Audi has formalized a division of responsibilities between its two Chinese joint-venture partners, assigning FAW Audi to the traditional four-ring brand and SAIC Audi to the China-specific AUDI brand.
The company signed separate strategic agreements with China FAW and SAIC Motor to clarify brand positioning, strategic priorities and sales channel structures, Audi China said in a statement on Monday.
Under the new arrangement, FAW Audi will strengthen the four-ring brand across both new energy vehicles (NEVs) and combustion-engine vehicles. SAIC Audi, meanwhile, will concentrate on the AUDI brand and its expansion in China’s NEV market.
The restructuring preserves Audi’s dual-brand, dual-partner structure while giving each partner a more distinct business focus. The company said the changes are intended to accelerate decision-making and improve responsiveness to the Chinese market.
Transition Period Extends Through 2027
The changes will be implemented gradually rather than taking effect immediately. SAIC Audi can continue selling four-ring models through the end of 2027, while after-sales services for both four-ring and AUDI vehicles will continue.
Audi said customer service, dealer operations and after-sales support would proceed in an orderly manner. It did not provide details on how sales channels will be organized after the transition period.
The transition means SAIC Audi’s increased focus on the AUDI brand will not immediately end sales of its existing four-ring models.
The two brands also remain distinct in their positioning. The traditional Audi brand uses the familiar four-ring logo and covers both combustion-engine and electric vehicles. AUDI, written entirely in capital letters without the four-ring emblem, was created specifically for the Chinese market.
As a result, the division is based primarily on brand identity and business responsibilities, rather than a straightforward separation between combustion-engine and electric vehicles. FAW Audi will continue competing in China’s NEV market alongside local manufacturers and other premium brands.
FAW Audi Continues Four-Ring Model Expansion
Audi said it would continue expanding the four-ring lineup with China FAW across both electric and combustion-engine segments.
Models highlighted in the company’s statement include the A6L e-tron and Q6L e-tron, alongside the new A5L and A6L. The arrangement gives FAW Audi responsibility for developing the traditional Audi brand’s position across China’s changing automotive market.
SAIC Audi Prioritizes the AUDI Brand
SAIC Audi’s growth strategy will increasingly center on 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 2026.
Audi and SAIC Motor established the AUDI Innovation & Technology Center (AITC) in Shanghai on September 3 to support the brand’s development.
The partners plan to develop four additional AUDI models using ADP 2.0, or Advanced Digitized Platform 2.0. The first of these models is scheduled to debut in 2028.
The more defined responsibilities are intended to give the AUDI brand a clearer development path in China while allowing FAW Audi to concentrate on the broader traditional Audi portfolio.
Restructuring Follows Months of Reports
The formal agreements confirm restructuring plans reported by Chinese media earlier this year. Mingjing Pro reported the planned changes in May, while Caijing reported in September that the business division had largely been finalized, although formal contracts had not yet been signed at that point.
The announcement also comes amid a leadership change at Audi’s China business. Last week, the company announced that former Chery executive Jeff Zhang would succeed Johannes Roscheck as president of Audi China on November 1.
The new structure gives Audi’s two Chinese partners more clearly defined brand responsibilities. Its effectiveness will depend on how smoothly sales and dealer operations are coordinated during the transition, as well as the market performance of future AUDI models.