Audi Q5 imported to China market in early 2009

Shanghai, August 5 (Gasgoo.com) The long-awaited Audi Q5, a premium VW brand which made its global debut at the 2008 Beijing auto show in April, will be imported to the China market as soon as in early 2009, and local production of this luxury sedan will follow up immediately, reported Beijing Times today, citing an Audi insider based in China.

This "import before local production" approach is similar to the business strategy of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedans in the Chinese market, but this is not only for testing the waters of the market. An executive of FAW VW's Audi sales division explained that to put the imported Audi Q5 first onto the Chinese market early next year is to capture part of the fast-growing market as soon as possible.

Reportedly, the local production of the Audi Q5 will follow up immediately after the imports of this premium sedan hit the Chinese market in early 2009. The imported and China-made Audi Q5 sedans will be equipped with different power systems and will cover different market segments in China. The Audi Q5 will go on sale in its home market Germany at the end of this year.

The Audi Q5 is likely to be locally made in China at the new plant that Audi has started to build with its Chinese partner FAW in the northeastern Chinese city of Changchun. The new facility, said to be operate in early 2010, will boost Audi's annual capacity in China to 200,000 units. Audi aims to add at least 18 new models by 2015 to its current 22 models in China.

Audi sold 60,509 vehicles in China in the first half of this year, up 23% from one year earlier. "These results underscore Audi's market leading position in the premium segment in China," Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said last month, adding that Audi's production capacities are to be boosted in its "second home market."