The next-generation A5 will be the first Audi model to feature Huawei's smart driving solution, which is expected to be unveiled at the Guangzhou auto show in November, according to local media.
Volkswagen's premium car brand, Audi, is reportedly going to equip some of its models in the Chinese market with smart driving system from Huawei to boost the vehicles' appeal.
In China, Audi's most important market, the company's last-generation gasoline cars will be equipped with the smart driving solution from Huawei, local media outlet Yiou reported today, citing multiple sources.
Audi CEO Gernot Doellner said in March this year that the brand will launch its last-generation gasoline cars in 2026, after which it will phase out production of gasoline cars, the report noted.
The next-generation A5, based on Audi's PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) platform, will be the first Audi model to feature Huawei's smart driving solution, the Yiou report said.
The A5 is expected to replace the A4, which is currently on sale, the report said, adding that the Audi A4, A6 and Q5 are Audi's main sellers in China.
Audi China, when asked for comment, did not deny the report, saying that its Beijing-based ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) R&D department aims to provide best-in-class driver assistance systems for upcoming and future models, bringing a premium experience to Chinese customers, Yiou said.
To achieve this goal, Audi's initiative is to develop different forms of cooperation with suppliers from both local and global sources in different areas, the carmaker said, adding that they were not in a position to disclose the names of specific suppliers.
Audi's joint ventures in China, FAW Audi and SAIC Audi, will both produce the next-generation Audi A5, some variants of which will use Huawei's smart driving solution, Yiou's report said.
The next-generation Audi A5 will be unveiled at the Guangzhou auto show this November and is expected to go on sale during the Shanghai auto show in 2025, according to the report.
This is the latest reported move regarding Audi's possible efforts in China.
In an August 2 report, Reuters said that Audi's new electric vehicle (EV) lineup for the Chinese market will not feature the four-ring logo for brand image reasons.
The new EV series is internally codenamed "Purple" and the concept will be unveiled in November, Reuters said.
Audi's new EV series will use batteries from CATL and ADAS from Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta, Reuters said, citing two people with direct knowledge of the plans.
Huawei, which is seen as one of the most capable players in the smart driving space, released Qiankun ADS 3.0 in April, which enables advanced smart driving features including city NOA (Navigate on Autopilot).
Qiankun ADS 3.0 was first used in the Stelato S9, an electric sedan built by Huawei in collaboration with Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), which was officially launched on August 6.
Another local media outlet, LatePost, reported on August 8 that BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY) will use Huawei's smart driving system on its sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao's upcoming new model, the Bao 8, marking the first time the two companies collaborate in the field of smart driving.
Fang Cheng Bao is moving forward with the use of Huawei's smart driving system on the Bao 8, which will be the BYD sub-brand's first model with city NOA capabilities, according to LatePost.
BYD to adopt Huawei's smart driving system on Fang Cheng Bao's new model Bao 8, report says
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