SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 (GUANGZHOU) — SAIC-Audi today unveiled the E5 Sportback, its first strategic EV under the new “Audi” sub-brand, with prices starting at RMB 235,900 (USD 32,500) after insurance subsidies. The model debuts with four trims, including a dual-motor quattro variant, and immediate delivery availability nationwide.

KEY FACTS

1. Disruptive Pricing & Launch Offers (Until Dec 31, 2025)

• Subsidy slash: Effective price dips to ~RMB 225,900 (USD 31,100) with RMB 10,000 insurance credit
• Flexible financing: 5-year loans with 0% interest for first 24 months, or lease options from RMB 99,000 down
• Premium perks:
  • Free upgrade to electronic rearview mirrors (worth RMB 12,000)
  • Lifetime free ADAS subscription (typically RMB 1,200/year)
  • 500 million yuan ADAS insurance coverage

2. China-First Tech Arsenal

• Driving:
  • 787hp/800Nm dual-motor setup (0-100km/h in 3.4s)
  • “Full-blooded e-quattro” with torque vectoring + rear-wheel steering
  • Air suspension + CDC dampers paired with Brembo brakes
• AI Cockpit:
  • Qualcomm 8295 chip + AUDI OS (supports voice cloning)
  • “Audi Assistant” powered by ByteDance’s Doubao LLM (China’s GPT rival)
  • Touchbar-style “Smart Island” with 50+ customizable shortcuts
• Autonomy:
  • Momenta co-developed “end-to-end” ADAS (highway/city/parking)
  • 3 drive-assist modes (Gentle/Agile/Standard) mimicking Audi ICE dynamics

3. Design & Practicality

• Segment-bending form: Blends shooting brake proportions with coupe roofline
• Digital grille integrates lidar/ADAS sensors + “Starry Diamond Lightscape” DRLs
• Wood-trimmed interior with floating console inspired by “architectural layers”

4. Service Network Expansion

• 200+ upgraded showrooms by launch; 240+ sales/service hubs by EOY 2025

EDITOR’S NOTE:
This might be Audi’s savviest China play yet. At ~RMB 225K, the E5 Sportback undercuts the Q6 e-tron by 30% while offering comparable performance and smarter tech – explaining why even corporate buyers (its unexpected target, I think) are ditching tradition for this value-packed disruptor. If reliability holds, Tesla’s Model Y and NIO’s ET5 should sweat.