The AUDI E7X was officially launched in China on May 29 at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Auto Show (Shenzhen Auto Show). Credit: SAIC Audi
- AUDI E7X starts at 269,800 yuan ($39,850), down 6.9% from its pre-sales price.
- The new model features CATL batteries and Momenta’s smart driving technology, aiming to challenge the Tesla Model Y in China.
SAIC Audi, the joint venture between Audi and SAIC Motor in China, has launched the AUDI E7X to compete with the Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model Y in the pure electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) market.
The AUDI E7X officially went on sale on May 29 at the 2026 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show (Shenzhen Auto Show), with a starting price of 269,800 yuan (about $39,850).
The price is 20,000 yuan, or 6.9%, lower than the pre-sales price announced earlier this month.
SAIC Audi is offering five versions of the new model, with starting prices of 269,800 yuan, 299,800 yuan, 329,800 yuan, 329,800 yuan, and 359,800 yuan, respectively.
The AUDI E7X measures 5,049 millimeters in length, 1,997 mm in width, and 1,710 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,060 mm.
The model deeply integrates top-tier technology from China’s local supply chain. It comes standard with a 900-volt high-voltage fast-charging platform across all variants and is equipped with high-capacity batteries from CATL (HKEX: 3750).
It offers a maximum combined range of up to 751 kilometers and can replenish about 429 km of range in just 10 minutes under fast-charging mode.
In terms of performance, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive version can accelerate from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.9 seconds.
A core selling point of the new model is its integration of Chinese startup Momenta’s reinforcement learning large model.
The cabin features a 27-inch ultra-wide central control screen and a built-in Audi assistant 2.0 powered by large language models. These configurations are designed to provide a smart cockpit experience more aligned with the preferences of local Chinese consumers.
The launch of the E7X is a crucial step in Audi’s new offensive in China’s EV market. It also represents a major achievement stemming from the deepened strategic partnership between Audi and SAIC Motor.
The two companies are jointly developing new models using the Advanced Digitized Platform (ADP), a next-generation smart digital platform built specifically for future intelligent connected vehicles.
According to the current product roadmap, the third all-new electric model under the AUDI brand is expected to be officially launched in 2027. AUDI’s first product, the E5 Sportback, was released in September 2025.
Early internal pricing plans for the AUDI E7X were over 130,000 yuan higher than the pre-sales price, but Audi is abandoning its high brand premium in exchange for greater market share, according to a May 15 report by local media outlet 21jingji.
There is a clear rationale behind Audi’s adoption of this more aggressive pricing strategy. Sales feedback for the E5 Sportback has been mediocre, with average monthly deliveries falling short of 2,000 units.
Audi may redefine the roles of its dual joint ventures in China, with FAW Audi focusing on the four-ring brand and fuel cars, while SAIC Audi concentrates on the AUDI brand.
($1 = 6.7706 yuan)
