- FAW Audi will focus on NEVs and combustion-engine models under the 4-ring brand, while SAIC Audi will concentrate on the AUDI letter-logo brand.
- SAIC Audi can continue selling 4-ring models through the end of 2027.
Audi has unveiled a new division of responsibilities between its 2 Chinese partners, with FAW Audi focusing on the 4-ring brand and SAIC Audi concentrating on the AUDI letter-logo brand, officially confirming months of reports about the restructuring.
The company has signed separate strategic agreements with its partners to clarify brand positioning, strategic priorities and sales channel structures, Audi China said in a statement on Monday.
Under the agreements, China FAW will strengthen the 4-ring brand’s presence in the new energy vehicle (NEV) and combustion-engine vehicle segments, while SAIC Audi will focus on the AUDI brand and the NEV market.
The changes will preserve Audi’s “dual-brand, dual-partner” structure in China while further distinguishing the partners’ business priorities to accelerate decision-making and improve responsiveness to the market.
The restructuring will take place gradually. Audi said SAIC Audi can continue selling 4-ring models through the end of 2027, while after-sales services for both its 4-ring and AUDI models will continue operating smoothly.
Customer services, after-sales support and dealer operations will continue in an orderly manner, the company said, without detailing how sales channels will be handled after the transition period.
SAIC Audi’s shift toward AUDI therefore does not mean an immediate halt to 4-ring model sales, with a defined transition period for existing customers and dealers.
AUDI is a sister brand created specifically for China, using an all-capital-letter logo instead of the traditional four rings. The 4-ring brand continues to cover both combustion-engine and electric vehicles.
The division is therefore primarily along brand lines, rather than a simple split between combustion-engine and electric vehicles. FAW Audi will continue competing with other luxury brands and local automakers in the NEV market.
Local media outlet Mingjing Pro reported the planned changes in May. Caijing reported in September that the business split had largely been finalized, although formal contracts had not yet been signed at the time.
In its latest statement, Audi said it would continue expanding the 4-ring lineup with China FAW, spanning NEVs and combustion-engine models including the A6L e-tron, Q6L e-tron, and the all-new A5L and A6L.
SAIC Audi’s growth focus will shift to the AUDI brand. Its first production model, the E5 Sportback, went on sale in September 2025, followed by its first SUV, the E7X, in May this year.
To support further product expansion, Audi and SAIC Motor (SSE: 600104) established the AUDI Innovation & Technology Center (AITC) in Shanghai on September 3, dedicated to the AUDI brand.
The partners plan to develop 4 new AUDI models based on ADP 2.0 (Advanced Digitized Platform 2.0), with the first scheduled to debut in 2028.
The changes to brand responsibilities also coincide with a leadership transition at Audi’s China business. The company announced last week that former Chery executive Jeff Zhang would succeed Johannes Roscheck as president of Audi China on November 1.
For Audi, clearer brand responsibilities could help reduce overlap between its partners. The restructuring’s effectiveness will depend on coordination across sales channels during the transition and the performance of future AUDI products.
The research center, known as AITC, will have a team of about 300 people to support the AUDI brand’s product expansion.
