Audi boss brimming with confidence after China visit

Audi has full confidence in the Chinese market and is determined to beef up efforts in its electrification shift, said the German carmaker's top executive on Friday.

"China has seen exciting economic data since it optimized epidemic response measures. We are very optimistic about the Chinese economy as well as the market," said CEO Markus Duesmann during his visit to Beijing.

Over the past decades, Audi has played a leading role in China's premium vehicle market Duesmann said, adding that it is speeding up its electrification transformation based on those strengths.

The German carmaker will introduce more new energy vehicle models, expand the network of charging piles in China, and offer customers more enjoyable experiences during car purchase, use and after-sales service, according to the senior executive.

In addition, Duesmann said Audi will step up research and development efforts to meet the growing demands of Chinese consumers for digitalization and smart connectivity.

Audi China President Juergen Unser said Audi is expected to see NEV-driven growth in China in the near future, due to its solid foundation and closer collaboration with its two Chinese partners, FAW and SAIC Motor.

In June 2022, the Audi FAW NEV Company, also Audi's first all-electric vehicle production site in China, began construction in Changchun, Jilin province.

With a total investment of 2.6 billion euros ($2.77 billion), the joint venture will produce a new generation of intelligent electric models based on the Premium Platform Electric or PPE that Audi has co-developed with Porsche.

The plant shows Audi's long-term commitment to China, said Duesmann, who visited the ongoing construction during this trip.

"We are very pleased with how it has progressed and will strengthen cooperation with our local partners to achieve greater performance in China's NEV market," he added.

Audi released three pure electric models in China last year: the Q4 e-tron, the RS e-tron GT and the Q5 e-tron Roadjet.

It plans to launch another, the Q6 e-tron SUV, globally in the second half of this year, which will be imported to China initially and produced in Changchun from 2024, said Audi.