All-electric Audi E5 Sportback production version disclosed by regulator, revealing it’s SAIC-inside
The Chinese regulator revealed the production version of the first car under the new AUDI brand. Audi E5 is a China-only EV developed jointly by Audi and SAIC. It will hit the market in July or August 2025.
AUDI, written in capital letters, is a new brand under Audi. It ditches the four-ring logo to show it doesn’t rely on its legacy. AUDI is aimed at Chinese customers, delivering a car designed under the “in China, for China strategy.”
We already knew some specs from the Audi E5’s public debut at the Shanghai Auto Show last month. Now, Audi has filed a homologation application with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MITT), which is usually the last step before the model is released to market. When the filing is published by MIIT, it shows us the car’s core specs.
Audi E5 Sportsback dimensions are 4881/1960/1479mm (length/width/height), and the wheelbase is 2950mm. AUDI filed for homologation of four trims of E5 with motor power: 220 kW, 300 kW, 386 kW and 579 kW.
Most of the core parts of the EV are made by SAIC. The motor is produced by Huayu Automotive Electric Systems Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of SAIC Motor Group. Only the 200 kW motor is made by United Automotive Electronic Systems Co. Ltd., Bosh’s Chinese joint venture.
The battery is ternary lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC) produced by SAIC Power Battery Co., Ltd., a joint venture between SAIC Motor and battery giant CATL. The E5 Sportback features an 800V charging architecture, and AUDI previously said the maximum range will be 770 km CLTC. The car can replenish 370 km in 10 minutes.
The regulator also revealed that the E5 Sportback will be manufactured by SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. in its No. 1 factory in Anting, Shanghai, which is also SAIC-VW headquarters.
From the pictures, we can see the car will have a lidar above the front windshield and drive on 19″ or 20″ wheels. AUDi E5 Sportback is a China-only vehicle. Following the E5, two more all-electric AUDI models will be launched in 2026 and 2027 in China.
