Audi Q5 may be locally produced in China by 2009

The mid-sized SUV, a rival to BMW X3, will hit European market late next year. The newspaper cited unnamed source saying that Q5 is likely to be assembled in China in 2009 to compete with BMW.

"We has a clear plan as to which model will be locally produced next, but now it's not the right time to talk about it," said Zhang Xiaojun, deputy managing director of the FAW-Volkswagen Audi sales division.

The five-seat vehicle is equipped with VW's Bluetec engine technology, and a new system called Drive Select tailors settings of the engine, transmission, steering and adaptive suspension depending on the mode selected via the Multi Media Interface (MMI).

Audi Q5 shares the latest Modular Longitudinal Platform (MLP) with the new-generation Audi A4. Audi A4 has already been locally produced in China and its production line will be upgraded to accommodate the production of Q5 production, if the model to be locally produced in China, analysts says. 

China has become Audi’s largest market outside Germany, Zhang said. In the first ten months this year, Audi sold 82,868 units in Chinese market, up 27% from the previous year. Audi A6 and A4 have been produced by VW's local joint venture. Audi A5 and R8 will be imported to China early next year following Audi TT and Q7.