Audi and SAIC open Shanghai tech centre staffed by 300 engineers

A team of around 300 engineers has begun work at the AUDI Innovation & Technology Center (AITC) in Shanghai, the new engineering hub Audi and SAIC have opened to support the China-exclusive AUDI brand.

The facility will oversee vehicle programmes for the capitalised AUDI marque (created in 2024 specifically for the Chinese market) from concept definition through to readiness for series production. Its remit covers advanced driver assistance systems and artificial intelligence-based in-cabin technologies, including multimodal controls, agentic capabilities and personalised digital functions.

Matthias Pfister serves as general manager of the centre, with Shan Yunwei as deputy general manager.

What will the centre actually build?

Two workstreams define the AITC's technical agenda. First, it is collaborating with a Chinese AI and cloud platform to incorporate AI models into vehicle architecture at an early development stage — a decision that shapes what software features remain possible later in a programme. Second, its team is developing the second generation of the Advanced Digitized Platform, the electronic and software base for future AUDI production vehicles.

The Shanghai site combines research, vehicle development and over-the-air (OTA, remote software update) capability in one location. The stated aim is to shorten model development times and respond faster to demand in China's premium segment, where local competitors iterate digital features at a pace European development cycles have historically struggled to match.

Who said what at the opening?

AUDI management board chairman Gernot Döllner framed the centre as a competitive necessity rather than a symbolic gesture. He said: "China is a key market for Audi and one of the most dynamic innovation hubs in the automotive industry. To succeed here, we need to develop close to our customers and rapidly translate new technologies into compelling products."

Döllner added: "Together with our partner SAIC, the new technology centre strengthens exactly these capabilities. In doing so, we are making a targeted investment in our long-term competitiveness in China."

Fred Schulze, CEO of Audi and SAIC Cooperation, pointed to the continuity the hub provides across a vehicle's life. He said: "With the new technology centre, we can translate their expectations into our products even more consistently, from the initial idea to software and driver assistance, all the way to continuous digital updates."

How does the centre fit Audi's China strategy?

The opening forms part of a broader Audi China structure built on two joint venture partners and two brand identities. The capitalised AUDI brand pairs Audi's chassis, safety and vehicle dynamics engineering with SAIC's digital architecture and software capabilities — a division of labour that reflects where each partner holds its strongest competencies.

The product line-up is already taking shape. AUDI introduced the E5 Sportback as its first production model in 2025, followed by the E7X all-electric SUV in May 2026. A third model is planned to complete the brand's first-generation line-up, though the partners have not named it or given a launch date.

What to watch next

The near-term indicators are concrete. Watch for the reveal and launch timing of the third first-generation model, the first outputs from the collaboration with the Chinese AI and cloud platform, and any detail on when the second-generation Advanced Digitized Platform reaches production vehicles. Staffing levels at the AITC — currently around 300 — will also signal how quickly Audi intends to scale local development.