Audi Leads Luxury Brands in China Sales in 2025; ABB Trio to Roll Out Native EV Platforms in 2026

In 2025, Audi sold a total of 617,000 vehicles in the Chinese market, down approximately 5.6% year-over-year, making it the best-selling single luxury automotive brand that year. Of this total, FAW Audi delivered 176,150 units, a 13.8% decline compared to the previous year. Including SAIC Audi (16,363 units, up 11.7% year-over-year) and Audi FAW NEV Company (2,130 units), Audi’s locally produced vehicle sales totaled 194,643 units, down 10.8% year-over-year. In the same period, Mercedes-Benz sold 575,000 vehicles in China, a 19% year-over-year drop, while BMW Group reported sales of 625,527 units in China (including BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce), with the BMW brand alone accounting for approximately 605,000 units—a 12.5% year-over-year decline. From January to May 2026, retail sales of passenger vehicles in China reached 7,098,800 units, down 19.5% year-over-year. Against this backdrop, FAW Audi’s sales decline of 13.8% during the first five months outperformed the industry average, allowing it to maintain its leadership among German premium brands. Its flagship model, the A6L, achieved annual sales of 172,000 units, firmly securing the top spot in the luxury C-segment sedan category; the Q5L sold 140,000 units annually, retaining its position as the best-selling premium B-segment gasoline-powered SUV. Amid accelerating electrification in the Chinese market, the “ABB” trio—Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz—launched new models in 2026 based on dedicated electric vehicle platforms, marking their formal departure from the era of “ICE-to-EV conversions.” Audi introduced the Q6L e-tron and A6L e-tron, both built on the jointly developed PPE platform with Porsche and equipped with Huawei’s Qiankun intelligent driving system. BMW commenced production on its Neue Klasse (New Generation) platform, with the long-wheelbase iX3 scheduled for launch in Q4 2026 and the long-wheelbase Neue Klasse i3 set to debut in spring 2027, offering CLTC-rated ranges exceeding 900 km and 1,000 km, respectively. Mercedes-Benz launched and began deliveries of its first locally produced MMA-platform EV—the all-electric GLC L SUV—on July 8, 2026, while development of its MB.EA-based all-electric C-Class sedan is also underway. Simultaneously, all three automakers reinforced their internal combustion engine (ICE) business foundations. FAW Audi stabilized its retail performance through marketing integration, channel expansion into lower-tier markets, and price transparency initiatives. Mercedes-Benz optimized its dealer network and advanced its “MAR20X Network Upgrade Program,” while BMW enhanced service quality via its “Showroom Conversion Capability Enhancement Project.” As the new energy vehicle (NEV) penetration rate continues to rise—with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for 42.2% of passenger vehicle sales in May 2026—consumer preferences are gradually shifting toward mainstream buyers who prioritize reliability, safety, and durability. In this context, ABB leverages its century-long manufacturing heritage to demonstrate differentiated strengths in body structure, battery protection, and quality control systems. Multiple FAW Audi models ranked at the top of their segments in J.D. Power’s 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study, and its production facilities in Changchun and Foshan now support co-production lines for MQB, MEB, and PPE platforms, maintaining high quality standards. 2026 is widely regarded as a pivotal year for ABB’s electrification transformation: while safeguarding their ICE core businesses, they are fully entering the heart of China’s BEV market through localized R&D, supply chain adaptation, and intelligent technology partnerships.