Rumors surrounding the upcoming Chinese market automobile being co-developed by Audi and Chinese EV manufacturer SAIC are beginning to surface, pointing out an interesting direction. Known internally as “Purple”, it’s said the car may not wear the four rings.
Why no rings, a report from Reuters suggests it’s in regards to a “brand image consideration”. The car is being co-developed with SAIC, utilizing increased technology and components from local Chinese suppliers.
Whether the car will be branded as something else entirely was also speculated by Reuters, more in the context of that being an unknown. However, a source suggesting the car wouldn’t wear the four rings does beg the question of whether it would be badged as something else. Just what that would or could be remains to be seen, but we know Audi uses the defunct Horch badge on its most luxurious A8 offering in the Chinese market. Could it dust off another old Auto Union badge for such a project?
Reuters also suggested a concept car for the series is due to debut in November, with a further rumored nine models planned for this Chinese market lineup by 2030.
