Overview

• SAIC Audi said the Anting plant has installed capacity for up to 360,000 vehicles a year for the new subbrand.
• Pre-sale deposits in China are typically small, so analysts caution that headline preorder tallies may not translate directly into finalized sales.
• The E5 Sportback starts at about $33,200 in China, positioning it against domestic rivals such as NIO’s ET5.
• Developed in roughly two years on a SAIC-supplied platform, the model launches under the separate AUDI badge without the traditional four-ring emblem.
• Two additional AUDI models are planned within two years, and initial specs highlight a base 76‑kWh battery, a single rear motor and a claimed 618 km CLTC range.