Audi, a renowned luxury car manufacturer from Germany, is set to commence production at its new electric car factory in Changchun, China, before the end of this year. This information was shared by the company in a statement released ahead of the upcoming Beijing Motor Show next week. At the show, Audi will be showcasing fully electric cars with a specific focus on the Chinese market, which is the largest market in the world.
The company’s local approach to building cars “in China for China” is part of its strategy to become a global leader in premium electric mobility. The cars produced in Changchun are based on the luxury platform PPE (Premium Platform Electric), which was developed in collaboration with Porsche. Audi’s joint venture in China, Audi FAW NEV, will commence production of three models based on the PPE platform by the end of this year. These models are from the Audi Q6 e-tron and Audi A6 e-tron series tailored for the Chinese market, with pre-production already underway in the new factory.
In Brussels, there have been concerns about the future of Audi’s factory where fully electric Q8 e-tron is currently manufactured. Uncertainty arose after it was announced that the successor to Q8 e-tron would not be produced after 2027. This year, Audi Brussels faced economic challenges leading to temporary job losses and production slowdown. In response to these issues, Prime Minister De Croo formed an Audi task force to address them and secure the future of Audi Brussels before upcoming elections. The task force comprises government representatives and factory management and will reconvene in early May to work towards a resolution providing clarity for approximately 3000 employees at Audi facility in Vorst.
