- Parallel imports of the Audi E5 Sportback and E7X are now available in Germany.
- Importation and local homologation have caused large price premiums.
- While pricier than in China, these AUDI models undercut some other Audi EVs.
Many of the EVs offered by Audi in Western markets aren’t exactly class leaders, especially compared to some of the company’s newer rivals. However, in China, the all-caps AUDI brand does sell two innovative electric vehicles that we suspect could sell quite well elsewhere, and they’ve just begun landing in Germany.
The AUDI E5 Sportback and E7X, introduced over the past 18 months in China, were developed specifically for the local market in partnership with SAIC Motor. They are not officially sold anywhere else, but European-based importer Auto China has started selling them in limited numbers in Germany.
Read: China’s Ringless AUDI EV Is Flopping Like Overcooked Noodles
Auto China, which also offers parallel imports of several vehicles from Xiaomi, SAIC, and Li Auto, purchased the vehicles in China, ships them to Germany, and homologates them for the local market. This makes them a lot more expensive than they are in Germany. In fact, Automobilwoche reports that the E5 Sportback costs €59,980 ($70,130), while the larger E7X SUV starts at €72,900 ($85,200).
Still Undercutting Euro Rivals
To put those figures into perspective, the E5 Sportback starts at 205,990 yuan ($30,600) in China while the E7X is priced from 269,800 yuan ($40,100), meaning they cost roughly double when imported and sold in Germany by Auto China. Remarkably, even priced at €59,980 ($70,130) and €72,900 ($85,200), they’re still a lot cheaper than some of Audi’s homegrown products.
Perhaps the closest model to the E5 Sportback is Audi’s own S6 Sportback e-tron, and it starts at €99,500 ($116,300). Whereas the Chinese model has twin electric motors and 776 hp, the S6 Sportback e-tron tops out at 543 hp. Similarly, the Audi SQ6 e-tron, which doesn’t appear anywhere near as luxurious as the E7X, is priced from €93,800 ($109,700), making it much more expensive than the imported E7X.
But if you live in Germany and are tempted, buying a parallel import has risks. Audi could pursue legal action to stop their sale. In 2023, this is what VW did when a German importer brought in 20 Chinese-market ID.6s with plans to sell them, but after a drawn-out legal process, was ordered to destroy them all. Even if Audi doesn’t move to ban the import and sale of its Chinese models, owners will likely not be offered service or repair support.
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