Audi Considers Buying Chinese Electric Car Platform Amid Slow EV Rollout

Will Audi’s plan to purchase a Chinese EV platform help the company gain ground in the competitive electric vehicle market?

The sluggish pace of Audi’s electric vehicle (EV) rollout has led to the departure of its CEO and now the luxury automaker is exploring the option of purchasing an electric car platform from a Chinese competitor. Talks are underway with several Chinese firms, including BYD and BAIC, and approval from Audi’s board could come as early as next week. If the plan goes ahead, the externally-developed EV platform is expected to be used for a range of models based on Audi’s ‘Sphere’ concept series.

Audi is feeling the pressure as it falls behind rivals such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, as well as Chinese automakers, in the race to bring EVs to market.

The company currently has a limited range of electric models, including the Q4 e-tron crossover, e-tron GT sports sedan, and Q8 e-tron.

In China, Audi offers the Q2L e-tron, a compact electric SUV with a 100kW motor and 38kWh battery pack.

The development of Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, which is being jointly developed with Porsche, has faced numerous delays.

The PPE architecture will underpin the upcoming Q6 e-tron crossover and A6 e-tron sedan, both expected to debut in 2024.

Audi’s parent company, the Volkswagen Group, has traditionally focused on in-house development of platforms for its various brands.

However, rising development costs have prompted Volkswagen to explore external partnerships, such as its collaboration with Ford.

Volkswagen and Ford have been working together on platform sharing, with Ford developing the platform for certain Volkswagen vehicles.

Audi’s potential purchase of a Chinese EV platform is another indication of the company’s efforts to catch up in the EV market.

• Audi is in talks with Chinese companies about buying an EV platform
• CEO Oliver Blume has reportedly approved the plan
• The platform could be used for a clutch of models in Audi’s ‘Sphere’ range
• It is unclear if these models will be available worldwide or limited to China
• Audi is playing catch-up to competitors in the EV market

As Audi seeks to accelerate its EV rollout, it is considering buying an electric car platform from a Chinese competitor. The use of an externally-developed EV platform would allow Audi to expand its electric model lineup based on the ‘Sphere’ concepts. This move comes as Audi faces increased competition in the EV market from both traditional luxury brands and Chinese automakers.