SAIC Audi has completed construction of its new AUDI production base in Anting, Shanghai, with an annual capacity of 360,000 units, marking a step forward for the brand as it expands its electrification and smart manufacturing strategy in China.
The plant, built on an Advanced Digitized Platform, will begin operations with the AUDI E5 Sportback, the first model to roll off the line. The factory incorporates technologies such as AI visual inspection, digital twins and laser measurement, and has achieved full automation in critical processes alongside 100% data traceability throughout production, the company said in a statement.
The AUDI E5 Sportback, a mid-size sedan developed with SAIC on the Advanced Digitized Platform, entered pre-sales in China on Aug. 18, with four variants priced from RMB 235,900 to RMB 319,900 ($37,740 to $51,170). The official launch is scheduled for September.
Built on an 800-volt high-voltage architecture, the AUDI E5 Sportback offers single- and dual-motor options. The dual-motor version produces up to 579 kW (788 horsepower) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Battery options include 76.2 kWh, 83.3 kWh, and 100 kWh packs, delivering a CLTC range of 618 km to 770 km and enabling a 370 km recharge in 10 minutes.
At 4,881 mm long, 1,960 mm wide and 1,479 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, the model’s dimensions place it close to Nio’s ET5 Touring.