Bad news: SAIC Audi A7L has been widely recalled due to potential fuel leakage.
Good news: not many units were sold in total.
According to news released by the State Administration for Market Regulation, due to the hidden danger of fuel leakage, SAIC Audi will recall some 2021-2022 models produced between September 14, 2021 and June 1, 2022 starting from June 25, 2022. Audi A7L cars, a total of 1,765 vehicles.
Reason for recall : Due to improper operation in the production process of some vehicles, the engine oil delivery hard pipe and the fuel tank hose are occasionally unreliably connected, which may cause the fuel pipe at the bottom of the vehicle to loosen, and in extreme cases, cause fuel leakage. Leakage, vehicle failure to start, engine stalling while driving, etc.
processing method: will inspect the fuel pipe connection parts of the vehicles within the recall scope, and replace the fuel pipe for free if the connection is unreliable.
High-end cars also make low-level mistakes
The solution to the A7L fuel leakage is actually not complicated. It is neither a structural defect nor a flaw in simple configuration, but a low-level error such as improper plugging of the fuel pipe caused by poor production operations. . SAIC Audi's attitude towards solving the problem is quite sincere, but Mr. Jianghu doesn't want to give a positive evaluation.
As a luxury brand high-end sedan with a guide price of 449,700-777,700, the Audi A7L should not make such mistakes during the production operation. And fuel leakage is a major hidden danger related to driving safety. This safety hazard is much more serious than abnormal noise, black screen, and burning engine oil. The meticulous production operations have had an irreparable negative impact on SAIC Audi's brand image.
A car is an industrial product with complex processes and numerous procedures. It is inevitable that there will be flaws in some link among tens of thousands of parts. Generally speaking, occasional "recalls" are understandable throughout the life cycle of a new car, and are sometimes even seen as a sign that car companies are serious and responsible towards users.
However, recalls can also be divided into two situations: voluntary recalls by car companies when they discover hidden dangers, and passive recalls by car companies under pressure. But no matter how we recall it, it is better than fighting with users to evade responsibility.
A7L is unfair due to poor sales?
From January to May this year, SAIC Audi A7L sold only 1,472 units, which is in sharp contrast to FAW Audi A6L, which has maintained monthly sales of over 10,000 units for many years. where is the problem? Product positioning is inseparable.
If you ignore the name of the A7, this is an "all-rounder" that combines spacious seating space with an elegant and slender coupe shape. The starting price of 449,700 is also very attractive. But for such an all-round model with vague positioning, "Who to sell it to?" has become the biggest problem.
In fact, SAIC Audi’s original intention is easy to understand. In order to widen the product gap with A6L and establish the image of a flagship sedan, lengthening and canceling the hatchback design is the safest approach. After all, the success of A6L and A8L is obvious to all.
However, the classic fastback coupe image of Audi A7 is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. People who really like the A7 want to see a "most beautiful domestically produced Audi " with a lower entry price. There is a big difference between SAIC Audi's "magic modification" of the A7L and the expectations of car fans. The dismal sales volume has explained everything. Not only did the domestic A7L fail to capture the car-buying psychology of potential A6L users, it also lost the user group that originally belonged to the hatchback coupe, thus creating a model of "a good hand is beaten to pieces".
On the surface, the hidden dangers of A7L are errors in the production process, but this also reflects the result of SAIC Audi's lack of accumulation and eagerness for success. Fortunately, this recall has attracted the attention of SAIC Audi. In the future, when it comes to issues related to product quality and production specifications, it is bound to pay more attention to quality control and make up for it before it is too late.
