On July 20,Deborah Sullavan Archives Chinese automaker SAIC confirmed that it had reached an agreement with Audi to accelerate the development of electric vehicles through collaboration. Technode reported on July 13 that Audi was in negotiations with SAIC to purchase the electric vehicle platform of SAIC’s premium electric vehicle unit IM Motors. The collaboration between the two entities may involve SAIC Volkswagen’s second factory located in Anting Town, Jiading District, Shanghai, according to people familiar with the matter. The partnership will proceed with resource exchanges, with Volkswagen conceding assets of the factory in exchange for SAIC’s EV platform. Through the move, Audi aims to obtain EV manufacturing technologies concerning the electric powertrain system, underbody structure, and intelligent driving system, while retaining autonomy over the designing part. Currently, SAIC has independent research departments and exterior suppliers in terms of motor, electric drive, solid-state batteries, vehicle body control, chips, and intelligent driving technologies. [Jiemian, in Chinese]
