Audi speeds toward achievable goal of becoming carbon-neutral in China

The Audi e-tron, the brand's first fully-electric series production model, is the centerpiece of this electric transformation.

"The e-tron will be the Audi icon in the sustainable mobility era," Eichhorn said. The localized version is being produced in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, where FAW-Volkswagen is headquartered, and will be available to Chinese customers beginning early 2021.

Audi said the e-tron Sportback will be imported to China starting from early next year.

Another highlight during this year's CIIE, the Q4 e-tron concept, a compact SUV, will be Audi's first electric model built on Volkswagen Group's MEB platform. The MEB platform has been developed solely for electric vehicles.

The carmaker said the concept car is nearing production and will be coming to China soon. And it will be locally produced with FAW-Volkswagen in the near future.

Under Audi's electric mobility strategy, Roadmap E, Audi globally will have 30 e-models by 2025, and those will then comprise around a 40 percent share of the carmaker's total global sales.

The brand has begun its electric product offensive in China, the largest market for new energy vehicles since it overtook the United States in 2015.

The locally-produced Q2L e-tron and the imported e-tron model have been available to Chinese customers since 2019.

By 2022, Audi will launch another six new energy vehicle models, including the locally-produced e-tron and e-tron Sportback together with partner FAW.

To further enhance the appeal of its electric lineup, the German carmaker recently signed a memorandum of understanding with FAW for the joint production of electric vehicles based on the Premium Platform Electric, which was developed jointly by Porsche and Audi.

Audi said the first new electric models on this platform are expected to be produced beginning in 2024.