Audi has announced a series of coordinated leadership changes affecting key roles within the company and its international partnerships, including its joint venture with SAIC Motor and the Chinese sub-brand AUDI.
Fermín Soneira, currently overseeing Audi’s collaboration with SAIC and leading the AUDI sub-brand, will transition to Automobili Lamborghini as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) from July 1, 2026. Soneira, who was appointed to his China role in early 2024, will relocate to Italy in the coming months to prepare for the position.
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He will succeed Rouven Mohr, who joined Audi’s management board as head of Technical Development in March while temporarily continuing as Lamborghini’s CTO. The interim arrangement is expected to conclude this summer as Soneira assumes full responsibilities.
“Fermín Soneira brings deep technical expertise and strong product and brand competence, making him ideally suited to shape the future of Lamborghini as a technology-driven super sports car brand,” said Gernot Döllner, Chief Executive Officer of Audi.
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To replace Soneira in China, Audi has appointed Fred Schulze, currently plant manager at the Neckarsulm facility in Germany. Schulze will take over leadership of the Audi-SAIC cooperation project and the AUDI brand in China.
“As a China expert with extensive experience in premium production and holistic vehicle development, he will strategically sharpen the profile of the young brand and drive its operational scaling,” Döllner said.
Audi also named Thomas Bogus as the new head of its Neckarsulm plant, replacing Schulze. Bogus most recently served as CEO of Audi Brussels, overseeing the Belgian facility until its closure in February 2025.
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“The Neckarsulm site is gaining an experienced specialist for electric vehicles with a holistic view of value creation,” Döllner added. “With his technical expertise and strategic experience, he will ensure the long-term competitiveness of the Neckarsulm plant.”
The Neckarsulm site remains central to Audi’s production of luxury vehicles, including combustion and hybrid variants of the A6 and A7. While the current flagship A8 is set to be discontinued without a direct electric successor, Audi indicated that future developments on a suitable EV platform remain under consideration. The company also said the site will expand its role as a hub for artificial intelligence alongside its manufacturing activities.