Okay so today I was scrolling through some car forums, right? And this question popped up about where Audis are actually made. Seems simple enough, but man, I realized I only had a fuzzy idea myself. Mostly thought “Germany, obviously.” But then someone mentioned China, and another guy said Mexico… I got curious. Like, seriously, where’s MY Audi actually from?
So I grabbed my phone and started digging. First stop? Just typed “Audi factories” into a search. Boom. Tons of stuff came up, but a ton of it felt old or confusing. Kept seeing two big names pop up over and over: FAW Audi and SAIC Audi. Honestly, I knew FAW Audi was the big one, been around forever. But SAIC Audi? That felt newer, maybe just for electric stuff? Wasn’t sure.
Untangling the FAW Audi Factories
Started with the old guard, FAW Audi. Here’s the messy notes I scribbled down:
Changchun: Found like a million articles saying this is the OG spot. Big deal there. They build the A4L, A6L, and Q5L. Those long-wheelbase sedans everyone loves? Yep, born there.
Tianjin: Kept seeing the Q3 mentioned specifically for this place. Seems focused on that model.
Foshan: Ah, the compact guys. This factory handles the A3 hatchback and sedan, plus the Q2L. Different vibe there.
So that’s like… three cities? Changchun, Tianjin, Foshan. And basically, if it’s a common Audi sedan or SUV here in China, odds are good it rolled out of one of these FAW spots. Felt like I had that part sorted.
The SAIC Audi Curveball
Then my buddy pinged me asking about the difference between the SAIC A5L and FAW A5L. I was like, “Wait, there’s TWO?” Thought I was going crazy. So I dove deeper into this SAIC Audi thing.
Started seeing these new “Sportback” models getting hyped – the A5L Sportback and this brand new E5 Sportback. Everyone was calling them GT-style, sportier. Digging into where THEY came from, I hit some major news: SAIC Audi just opened a brand new factory in Shanghai! Like, literally just days ago!
This wasn’t just any factory; articles called it the “AUDI Smart Factory” or “AUDI Manufacturing Base“. The key points that jumped out:
It’s 100% dedicated to building cars for this new “AUDI” brand under SAIC.
They bragged about 360,000 cars a year capacity. That’s huge!
Loaded with tech: AI checking things, lasers measuring stuff, robots everywhere.
And the very first car rolling off the line? That new electric E5 Sportback. Saw pre-order prices too, around 235k RMB starting.
Then it clicked. That A5L Sportback my friend asked about? That’s from SAIC Audi too, built in this fancy new Shanghai plant! They’re staking their claim on these sleek, sporty models, whether gas (like the A5L Sportback) or electric (like the E5 Sportback). FAW Audi does the more traditional models.
Putting It All Together
So here’s my rough cheat sheet now:
FAW Audi = Changchun, Tianjin, Foshan: Makes the long-time favourites – A4L, A6L, Q5L (Changchun), Q3 (Tianjin), A3/Q2L (Foshan). Your dad’s Audi, probably.
SAIC Audi = Brand new Shanghai Factory: This is the fresh spot pumping out the stylish “Sportback” models – A5L Sportback (gas) and E5 Sportback (electric). Focused on sportier design and tech.
And yeah, Germany is still core for global stuff and super high-end models, places like Hungary and Mexico handle other cars for the world market. But for understanding what’s parked on Chinese streets right now? You gotta know about Changchun, Tianjin, Foshan, and now Shanghai. That shiny new E5 Sportback causing a stir? Straight outta Shanghai. Took me a bit to untangle, but feels clearer now.