Audi has launched an electric car without a classic logo – it’s the E5 Sportback in China

Audi has unveiled the first production electric car devoid of the usual four-ring badge. The E5 Sportback premiered in the People’s Republic of China, where it will go on sale in summer 2025. This is the debut model developed within the framework of cooperation between Audi and the Chinese corporation SAIC. The car is based on a completely new platform called Advanced Digitized Platform.

The E5 Sportback is the production incarnation of the AUDI E concept, previously revealed as part of the brand’s official entry into the Chinese market. The architecture developed together with SAIC forms the basis of the new fastback and has already been integrated into the local supply chain. The model will be sold exclusively in China, where customers will be offered versions with power from 299 to 787 horsepower. Depending on the configuration – rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, as well as an 800-volt battery with a capacity of up to 100 kWh. Maximum range is up to 770 kilometers on a single charge, and acceleration to 100 km/h is possible in an impressive 3.4 seconds.

The key feature of the novelty is a unique design aimed at the tastes of Chinese consumers. Instead of the traditional Audi logo, there are black contoured panels front and rear that integrate lighting elements, sensors for auxiliary electronics, radar and even an active spoiler. And the signature grille is replaced by the AUDI Light Frame, a light panel made up of more than a thousand miniature triangular elements.

The interior of the E5 Sportback also offers a technical breakthrough. A 27-inch curved screen takes center stage. All multimedia functions are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset, running AUDI OS optimized for the Chinese market. There’s dual wireless charging with cooling system and a personalizable voice assistant in the form of an AI avatar in the cabin.

The interior has a dual wireless charging system with cooling system and a personalizable voice assistant in the form of an AI avatar.

The car’s safety is ensured by the AUDI 360 Assisted Driving suite, which integrates data from 29 sensors, including lidar. The intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control system not only navigates through traffic in the city and on the highway, but also distinguishes traffic lights, pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles, and even children’s silhouettes. Electronics can independently rearrange on the driver’s command. Parking Assistant remembers popular spots and can take over the parking maneuver completely.

The E5 Sportback is just the beginning. In 2026 and 2027, two more all-electric cars will join the model lineup of Audi’s new sub-brand, exclusively for the Chinese market.