Audi Unveils E5 Sportback, Exclusive to China

Audi has launched the E5 Sportback, a high-performance, all-electric fastback developed exclusively for the Chinese market through a partnership with SAIC and under the new China-only AUDI sub-brand, which forgoes the traditional four-ring badge. The E5 Sportback is built on the Advanced Digitized Platform, boasting up to 776bhp, a range of up to 478 miles, and ultra-fast 800-volt charging that delivers 230 miles of range in just 10 minutes. Designed with China’s tech-savvy consumers in mind, the car features a digital ecosystem powered by a Snapdragon 8295 chip, a 27-inch 4K dashboard screen, ByteDance’s voice assistant, and advanced autonomous driving capabilities tailored for China’s urban environments. The model comes in multiple powertrain variants, including a top version that accelerates from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds, and showcases a design language adapted to local preferences. Audi’s strategy with the E5 Sportback signals a shift away from global uniformity toward highly localized EVs, marking the beginning of further China-exclusive models under the AUDI sub-brand. The E5 Sportback’s launch highlights the growing importance and sophistication of the Chinese EV market, as global automakers increasingly cater to regional tastes and technological demands.