In China you can buy an 800 HP Audi for a price of a bare A3. The only catch is that it’s not an Audi

We already explained some time ago in this house how AUDI was formed in China and in what aspects it differs from the one we all know in Europe. in China its four rings disappear to display the manufacturer’s name in capital letters on the front of their cars. But beyond the difference in their logo, it is clear that their cars are completely different. This makes sense, since the firm embarked on a stage in which wanted to adapt to local tastes taking inspiration from the brands that are already established there. Even if that means eliminating all traces of what we know about Audi to date.

In China, AUDI markets an electric vehicle with 770 HP of power and that costs between 28,000 and 40,000 euros in exchange. Meanwhile, an equivalent model in Europe could easily exceed 100,000 euros. We are talking about the AUDI E5 Sportback, which was already presented in 2024, and which continues to surprise due to the contrast of the figures they manage there and here in Europe. Although we make no mistake, we know perfectly well that it is not an Audi.

An Audi that is not Audi. The E5 Sportback is the result of a joint venture between Audi AG and SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation), the Chinese state company. Although it has German engineers behind the interior design and chassis development, the technical architecture, components and production are completely Chinese. In fact, the vehicle is based on the SAIC platform, the same one used by IM Motors, another brand of the Chinese group.

German YouTuber Jean Pierre Kraemer, better known as JP Performance, has had quite a bit of traction on one of his latest videossince it has been able to show the ins and outs of this car through an imported unit. “This car has as much to do with an Audi technically as… well, many of our viewers have never seen it before,” he said.

The trap of the Chinese market. 770 HP, 0-100 km/h in 3.4 seconds, 100 kWh battery, ultra-fast charging up to 424 kW and… it costs almost less than a basic Audi A3 in Spain. But hey, it’s really not the first case nor the last. This is due to cost structure in China.

We are talking above all about lower wages, local production of batteries up to 15% cheaper than in Europe, according to data from Business Insider, massive state subsidies for production plants, aid for the purchase of electric vehicles, and a brutal price war between local manufacturers that forces even foreign premium brands to adjust their offerings to survive.

The dilemma of German manufacturers. For brands like Audi, Volkswagen or BMW, China represents a critical market. According to account Audi, the firm sold approximately 650,000 units in China in 2024, compared to just 198,000 in Germany. That is, the Chinese market is three times larger than the German one for the Ingolstadt firm.

These figures explain why Audi has surrendered to the conditions of the Asian giant: because to sell there, foreign brands are required by law to form joint ventures with local companies. The result is that Audi provides the design and part of the engineering, but SAIC provides the technology, factories and know-how for mass production at low cost.

The reaction of the Chinese market. The E5 Sportback reached 10,000 units sold in its first 30 minutes since its launch. One week after the debut of the E5 Sportback, Audi presented the SUV versionand a luxury sedan on the same platform is even rumored. For Chinese consumers, the E5 competes directly with the Xiaomi SU7 and other high-end local electrics. Logically, the car will not reach our lands, and if something similar is done in terms of equipment and technology, it is clear that we will not see it at that price either.

Cover image | AUDI

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