AUDI brand centers model development in Shanghai with 300 staff

By Amara Osei

Around 300 staff will work at the Shanghai technology centre Audi and SAIC opened for the China-exclusive AUDI brand.

The centre will steer every future model from initial concept through production readiness. Its remit covers vehicle software, driver assistance and the technical platform.

Audi and SAIC position it as shared engineering for Chinese premium buyers. They gave no investment value, annual capacity or vehicle-volume target.

What will the Shanghai centre develop?

Its teams will focus on advanced driver assistance and an AI-based cabin. They will work to shorten development cycles, although Audi disclosed no starting cycle, target cycle or staffing split.

Matthias Pfister serves as general manager, with Shan Yunwei as deputy. The site will also build the second-generation Advanced Digitized Platform for future AUDI models.

Audi and SAIC say placing the second-generation Advanced Digitized Platform in Shanghai gives their joint brand control of the technical base for future AUDI models. That statement establishes control over development work, not a completed platform, a production milestone or a stated engineering deadline.

The announcement names no Tier 1 platform supplier or component vendor.

How will the AI cabin work?

Cabin development will cover multimodal interaction, agentic functions and personalisation for Chinese premium buyers. Audi released no feature list, model names or customer demonstrations.

An unnamed Chinese AI and cloud provider is exploring how its models could enter vehicles early in development, potentially tying AUDI closely to local software. The arrangement remains exploratory. Audi did not name the provider, state its commercial role or give a deployment date.

Which models anchor the programme?

The AUDI brand was founded in 2024. Audi says it launched the E5 Sportback in 2025 and the all-electric E7X in May 2026. One additional planned model is intended to complete the first generation.

Those dates describe a product sequence, not manufacturing scale. Audi and SAIC identify no assembly plant, annual capacity, production volume or component supplier for the E5, E7X or additional planned model in this generation.

The announcement does not say the centre will physically produce vehicles. On the available evidence, the hub should not be counted as added vehicle capacity.

What did Audi's chairman say?

Gernot Döllner, chairman of the Board of Management at Audi AG, 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.”

“Together with our partner SAIC, the new technology center strengthens exactly these capabilities.”

“In doing so, we are making a targeted investment in our long-term competitiveness in China.”

Döllner's statement links the centre to customer proximity and rapid technology transfer, but it provides no financial amount, hiring schedule or production commitment for AUDI.

What should readers watch next?

The first product checkpoint is the all-electric E7X's stated May 2026 launch. Audi has also planned one more model, but has not named it or supplied a launch date.

Watch evidence of the second-generation Advanced Digitized Platform reaching production readiness and whether Audi publishes a supporting schedule.

Any claim that the centre supports scaled output will require a disclosed assembly location, annual capacity figure, production-volume target or another unit milestone for these models. No policy decision was disclosed for the centre. The stated staffing level is only ‘around 300,’ so hiring growth would signal a firmer operating commitment.

Watch the E7X's May 2026 launch date, the platform's production-readiness milestone, a disclosed capacity target and any policy decision that could affect the China programme.