Top honours in China

The AUDI E5 Sportback has been awarded China’s top automotive honour, being named this year’s China Car of the Year. While Audi’s presence in the Middle Kingdom goes back to the late 1980s and marks the brand as the first premium car brand to enter China, just on a year ago the decision was made to create a China-only sister brand to concentrate on the specific challenges and demands of the Chinese market.

That decision and the resultant AUDI brand has now been recognised for its efforts, taking out the prestigious award with its very first offering – the AUDI E5 Sportback.

“This award validates our unique approach in China with two strong brands and deep integration of local innovation,” says Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG.

The AUDI brand, which is a partnership with SAIC, first produced the AUDI E concept in November 2024, giving customers a taste of what was to come. The series production model, the E5 Sportback made its debut just five months later at the Shanghai Auto Show in April 2025 and the response from customers and critics alike was overwhelmingly positive. The E5 Sportback has subsequently picked up a string of awards including Best Design Sedan of the Year, 2025 Most Popular Premium Car, and Intelligent Premium Sedan of the Year. Now, the all-electric, four-door E5 Sportback has added the coveted China Car of the Year to the list. 

“It is a great honour to receive the China Car of the Year award for the AUDI E5 Sportback. As the first model from the new AUDI brand, it truly represents the brand’s spirit: the best of both worlds,” says Fermín Soneira, CEO of the Audi and SAIC co-operation project. 

“It addresses a new generation of Chinese consumers who want Audi’s driving dynamics, quality, and safety, as well as seamless integration into their intelligent digital ecosystem. The E5 Sportback is the exact embodiment of this holistic premium commitment.”

Built on the new new Advanced Digitised Platform (ADP), its 579kW and a range of up to 770km offer tremendous versatility. The E5 Sportback is available in China with the choice of four powertrains and choice of rear-wheel drive or electric quattro drive, it can demolish the sprint t 100km/h in 3.4 seconds, yet delivers the highest standards of luxury appointment as well as the state-of-the-art technology so important on the Chinese market.

“Consumer and expert feedback demonstrates that our ongoing transformation journey in China toward electrification and intelligent connected driving is on course,” says Gernot Döllner.

While the award is a vindication to establish the AUDI brand for the Chinese market, it is certainly not a cause to rest on achievements. In November last year, the brand’s second concept vehicle, the AUDI E SUV concept was debuted at the Guangzhou Auto Show and the production version based on that – the AUDI E7X – will be launched to the Chinese public this year.