New design centre in Beijing

A brand-new building in the heart of Beijing, a larger R&D team and greater research and production capabilities all form part of the Audi brand’s increased presence in China. A strong association that spans more than 30 years, the partnership with China has special significance for Audi as it continues to develop new technologies and models for the future.

The Audi brand has a long history of developing specific products and technologies with and for the Chinese market. Along with the founding of Audi China in 2009, the local R&D division was formally established as a fully integrated satellite of AUDI AG’s technical development division in Ingolstadt. Since 2013, the development team has been based at the former ‘Audi China Building' in the 798 Art District of Beijing. Over the years, responsibilities covered by Audi China’s R&D division have grown steadily to the point where a new premises to house an ever-expanding team of automotive designers and engineers can continue working on designs and technologies for the next generation of vehicles.

The new Audi China Building, located in the heart of Beijing’s North Central Business District, spans over 6000sqm across five floors and accommodates all departments of the Audi China R&D division. In a dedicated area, Audi Design China uses advanced digital tools such as VR headsets and digital drawing tablets to create the car designs of the future. The building also includes two workshops and a design lab, as well as an electronics lab and a public showroom.

“Both the new R&D centre in Beijing and the Audi FAW NEV Company in Changchun clearly prove the progress in transforming Audi’s business in China,” says Audi CEO Markus Duesmann.

“With both projects, we are addressing the market-defining trends in the Chinese auto market, namely – electrification, digitalisation and sustainability.”

The growth builds on the existing relationship between AUDI AG and China which has produced numerous models specifically for the Chinese market as well as development work which will find its way to Audi models in the future.

Most recently, significant development of the Audi urbansphere concept was done out of Audi’s design centre in China, where not only the brand’s local designers but potential customers shared input with the other Audi design centres around the globe for this concept vehicle aimed squarely at megacities of the future.

“We are enlarging our team of Chinese and international talents in various technology fields. In doing so, we want to meet and exceed the expectations of our Chinese customers for digitalisation and intelligent connected vehicles,” says Audi China EVP for R&D Michael Hofmann. 

“Furthering research and development as well as production in our largest market is an important measure,” says Audi China President Dr. Jürgen Unser. “With the relocation and expansion of our development team, we have created a rock-solid basis for the next generation of premium products and technologies. The new flagship location for our development also creates an even stronger presence for our brand.”

With technology developing so rapidly, the new state-of-the-art Audi R&D facility in Beijing will serve as a key innovation hub for the next generation of Audi technologies that will find their way into Audi models around the world.