Audi partners with SAIC Motor to accelerate electrification, plug-in hybrid cars and electric vehicles in China

The search for new Chinese technologies for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and city cars

Audi, in search of new technological advances for its electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, electric motors and city cars, has found a promising partner in China. With delays in the development of their own SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) for electric and hybrid vehicles, the German firm has decided to collaborate with the Chinese public manufacturer SAIC Motor, also owner of the MG brand.

Agreement with SAIC Motor for the electrification and plug-in hybridization of the Chinese market

Faced with a Chinese market that has become complex for the sale of electric cars, Audi has entered into an agreement with SAIC Motor with the aim of accelerating the electrification and hybridization of their portfolios in this market. Specific details of the deal have not been disclosed, but it is believed Audi is interested in using the platform owned by SAIC's premium electric vehicle brand, IM Motors. This is driven by ongoing delays in developing their own SSP platform for electric and hybrid vehicles.

The importance of the SSP platform for Audi and plug-in hybrid vehicles

Originally intended for use in Volkswagen's new sedan planned for 2026, the Trinity project, the SSP platform was to replace the PPE and MEB platforms for electric and hybrid vehicles. However, Audi's plans to base their future electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on this architecture have been hampered by continued development delays, including at the software level with the E3 2.0 operating system.

Chinese market challenges for Audi and electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles

The Chinese market is currently engaged in a price war over Tesla's actions, which prompted local automakers such as Chrysler to sign a "survival" deal. In this context, Audi must not only accelerate the launch of its new platform but also reduce the development costs of its new models to maintain fair competition and preserve its profit margins.

Prospects for Audi with the collaboration with SAIC Motor for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids

Thanks to this alliance, it is very likely that Audi will use the platform developed by SAIC for the IM L7 sedan and the IM LS7 SUV, suitable for electric vehicles and offering an 800 V architecture. This will allow Audi to offer innovative plug-in hybrid vehicles in the Chinese market, meeting the growing demand from city cars, utility cars and compact SUV enthusiasts. Charging stations and the capacity in kWh of batteries are becoming essential criteria for Chinese consumers looking for ecological and sustainable solutions.

In sum, the collaboration with SAIC Motor represents a crucial step for Audi, which seeks to strengthen its position in the Chinese electric car market, and to meet the challenges posed by competition from Tesla, Aston Martin, Ferrari and other automakers. The objective is to stimulate the registration of new cars, to promote the easy recharging of batteries, whether using electricity or hydrogen, and to promote the adoption of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and electric motors while reducing polluting emissions from combustion engines. The conversion bonus for new vehicles is also a lever to be considered to accelerate the transition to more sustainable mobility and promote the use of electric motors,