11:39 09-05-2026

Audi Goes Local: New China-Only Electric SUV Speaks the Language of CATL and ByteDance

The new AUDI E7X premium electric crossover opens presales in China at 289,800 yuan. CATL 109 kWh battery, 900-volt platform and 751 km CLTC range.

The Audi–SAIC joint venture has opened presales for the new AUDI E7X electric crossover. It is the second production model from the standalone Chinese AUDI brand after the E5 Sportback, with prices starting at 289,800 yuan — around $42,610.

The defining feature of the E7X is not its badge but its approach. This is an Audi built for the Chinese buyer: no classic four rings, a bold AUDI wordmark instead, and a deep commitment to local technology. Audi and SAIC launched the marque in China on 8 November 2024 specifically for a new audience that values a German name, electronics and advanced digital architecture.

The AUDI E7X is a sizeable machine: 5,049 mm long, 1,997 mm wide, 1,710 mm tall, with a 3,060 mm wheelbase. The standard pack is a 109 kWh CATL battery, and the car rides on a 900-volt platform. CLTC range reaches 751 km, and ten minutes of charging adds up to 429 km.

Smart driving is handled by the Momenta R7 system, which uses a reinforcement-learning model. It is designed for tricky scenarios — from navigating very narrow streets to merging onto fast highways. The cabin gets the AI-powered Audi Assistant 2.0, with ByteDance’s Doubao model handling natural-language interaction.

Audi has kept its trademark focus on performance. The dual-motor version sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and comes with quattro all-wheel drive.

The E7X shows how rapidly China’s premium market is shifting: a German brand can no longer simply ship over a European model and wait for demand. Audi now has to play by local rules — with CATL, Momenta and ByteDance, and a separate marque that looks like an Audi but speaks to its customers in the language of Chinese tech.