Audi’s China-Only E5 Sportback Impresses German Fans but Won’t Be Sold in Europe

The price of the Audi E5 Sportback costs the equivalent of £35,000. Photo: Wang Zhao/AFP

Audi’s new electric E5 Sportback has won enthusiastic reviews from German car enthusiasts for its design, build quality and low price, but the model is made in China and is not available in Germany.

The E5 Sportback is part of a growing range of Audi vehicles developed and produced in China under the company’s «In China, for China» strategy, in partnership with Chinese automaker SAIC. Priced at around €40,000 (£35,000) in China, it costs roughly half as much as comparable Audi electric models sold in Germany.

The E5 Sportback is part of a growing number of Audi models made in China and that is only available in the Chinese market – Anadolu. Photo: Wang Zhao/AFP

Interest surged after a YouTube review by German performance car channel JP Performance attracted around one million views, with viewers praising the car’s technology and value. Some commenters questioned why Audi does not offer the model in its home market.

Although the car can technically be imported into Germany, industry experts say it would struggle to meet EU regulatory and cybersecurity standards without major modifications. Audi has confirmed it has no plans to sell the China-specific E5 Sportback in Europe.

The model went on sale in China in September, as intense competition and discounting continue to drive rapid growth in the country’s electric vehicle market.

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