Gasgoo Munich- On November 5, Audi and SAIC Motor opened the AUDI Innovation and Technology Center, or AITC, in Shanghai. The new R&D organization will oversee the end-to-end development of AUDI models in China, from initial vehicle concepts through series production.
Image source: AUDI
Key Takeaways
·Audi AG and SAIC Motor jointly established AITC as a dedicated vehicle-development organization for the AUDI brand, following the introduction of the AUDI E5 Sportback and AUDI E7X.
·AITC will be responsible for product definition, complete-vehicle development, software, artificial intelligence, driver-assistance systems and ongoing over-the-air updates.
·AUDI and ByteDance's cloud and AI platform Volcano Engine will explore next-generation intelligent cockpits, the AUDI OS software architecture, multimodal interaction and closer integration between cockpit and ADAS functions.
·AITC is developing the second-generation ADP 2.0 platform, which uses a centralized computing and zonal-controller electrical/electronic architecture and is designed to support the future expansion of Level 3 and Level 4 high-level assisted driving systems.
·AUDI plans to introduce four new ADP 2.0-based models in China starting in 2028.
Development model
Audi describes AITC's development approach through three pillars: "Defined in China," "Native Intelligence" and "Advanced Engineering." Under this model, product and engineering requirements will originate from Chinese customer needs, while AI and other digital technologies will be incorporated from the beginning of vehicle development. The companies aim to combine Audi's engineering and quality standards with SAIC Motor's digital capabilities and the pace of local development.
AITC will focus on advanced driver-assistance systems and AI-enabled cockpit functions, including multimodal interaction, AI agents and personalized in-vehicle experiences. ADAS, the electrical/electronic architecture, the intelligent cockpit and complete-vehicle systems will be developed in parallel from the start of each project.
AI and in-vehicle experience
The collaboration with Volcano Engine is intended to extend AI beyond cockpit interaction to broader vehicle functions and the driving experience. Audi said the work will support the development of an immersive AI cockpit tailored to Chinese users.
Audi said future AUDI models based on ADP 2.0 are expected to offer long-term memory and proactive recommendations. Planned multimodal controls will combine voice, vision, touch and eye tracking to provide more personalized interaction.
