FAW Audi is reportedly relocating its sales headquarters, namely FAW Audi Sales Co., Ltd., from Changchun to the southern city, Hangzhou on April 15th, local media outlets reported on March 14th. 

Audi e-tron in Beijing; photo credit: Audi

FAW Audi said to local media outlets that the information was untrue. Meanwhile, Audi China responded that they were unclear about the details, and needed to follow up with FAW Audi for further confirmation. 

In fact, the rumor about FAW Audi’s sales company settling in Hangzhou has been widely talked about since September 2018. FAW Audi’s public relations department said that the information was not final at the time.

FAW Audi Sales Co., Ltd. used to be a sales unit under FAW Volkswagen Audi, and became a standalone company on February 10th 2021.

Earlier in the siting phase of the new establishment, Audi listed eight Chinese cities as candidates, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Changchun, and Tianjin. The auto giant then evaluated each candidate from innovation, employment appeal, operational cost, employee’s cost of living, government support, and China’s unique “hukou” residence registration) problems. Hangzhou came on top.

Moreover, the president of Audi China, Werner Eichhorn, once said that one of the most important reasons for the joint venture to relocate from Changchun to Hangzhou is the strong demand for new energy vehicles in the southern China market. 

Notably, the legal registered address of FAW Audi Sales Co., Ltd. is already in Hangzhou.