Despite nearly doubling in price due to private import, two electric vehicle models from the AUDI brand, developed in China, are now available in Germany at significantly lower costs than their official Audi counterparts. However, this competitive pricing comes with substantial risks for consumers.

The E5 Sportback and E7X models, launched in the past 18 months, were developed specifically for the Chinese market through a partnership with the SAIC group. These vehicles represent a customized electric vehicle line tailored for young customers in China, distinct from Audi's traditional branding by its unique capitalization.

European importer Auto China, known for unofficially bringing vehicles from brands like: Xiaomi, SAIC, and Li Auto, sources these cars in China. The process involves shipping them to Germany and handling domestic registration, incurring additional costs that significantly increase the vehicles' retail prices.

Audi E5 Sportback in China. *Photo: TychodeFeijter*

According to Automobilwoche, the E5 Sportback is priced at approximately 60,000 EUR (70,100 USD) in Germany, while the E7X SUV starts at 72,900 EUR (85,200 USD). In contrast, the E5 Sportback begins at 206,000 yuan (30,600 USD) and the E7X at 269,800 yuan (40,100 USD) in China. Despite the nearly doubled price in Germany, these figures are considerably lower than comparable domestically assembled Audi models. For instance, the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron, the closest equivalent to the E5 Sportback, has a starting price of 99,500 EUR (116,300 USD).

The imported Chinese vehicles boast two motors delivering 776 horsepower, significantly more than the 543 horsepower of the S6 Sportback e-tron. Similarly, the Audi SQ6 e-tron model, though less equipped than the E7X, carries a price tag of 93,800 EUR (109,700 USD).

However, German consumers purchasing these unofficially imported vehicles face considerable risks. The car manufacturer, Audi, could initiate legal action to prohibit their sale. A precedent was set in 2023 when Volkswagen sued a private dealership for importing 20 ID.6 vehicles from China to Germany; the lawsuit resulted in the entire batch being ordered for destruction.

Even without direct legal intervention from Audi, owners of these vehicles would likely encounter difficulties in receiving official maintenance or repair services.

My Anh