Audi’s new range of electric cars, developed in China for the Chinese market, will not carry its distinctive four-ring logo, sources with direct knowledge of the plans said. The decision by the German Volkswagen-owned marque was made due to “brand image considerations,” one of the sources said.
The decision also reflects the use of automotive architecture developed in collaboration with Chinese partner SAIC and increased reliance on local suppliers and technologies. The new series, internally named “Purple”, will have a different logo or simply carry the Audi name on the vehicles, Reuters reports.
A concept car for the series will be unveiled in November, when Audi will also explain the “brand story” of the series, sources said. It is planned to introduce nine new models by 2030. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the automaker has not announced plans.
Audi declined to comment on what it called speculation, while SAIC said the electric vehicles would be “real Audi with authentic Audi DNA”.
Chinese car manufacturers are increasingly gaining a share of their domestic market, the largest in the world, with technically advanced electric vehicles. This led to a decline in sales of foreign car manufacturers, who rely much more on models with gasoline engines, forcing them to form new partnerships.
Audi and SAIC, a longtime VW partner, indicated in May that they will jointly develop an electric vehicle platform for the Chinese market. Developing cars specifically for China allows foreign car manufacturers to familiarize themselves with the latest functions in electric vehicles and Chinese tastes.
Source: Biznis.rs / Reuters
Photo: Archive Autoblog.rs / Audi
Source: autoblog.rs
