Behold! Audi Unveils Four World Premieres at Auto Shanghai 2021

As of recent, Audi alongside two of its Chinese partners companies, FAW and SAIC has revealed four world premieres at the Auto Shanghai 2021 - the brand-new Audi A6 e-tron concept vehicle and the updated Audi Q5L, in addition to the Audi A7L and an SUV study which is still beneath the covers. Named Audi concept Shanghai, the latter two products were made by their new partner, SAIC Audi. 

Aiming for electromobility, a new production site for electric vehicles in Changchun and a second partnership with SAIC Motor Corporation, Audi believes these are the pillars in implementing Audi’s future China strategy. 

“We are actively pushing ahead with the change to sustainable mobility in China. With our new arrangements we have created the perfect foundation for this, and are setting a new strategic course for Audi’s business in China,” says Markus Duesmann, CEO of AUDI AG.

Nearing the end of 2020, the company announced the founding of Audi FAW NEV Co. As part of its long-standing joint venture with FAW, Audi is in the works of building a new automotive plant dedicated to the future generation of electric-powered vehicles on the new PPE technology platform. From 2024 onwards in Changchun, the first series-manufactured automobiles for the Chinese market are expected to roll off the assembly line.

Expanding its presence in China, Audi has partnered with SAIC Motor Corporation with production plans in the Shanghai Volkswagen plant in Anting/Shanghai. 

“In cooperation with our partner of many years, FAW, we have successfully built up our business in China for three decades. Together with FAW and our second partner in cooperation, SAIC, we are now entering a new phase of growth. These are partnerships with which we will continue our successful course in Audi’s biggest market.” stated President of Audi China, Werner Eichhorn. 

Four world premieres were done at Auto Shanghai, providing an outlook on specific developments for Audi’s future. The first being the Audi A6 e-tron concept which shows what a vehicle based on the PPE platform will look like - a 4.96-meter-long Sportback with 100 kWh battery that allows up to 700 kilometres of driving. Produced in Europe and China, this model will take no more than 10 minutes to recharge for a 300 kilometres journey thanks to its 800-volt technology. 

An all-new Audi Q5L was also presented, featuring a longer wheelbase. The upgraded SUV will continue to be manufactured in the Changchun plant in the FAW-VW joint venture. 

SAIC Audi has also revealed two debutants, one being an electric vehicle while the other offers a powerful internal combustion engine under the hood. The first vehicle is the redesigned Audi A7L limousine, which is set for production in 2021. Manufactured in Shanghai and reserved for the Chinese market, the Audi A7L features a sporty look while maintaining elegance of a large limousine. Some of the innovative technologies featured are the adaptive air suspension, rear-wheel steering and the permanent quattro four-wheel drive. 

In addition, a second debutant which was still in the covers was also revealed. Named Audi concept Shanghai, the SUV study will be under the new program and features an all-electric, 4.87-meter-long vehicle which will be unveiled in the second half of 2021.

Audi was the first premium manufacturer to start local production in China under the FAW-VW joint venture in 1988. Since then, 7 million vehicles have been delivered in the country with four plant sites - Changchun, Foshan, Tianjin and Qingdao. In the first quarter of 2021, Audi has supplied 207,386 cars to customers in China.