Audi has officially introduced its first production vehicle under the newly launched AUDI sub-brand, unveiling the E5 Sportback. This marks a significant strategic move for the company as it collaborates closely with Chinese automotive giant SAIC. Designed exclusively for the Chinese market, the E5 Sportback builds upon the E concept revealed last year and is tailored specifically to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) sector in China. The vehicle made its public debut at the Shanghai Auto Show and will be available for purchase in China starting summer 2025.
The E5 Sportback is a five-door electric-only wagon that will be offered in both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations. Audi claims that the vehicle can achieve a maximum driving range of up to 770 kilometers on the CLTC cycle. While its dimensions are similar to the Audi A6 Avant—measuring 4,881 mm in length, 1,959 mm in width, and 1,478 mm in height—the E5 Sportback is not simply a rebranded version of an existing Audi model. It is built on a new platform developed through a joint venture between Audi and SAIC. The aim of this partnership is to blend German automotive engineering and design prowess with Chinese digital and technological innovation.
Audi’s side of the project is responsible for the vehicle’s physical design and engineering excellence, while SAIC focuses on the digital infrastructure. According to Fermín Soneira, the CEO of the new venture, the goal was to bring together the best of both companies, effectively combining German precision with Chinese digital advancement. This sentiment is reflected in the digital ecosystem of the E5, which caters specifically to the needs of Chinese consumers who expect cutting-edge technology—something domestic brands in China have already mastered.
Central to the E5’s user experience is the newly developed AUDI OS, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset. The system is presented through a striking 27-inch 4K display that stretches across the dashboard. It includes facial recognition, an integrated app store tailored to China’s tech ecosystem, and a voice assistant developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok. The assistant is designed to be highly interactive, even capable of altering its tone and behavior via a feature called Behavior Select.
Another key feature expected by premium Chinese EV buyers is advanced autonomous driving capability. To meet this demand, the E5 Sportback is equipped with a suite of LiDAR sensors specially trained for Chinese road conditions, such as identifying tricycles and two-wheeled delivery vehicles. The car also includes a sophisticated parking system that can remember routes in multi-level parking garages and automatically park itself.
From a performance standpoint, the E5 Sportback offers a range of four powertrain options, delivering outputs of 295, 402, 570, and 776 horsepower. The top-tier variant, which rivals the Audi e-tron GT, can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The vehicle supports 800-volt fast charging technology, enabling a 370 km range boost in only 10 minutes. Additionally, it features a 100 kWh battery, air suspension, and optional all-wheel steering.
Serving as the foundation for Audi’s new sub-brand in China, the E5 Sportback represents a bold new direction. Following its launch in mid-2025, two more AUDI models are expected to be introduced in 2026 and 2027, further expanding Audi's presence in the Chinese electric vehicle market.