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奥迪CEO否认关于该德国汽车制造商在华合资企业将合并的传闻 2026-03-18
Gernot Döllner, chief executive officer of Audi, has rebutted rumors that the German luxury carmaker's joint venture in China with local auto giant SAIC Motor will be integrated into its JV with Chinese peer FAW Group.The existing partnership model with the two Chinese partners is highly beneficial to Audi, Döllner said in an interview with Yicai yesterday. The company will stick to its dual-partner strategy in China, he stressed.
In May 2024, Audi announced it would jointly develop a new platform exclusively for the Chinese market with Shanghai-based SAIC, launching the AUDI brand, the first premium marque dedicated to China's new energy vehicle sector.
The AUDI brand is still in its early stages, focusing on solidifying its foundation, raising brand awareness, and completing its product lineup, Döllner pointed out. Audi and SAIC are holding positive talks and making progress to deepen ties, with the latest developments to be announced at an appropriate time, he said.
Audi's cooperation with SAIC is focused on advancing the AUDI brand. The first AUDI model, the E5 Sportback, launched in the second half of last year and will be followed by the E7X this year and another model next year.
The cooperation with FAW mainly focuses on the original Audi brand, with pure electric models based on the Premium Platform Electric and fuel vehicles expanding its lineup via the Premium Platform Combustion, Döllner said.
In the future, Audi will roll out more features tailored for the Chinese market, including a tie-up with tech giant Huawei Technologies, he noted, adding that the carmaker will maintain open cooperation with innovative companies in China.
As multinational automakers navigate the growing pains of electrification, Audi has carried out sweeping internal restructuring and adopted a new strategy, Döllner pointed out. Amid complex and volatile geopolitical conditions, it is re-evaluating its business model and diversifying its supply chain to reduce reliance, he said, while confirming that its supply chain has not been affected by the crisis in the Middle East.
Audi has begun the largest product offensive in its history worldwide, planning to introduce eight new models in China this year, including the Audi Q5L, Audi A6L, Audi A6L e-tron, and the E7X.
Audi's operating profit fell 13 percent to EUR3.4 billion (USD3.9 billion) last year from the previous year, while revenue rose to EUR65.5 billion (USD75.6 billion), according to its annual financial report. Its operating margin was 5.1 percent.
Source: Yicai Global
