Audi reclaims top spot in China's premium car market

Audi regained its position as China's top-selling premium marque in 2025, outpacing BMW and Mercedes despite a softer market and intensifying competition in the world's largest auto sector.

The German carmaker delivered 617,514 vehicles in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong last year.

While sales fell 5 percent year-on-year, Audi said the result reflected resilience in China's premium market, supported by strong demand for internal combustion engine models.

BMW Group delivered 625,527 vehicles in the year, but the figure included the cheaper MINI-branded vehicles, which stood at around 60,000 units. Mercedes sold 571,900 units, marking a 19.4 percent slump year-on-year.

China is central to Audi's global strategy, according to Gernot Doellner, CEO of Audi.

"China is a key driver for the future of Audi – a market in which we innovate together with our customers and partners," Doellner said, adding that the company remains committed to strengthening its position while advancing electrification.

Audi pursues a dual-powertrain strategy in China through its joint ventures with FAW and SAIC, supported by two platforms: the Premium Platform Combustion and the Premium Platform Electric.

In 2025, Audi launched the PPC-based A5L and A5L Sportback, and integrated advanced driver-assistance systems into premium ICE models in cooperation with Huawei—making Audi one of the first international brands to offer such technologies in China's premium ICE segment.

On the electric side, Audi and FAW introduced the PPE platform locally with the Q6L e-tron and Q6L Sportback e-tron. The A6L e-tron is set to follow.

"2025 marked a decisive year of execution," said Johannes Roscheck, president of Audi China. "Our core ICE business remained fundamentally strong, while we accelerated the renewal of our BEV portfolio and deepened local partnerships."

Audi is also expanding its reach with its new electric brand, AUDI, introduced in China in 2024.

The brand's first model, the AUDI E5 Sportback, launched in September 2025 and later won the 2026 China Car of the Year award.

"With the AUDI product family now taking shape across diverse segments, we have reached a critical step toward scale," said Fermin Soneira, CEO of the Audi and SAIC Cooperation Project.

Looking ahead to 2026, Audi plans further China-specific launches including the Q5L, A6L, A6L e-tron and the AUDI E7X, as it continues to balance combustion and electric offerings in the world's largest auto market.