On June 28, Audi FAW New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. laid the foundation stone in Changchun, Jilin. Audi officially launched the local production project of pure electric models based on the PPE platform in the Chinese market. It is reported that Audi's new production base is scheduled to be put into production at the end of 2024 and will produce pure electric models based on the PPE platform in a digitally interconnected manner. This is also Audi's first factory in China that only produces pure electric models, with a planned annual output of more than 150,000 vehicles. The first batch of PPE platform models put into production will be the three models of the Audi A6 e-tron and Audi Q6 e-tron series.
It is reported that the new factory covers an area of about 150 hectares. After completion, the area will exceed that of the Audi Neckarsulm factory. A professional technical team from China and Germany will be stationed in the factory and will be responsible for building the entire value chain of automobile production and manufacturing. In addition to stamping, welding, painting and final assembly workshops, the factory will also be equipped with its own high-voltage battery assembly workshop, specially used for PPE platform models in the Chinese market. At the same time, all processes in the new factory will be intelligently interconnected through a new information technology architecture and implement the "Mission: Zero". In the future, the headquarters of Audi FAW New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. will also be established here. This is the first joint venture company in which Audi has a majority stake in China. Audi has invested approximately 2.6 billion euros in this project, including establishing a new company and building its first pure electric vehicle production base in China.
In terms of the new factory, Audi will use a fully integrated smart logistics solution for the first time at its production base outside Europe. In the welding workshop, Audi will invest approximately 860 robots to weld the bodies of pure electric models. According to the plan, Audi will also realize logistics automation in the next few years. The new factory will also be a carbon-neutral production base. It is reported that Audi will use 100% green electricity in production and generate its own electricity through a photovoltaic system on the roof of the factory. The factory will also install a membrane bioreactor to achieve closed-loop water management and significantly increase the water recovery rate of the Changchun factory.
In terms of product planning, Audi will build medium-sized to full-size electric vehicles based on the PPE platform for the Chinese market. The first batch of production will be the three models of the Audi A6 e-tron and Audi Q6 e-tron series. By 2025, Audi will provide 5 locally produced pure electric models in China and approximately 30 new energy vehicles (including more than 20 pure electric models) globally.
[Market Comments]
With the start of construction of Audi's FAW New Energy Plant, this is also a manifestation of Audi's continued efforts to increase localization in China. It is reported that Audi predicts that by 2030, the proportion of new energy vehicles in China's high-end automobile market will exceed that of fuel vehicles. As Audi's largest single market in the world, the unique strategic significance of the Chinese market will play a key role in the electrification transformation of the four-ring brand. This has also set off a new round of competition between traditional luxury brands in the Chinese market. Prior to this, the latest electric car EQE rolled off the production line at Beijing Benz Shunyi Factory, and BMW have just upgraded their production base in Shenyang, China. BBA is accelerating its production in Shenyang, China. The progress of localization in the Chinese market in the era of electrification.
Text/Guangzhou Daily·New Flower City Reporter: Deng Li
Picture/Guangzhou Daily·New Flower City Reporter: Deng Li
Guangzhou Daily·New Flower City Editor: Zhao Dongqin
