Audi has initiated legal proceedings against the importer Auto China to prevent the sale of AUDI E5 Sportback and E7X models in Germany. These vehicles, developed by Audi and SAIC specifically for the Chinese market, feature the new AUDI branding instead of the traditional four-ring logo.
Auto China had offered these models for sale in Germany, claiming to handle type approval, registration, and after-sales support. However, Audi stated that these vehicles are not part of its official European distribution network and will not receive authorized maintenance or warranty services.
The German automaker emphasized that AUDI-branded cars are considered non-Audi vehicles outside of China. Consequently, the company is taking steps to protect its brand rights and distribution channels, as these imports were not authorized by Audi AG.
Following the legal action, the E5 Sportback and E7X models have been removed from the Auto China website. The importer has not commented on whether the removal was a direct result of pressure from Audi, though the site continues to list other Chinese vehicle brands.
