Celebrating its second anniversary, Audi, in partnership with SAIC Group, has officially inaugurated the AUDI Innovation and Technology Center (AITC) in Shanghai. As the brand’s core R&D and innovation hub in China, the AITC will oversee end-to-end vehicle development, from initial concept definition to mass production and delivery. This milestone marks a significant shift in Sino-German automotive collaboration from “adapting for China” to “defining in China.”
Looking ahead, the AUDI brand is expanding its product portfolio. Starting in 2028, four all-new models built on the advanced ADP 2.0 intelligent digital platform will be rolled out sequentially to the Chinese market.
Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, stated, “China is not only a key market for Audi but also one of the most dynamic innovation hubs in the global automotive industry. To succeed here, our R&D must be closer to customer needs and rapidly translate new technologies into compelling products. The AITC, built together with our partner SAIC Group, strengthens this core capability and represents a strategic investment in our long-term competitiveness in China.”
The AITC is led by General Manager Matthias Pfister and Deputy General Manager Shan Yunwei, heading a team of approximately 300 top-tier professionals dedicated to creating next-generation, AI-driven luxury mobility experiences. The center takes full-link responsibility for product definition, vehicle development, software, artificial intelligence, and driving assistance systems, while managing continuous OTA updates to achieve a complete closed-loop from vehicle concept to delivery.
As an example of its localized technological approach, the AUDI brand is partnering with Volcano Engine (ByteDance’s cloud and AI service platform). Leveraging the Doubao large language model, the two parties will jointly explore next-generation smart cockpit definitions, the AUDI OS software architecture, and multimodal interaction design, while actively promoting cockpit-ADAS integration. This partnership aims to extend AI capabilities beyond cabin interaction to synergistically empower overall vehicle intelligence and driving experiences, building an immersive AI cockpit tailored for Chinese users and establishing AUDI as an industry benchmark for AI-Defined Vehicles (AIDVs).
In terms of future innovation, the AITC is fully driving the development of the second-generation intelligent digital platform (ADP 2.0). Tailored natively for China’s smart electric vehicle market, the platform adopts a centralized computing and zonal controller E/E architecture, comprehensively supporting the scalability of L3 and L4 advanced driving assistance systems through deep AI and computing integration.
Powered by the robust digital and intelligent architecture of the ADP 2.0 platform, the AITC aims to redefine human-vehicle relationships for Chinese consumers. Through deep AI integration, future AUDI models will feature proactive recommendations and long-term memory capabilities for highly personalized experiences. By combining voice, vision, touch, and gaze tracking, the vehicles will deliver natural, intuitive intent understanding and an all-sensory luxury experience, transforming automobiles from traditional transport into intelligent mobility partners.
