the logo. We have contacted the brand and are awaiting further information.
For now, we will have to wait for November to discover the first concept of the seriesbut everything indicates that its design will be inspired by the demands of the Chinese market, which is booming in Europe: Chinese brands registered more than 23,000 battery electric cars across the continent during the month of June, the highest figure in history.
That’s why foreign manufacturers need to step up their game to gain market share in China. According to data collected by the economic newspaper, Audi sold fewer than 10,000 electric vehicles in China in the first six months of 2024, a figure eight times lower than brands such as Nio or Zeekr.
Source: www.motorpasion.com
