Audi and SAIC have opened a technology center in Shanghai to develop the next generation of electric vehicles for their China-exclusive sister brand. The center will oversee future models from initial concept through production readiness, with around 300 employees working on vehicle engineering, software and driver assistance. Audi says putting those teams closer to Chinese customers and technology suppliers will help shorten development cycles.
TWO BRANDS, TWO PRODUCT STRATEGIES
Audi illustrated the distinction at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, where it displayed the S5 Avant alongside the E7X. The S5 Avant, with its turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 and Premium Platform Combustion underpinnings, represents the four-ring brand’s strategy of bringing global models with a range of powertrains to China. The 900-volt E7X is the first SUV from AUDI, the four-letter brand established with SAIC in 2024 to develop premium EVs specifically for China.
The E7X followed the E5 Sportback, which launched in 2025 as the brand’s first production model. A third model is planned to round out the initial lineup. Both current models use the Advanced Digitized Platform, and the Shanghai team will develop its second generation. Audi MediaCenter’s E7X overview
SHANGHAI WILL DEVELOP THE NEXT PLATFORM
The AUDI Innovation & Technology Center will focus on advanced driver assistance and AI-powered cabin features, including interfaces that can handle multiple forms of input and assistants that can carry out tasks. The team is working with an unnamed Chinese AI and cloud provider to explore integrating its models into the vehicle architecture early in development. Its remit also includes ongoing software updates after the cars reach customers. Audi MediaCenter’s technology center announcement
The platform assignment is the clearest sign of how much responsibility Audi and SAIC are putting in Shanghai. The local team will have a hand in defining the next cars from the outset, including the hardware and software that determine how quickly new features can reach customers.
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