Audi A7 Sportback to get LWB version for the Chinese market

KUALA LUMPUR: The joint venture of Volkswagen Group and SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) Motor dates back to 1984 and involves the production of Volkswagen and Skoda cars for China. Now the automakers are all set to add another marque in its portfolio, according to a report from Reuters.

As per the report, the Volkswagen-SAIC will invest 4.13 billion yuan (RM 2.5 billion) in order to ready their production plants in Shanghai for the new Audi A7L long-wheelbase version.

The country already has several extended wheelbase models of Audi, including Audi A4 and A6 sedans, Audi A8 as well as Audi Q2 and Audi Q5 SUVs. And this time, it is Audi A7 Sportback to get LWB treatment for offering extra rear legroom to the Chinese customers.

The revamp is expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and comes as demand for luxury cars in the country remained firm despite less sales in the past two years. The new Shanghai plants will have an annual manufacturing capacity of 60,000 Audi A7L units and 60,000 new Volkswagen SUVs.

In this context, SAIC Chairperson Chen Hong has already stated that the JV intends to roll out the first Audi model in early 2022. 

Meanwhile, Audi China said that its JV with SAIC was heading according to plan. In the first half of 2020, the venture sold 577,385 units, i.e., 37% down year-on-year. However, the total industry sales fell 17% due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The automakers recorded sales of 2 million cars last year.

Like the other L-badged cars sold by Audi in China, the more spacious A7 Sportback is not likely to see anywhere else. In the list of its rivals, Mercedes and BMW sit at the top and follow a similar strategy in the People’s Republic.

Also read: Audi Q4 E-Tron Sportback Concept - What all it offers?