German luxury car maker Audi is gearing up to begin production at its new electric car factory in Changchun, northern China, by the end of this year. This was indicated in a statement released by the car manufacturer ahead of the Beijing Motor Show next week. Audi plans to showcase only fully electric cars at the show, with a particular emphasis on the Chinese market, which is the largest market in the world. The company highlights its localized approach to manufacturing cars “in China for China,” underscoring the importance of the Chinese market in Audi’s global strategy for premium electric mobility.
The vehicles that Audi will manufacture 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, is set to commence production of three models based on the PPE platform before the end of the year. These models include cars from the Audi Q6 e-tron and Audi A6 e-tron series specifically tailored for the Chinese market. Pre-production activities have already commenced at the new factory, signaling progress towards Audi’s electric vehicle production goals.
Meanwhile, there have been concerns about the future of Audi’s factory in Forest, Belgium, where the fully electric Q8 e-tron SUV is currently being produced. The successor to the Q8 e-tron is not scheduled to be manufactured beyond 2027, leading to uncertainties about the future of the Brussels plant. To address these uncertainties, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has established an Audi task force comprising government representatives and the car factory’s management. The task force aims to expedite decisions that will secure the future of Audi Brussels and provide clarity for the approximately 3,000 employees at the facility. Discussions are ongoing, with the task force scheduled to reconvene in early May to further address the pressing issues facing the Brussels plant.