Shaping The Future: Audi Is Considering Buying EV Platform From Chinese Rival

Audi, the famed German automaker, is said to be interested in obtaining an electric vehicle (EV) platform from a Chinese competitor. The move demonstrates Audi's commitment to growing its footprint in the rapidly expanding and fiercely competitive EV industry.

With electric mobility gaining pace, the potential acquisition might present Audi with an excellent opportunity to boost its product selection and position as a leading participant in the global electric vehicle sector.

The stated explanation is that parent firm Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is behind schedule, and Audi must immediately start.

According to the German journal Automobilwoche, citing "company circles," Audi wants to be faster in EV development, so it is considering purchasing a platform from a Chinese rival.

The issue could be considered in an Audi supervisory board meeting this week, probably on July 11, with Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume alleged to have already approved the proposal.

Chinese EV Market On Audi's Radar: Company Considers Acquiring Rival's Platform

Credits: InsideEvs

According to unnamed sources reported by Automobilwoche (via Elective), Audi is already in talks with many manufacturers. Because the SSP platform is delayed, the German premium brand desperately needs an electric car platform to offer new models in China.

Volkswagen's new electric flagship Project Trinity, which will be the first model to use SSP, is not slated to appear until 2029 - some reports even say 2030, meaning Audi's first SSP-based model is still a long way off. According to Volkswagen Group's initial timeline, Project Trinity was supposed to appear in 2026.

Audi decided to purchase an external electric vehicle platform to continue delivering new EVs in the highly competitive Chinese market, even though the automaker maintained it had no formal knowledge of the plans when queried by Automobilwoche.

In China, Audi sells two MEB-based models: the Q4 e-tron and the Q5 e-tron, the latter of which is a rebadged Volkswagen ID.6 X electric SUV. Both versions are manufactured at the Anting factory. Audi and its joint venture partner FAW are constructing an EV plant in China that will begin producing Premium Platform Electric (PPE) cars by the end of 2024. The Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron are two models that use this platform.

Audi and its joint venture partner FAW are constructing an EV plant in China that will begin producing Premium Platform Electric (PPE) cars by the end of 2024. The Audi A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron are two models that use this platform.

Credits:Insideevs

While PPE offers improvements over MEB, such as a system voltage of 800 volts, Audi requires the SSP architecture to make the next significant leap in autonomous driving, software, and production.

The story does not specify which Chinese automakers Audi is currently in talks with, although Geely and Foxconn are two prominent contenders. Geely stated at the launch of its SEA electric car platform that it intends to make it available as an open-source solution to other OEMs. At the same time, contract manufacturer Foxconn is willing to produce vehicles for third parties based on its MIH platform for electric cars.

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