Audi and SAIC Motor join hands to co-develop EVs

ABU DHABI: SAIC Motor confirmed that it has partnered with Audi to jointly develop electric vehicles. The partnership comes after weeks of speculation surrounding the search of Audi for a reliable partner in the Chinese EV market. 

As per the agreement, both parties will leverage their respective capabilities and advantages to accelerate Audi's development of new electric cars to expedite the desire of Chinese customers for premium electric vehicles. The two companies have not disclosed any further details regarding their partnership, but as per a few reports, it is estimated that Audi is interested in utilizing a platform owned by IM Motors, SAIC's premium EV brand. 

SAIC Motor introduced a development strategy in 2014 for sharing, globalization, intelligent connectivity, and electrification. It is a leader in creating intelligent driving cars and creative new energy vehicles, and cultivating new growth drivers via transformation and innovation.

Audi and SAIC Motor will expand the scope of their partnership based on their expertise in breakthrough technologies and successful collaboration. They aim to reach new market areas and introduce next-generation electric car models with their collaboration. 

Audi is rumoured to use the EV platform of SAIC for the production variants of the Urbansphere, Activesphere, Grandsphere, and Skysphere concepts. Volkswagen Group, Audi's parent company, has already formed a partnership with SAIC-Volkswagen, which manufactures gasoline-powered vehicles in China.

SAIC Motor has partnered with various car brands in the UAE. It has partnered with the Al Naboodah Group to expand sales in the Middle East. MG Motor has also expanded its regional presence with 23 service centres and 22 showrooms across the Middle East.

Also read: 'Hyundai Motor Way' sets the path for accelerated electrification