Audi assigns Four Rings to FAW and AUDI brand to SAIC

Audi is sharpening the division of responsibilities between its two Chinese joint ventures, with FAW focusing on the Four Rings brand across electric and combustion-engine vehicles, while SAIC concentrates on the electric AUDI brand.

An Audi R26 is shown at Volkswagen Group's press conference on April 23, 2026, in Beijing. (Photo: China Daily)

The German premium carmaker said on Monday that it had signed strategic agreements with China FAW Group and SAIC Motor to clarify the positioning of its two brands and the structure of their sales and service networks.

The move comes as China's premium car market undergoes a rapid shift toward electrification and intelligent driving, with automakers facing increasingly diverse consumer demands.

The new division of responsibilities will not immediately end SAIC Audi's sales of Four Rings models.

Audi said SAIC Audi would continue selling Four Rings products through the end of 2027, while after-sales services for both its existing Four Rings models and AUDI-branded vehicles would continue operating.

The agreements are intended to sharpen the brands' market positioning, streamline decision-making and help both businesses respond more quickly to changes in China, Audi said.

"Executing our dual-brand strategy enables our Chinese partners to deliver the best of Audi to our customers," said Johannes Roscheck, president of Audi China.

"With clearer market focus and differentiated brand positioning, we are creating a stronger foundation for long-term, sustainable success in China."