Audi-SAIC CEO Fred Schulze Confirms AUDI Brand Will Launch Three New Models in China
Audi-SAIC CEO Fred Schulze Confirms AUDI Brand Will Launch Three New Models in China
Fred Schulze, chief executive officer of the joint venture between Audi and SAIC Motor, confirmed on November 10 that the AUDI letter-logo brand is accelerating its product rollout with three new models planned over the next three years. He emphasized that these vehicles are being developed exclusively for Chinese consumers, marking a strategic pivot to deepen the brand's presence in China without exporting to Europe.
Fred Schulze, chief executive officer of the joint venture between Audi and SAIC Motor, confirmed on November 10 that the AUDI letter-logo brand is accelerating its product rollout with three new models planned over the next three years. He emphasized that these vehicles are being developed exclusively for Chinese consumers, marking a strategic pivot to deepen the brand's presence in China without exporting to Europe.
Two of the upcoming vehicles have already been identified. The E5 Sportback is scheduled for launch in 2025, while the E7X will enter the market in May 2026 with a starting price of 269,800 yuan. Schulze stated that this pledge signals a transition from initial product seeding to a full portfolio expansion.
To support this growth, Audi and SAIC are set to open the Audi Innovation Technology Center (AITC) in Shanghai in September 2026. Schulze will serve as the board chairman of the center, overseeing the brand's operations from concept definition through volume deliveries. The facility is currently advancing the ADP 2.0 smart digital platform, which is expected to underpin four all-new AUDI models starting in 2028.
While the three newly promised models have not been specified, nor has their alignment with the ADP 2.0 roadmap been clarified, the brand has also set its sights on Level 3 autonomous driving technology. A deployment timeline for this feature remains undisclosed.
F.P.Pospischil--SbgTB
