German automaker Audi has filed a lawsuit against importer Auto China to stop parallel imports of the electric E5 Sportback and E7X models into Germany, reports infohub.kz.
These vehicles were developed jointly with Chinese conglomerate SAIC specifically for the Chinese market and are sold under the new AUDI sub-brand — in capital letters and without the four rings. However, an independent importer managed to bring the EVs to Germany, obtain homologation, and put them up for sale.
In Ingolstadt, this development was not welcomed, and the company decided to defend its rights in court. An Audi spokesperson confirmed the start of legal proceedings against Auto China.
The problem is not only that the Chinese novelties could steal customers from the European e-tron lineup. The E5 Sportback and E7X differ noticeably from global Audis in design and electronics. Moreover, the European dealer network cannot officially service them.
"These vehicles are not exported outside China through official sales channels authorized by Audi AG. Authorized dealers outside China cannot perform maintenance, as outside the Chinese market AUDI models are considered vehicles of other brands," the company said.
After the legal proceedings began, the E5 Sportback and E7X disappeared from the Auto China website, although an importer representative did not confirm that the removal was related to Audi's actions. Meanwhile, other Chinese EVs — from Zeekr, Xiaomi, and Huawei — remain available on the dealer's site.
The result is an ironic situation: the automaker created cars specifically for China, but now blocks their path to its own home market. And although the cars bear the AUDI name, they cannot enter Europe — because they lack the rings.
Earlier, Kursiv Auto reported that Audi unveiled the A2 e-tron with a range of up to 646 km.