SAIC Audi launched a promotional campaign following tennis player Zheng Qinwen's victory at the China Open on October 11. The company's official account announced a 'buy one, get one free' offer for the 'AUDI' series, which quickly drew public attention.
Consumers discovered that the promotion applied only to two electric vehicle models, the E5 Sportback and E7X, rather than the entire Audi brand lineup. Furthermore, the 'gift' provided was a scale model of the vehicle instead of an actual car.
Customer service representatives clarified that the campaign runs from October 1 to October 31. They stated that the 'AUDI' branding refers specifically to the new electric vehicle line introduced in November 2024, distinguishing it from the traditional four-ring Audi brand.
The marketing strategy faced criticism from social media users, who argued that the phrasing was misleading. Some users pointed to advertising regulations requiring clear disclosure of gift specifications to avoid deceptive practices.
In contrast, beverage brand Chagee, which also sponsors Zheng Qinwen, held a concurrent promotion offering a genuine buy-one-get-one-free deal on its entire product range, including popular drinks and gelato.
