On August 1, 2025, the SAIC Audi A5L Sportback launched with a bang in the luxury car market. This gasoline-powered coupe, the world's first to be equipped with Huawei's Qiankun technology, with an entry price of 255,900 yuan and the label of "the smartest gasoline car," opened a new chapter in a market where new energy vehicle penetration has already surpassed 50%.
When the industry generally believed that "the intelligence of fuel vehicles is a false proposition", SAIC Audi used technological breakthroughs to prove that the carrier of intelligence is not the form of power, but user demand.
"Five years of hard work"
In the first half of 2025, China's luxury car market presented a stark contrast: domestic high-end brands saw soaring sales, with a 35% year-on-year increase, while most traditional luxury brands experienced a decline. Data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) shows that new energy vehicles account for over 44% of the market, with nearly one in every two new cars being an electric vehicle. However, amidst this shift toward gasoline-to-electric vehicles, SAIC Audi offered a counterintuitive answer with the intelligent upgrades of the A5L Sportback: fuel vehicles can also be excellent vehicles for intelligent driving.
"In our view, assisted driving should not differentiate between energy forms. This should be an option that every user has. If you really like to drive yourself, then drive yourself; if you like the mechanical feel of a fuel vehicle but also want driving assistance, we should not forget this user group. I believe this is the significance of Audi's in-depth integration with Huawei's Qiankun technology in the field of fuel vehicles." said Xie Shiqi, deputy general manager of SAIC Audi Marketing Division.
Stefan Poetzl (left), General Manager of SAIC Audi Marketing Division
Xie Shiqi (right), Deputy General Manager of SAIC Audi Marketing Division
SAIC Audi's breakthrough stems from five years of in-depth collaboration with Huawei in the fields of electronic and electrical architecture and intelligent driving. The A5L Sportback is based on Audi's new PPC luxury fuel vehicle platform and features the E³ 1.2 electronic architecture, which utilizes distributed domain control to achieve highly integrated collaboration among five modules.
This architecture addresses three key industry challenges: power coordination, stable power supply, and a closed-loop, real-time data flow. The deep integration of the VMM (Vehicle Motion Management) module enables intelligent driving decision signals to be precisely executed by Audi's sophisticated mechanical control system. This approach preserves the linear acceleration and substantial chassis feel inherent to German driving control while achieving millisecond-level power coordination.
The A5L Sportback features a customized curved dual-lidar solution from Huawei. Embedded within the curved front bumper, the Lidar maintains Audi's signature streamlined design while enabling 360-degree precision sensing. "The intelligent brain developed in collaboration with Huawei and the Audi VMM cerebellum are deeply integrated. This innovation is fully embodied in this car," said Xie Shiqi.
Regarding powertrain synergy, Xie Shiqi cited an example, quoting a media source who said, "You really shouldn't call this car a mild hybrid anymore, because 'mild hybrid' is completely inadequate to describe its performance. It's not a mild hybrid in the traditional sense at all. This car, equipped with a 200-kilowatt engine and a dual-motor system, has several very outstanding features."
The media outlet cited an example: For drivers who demand both speed and stability, this car will provide them with a sense of security. Even for a user with limited driving experience and a lack of interest in track driving, this car can quickly help them bridge the gap. Whether cornering or in everyday driving, including high-speed cornering, its overall performance is remarkably stable.
Secondly, despite being equipped with Huawei's advanced Qiankun assistance system, Audi remains committed to the principle that the inclusion of driver assistance systems should not compromise Audi's driving quality. "That's why we're equipped with the fifth-generation EA888 engine. All SAIC Audi quattro models come standard with CDC variable damping suspension, which adjusts in real time based on road conditions. This allows for both tire adhesion and filtering of road vibrations, allowing for seamless handling," he said.
In summary, this car achieves "equal rights" through a combination of multiple technologies and a new energy form. It's easy to see that SAIC Audi is actively embracing China's intelligent wave while maintaining its traditional advantages.
While the gasoline-powered coupe market may seem niche, Xie Shiqi is quite confident. At least, judging by the 8,000 orders received, the target audience closely aligns with Audi's core values of "youth, technology, and luxury." SAIC Audi has a significant opportunity in attracting young consumers with diverse tastes.
It's worth noting that four of the six models, including the Zhijia, are available for delivery on the day of their launch, with deliveries of the two 200kW high-power versions commencing in November. Compared to popular models from emerging brands, which often require wait times exceeding 30 weeks, this undoubtedly demonstrates the company's superior overall system capabilities.
Hybrid and electric
In fact, the three labels of "young, technological, and luxurious" cover a wide range of demographics, resulting in a diverse user base for SAIC Audi. Xie Shiqi revealed that the current locked-in customer information for this new car includes first-time buyers and existing owners of new energy vehicles or gasoline-powered vehicles. This diverse user base has, to a certain extent, driven the implementation of SAIC Audi's "dual-brand" strategy.
AUDI means "listen" in Latin. The new brand AUDI uses a letter logo instead of a four-ring logo, aiming to convey its determination to innovate.
According to the plan, the Audi E5 Sportback, the first mass-produced model of the new AUDI brand, will be a smart, all-electric vehicle. Its design language blends the dynamism of a classic wagon with the technological sophistication of a smart electric vehicle. It is targeted at tech-savvy consumers, primarily those born in the 1990s and 2000s. It will utilize a wide range of advanced three-electric (Electric, Electric, and Vehicle) technologies and be built on China's leading platform.
It's worth noting that the Audi E5 Sportback has collaborated with Momenta, another leading Chinese intelligent driving company, on its assisted driving system. Momenta's applications in other joint ventures and luxury brands have earned a positive reputation.
Regarding fuel vehicles, SAIC Audi Marketing General Manager Shi Pengze revealed that two to three new models will be launched in the next few years. He stated that he has always loved driving and thoroughly enjoys the process. However, he also discovered, "In China, we all commute daily. I drive 45 minutes to and from work. When we use assisted driving features, the entire commute becomes much more convenient."
Therefore, he believes that "the future of assisted driving on fuel vehicles will definitely be a new and cutting-edge breakthrough, and will definitely be the direction of industry development."
Channel upgrade
Beyond products, channels are the core means by which users connect with brands. These channels are no longer simply sales networks, but rather centers of "experiential consumption." As a young luxury brand, SAIC Audi will have over 240 channels by the end of this year. These include full-service user centers integrating vehicle delivery, after-sales maintenance, and brand experience, each exceeding 3,000 square meters in size. City showrooms, located in high-end shopping malls in first-tier cities, will showcase products and offer test drives. Dedicated service centers focus on the after-sales market, offering 24-hour vehicle pickup and delivery.
Shi Pengze said, "In addition to building our network structure and network form, we are also actively working on further upgrades. The entire network is preparing for the operation of our two brands. Many of our user centers are also actively transforming between the Audi four-ring brand and the Audi letter brand."
He said, "When users actually come to our sales outlets and our dealer showrooms, we hope to create unforgettable memories for them and let them enjoy a very comfortable and emotionally connected contact process."
SAIC Audi is fully aware that in today's rapidly developing digital age, emotional connections are more important than before.
at last
As the roar of the V8 engine gradually gives way to the whistling of electric motors, the definition of luxury shifts from "mechanical performance" to "digital experience." SAIC Audi's experiment proves a principle: technology is not biased by power source, and user needs are the source of innovation.
In the transition from oil to electricity, SAIC Audi has used the A5L Sportback to prove that fuel vehicle users who were once labeled "conservative" are now ready to embrace the intelligent era.
