Audi, SAIC Motor set up innovation hub for China-exclusive brand

SHANGHAI/BEIJING: Volkswagen’s premium subsidiary Audi on Thursday established an innovation hub with its Chinese partner SAIC Motor for the China-exclusive AUDI brand, the company said in a statement. The new Shanghai-based joint venture,dedicated to the four-letter, all-caps AUDI brand,will focus on vehicle and driving-control technologies, AI-powered immersive smart cockpits, and next-generation advanced driver-assistance systems tailored to premium Chinese customers. The companies did not disclose the venture’s ownership structure. Audi and SAIC will jointly develop four all-new AUDI models on the Audi ADP 2.0 (Advanced Digitized Platform), a dedicated architecture for next-generation intelligent connected vehicles. The new models will broaden and complement AUDI’s product lineup in China, with the first vehicle slated for launch in 2028.