On October 26, Audi China signed new strategic agreements with FAW and SAIC, clarifying a differentiated "dual-brand, dual-partner" positioning, the "October 27 Auto Morning Brief" reported. FAW Audi will hold the four-ring Audi emblem and cover both fuel and intelligent-luxury NEVs, iterating core models such as the A6L and Q6L e-tron; SAIC Audi will use the Audi wordmark, focusing on the pure-electric NEV track.
The transition runs through the end of 2027, during which SAIC Audi may still sell existing four-ring inventory; after-sales service for all sold vehicles is unaffected. The move is a major architectural adjustment as Audi adapts to China's NEV market.
In a parallel development the same day, Volkswagen Group China obtained an L3 autonomous-driving road-test license in Hefei and began real-road testing and data collection. VW's CARIZON joint venture, working with Horizon Robotics, is advancing a localized driving solution under the self-developed GAIA 2.0 world model, targeting L3 technology readiness in 2027; a Hefei tech day is scheduled for October 28.
The two approvals — one for a foreign brand's restructured China strategy and one for an L3 license — show how quickly the regulatory and competitive landscape is shifting.
Source: Auto Morning Brief / Electrek
