Audi putting RS muscle in China import lineup

German premium carmaker Audi AG vows to bring an array of its RS models to market in China to gain the initiative in the burgeoning high-performance segment.

The brand's sales division at Sino-German joint venture FAW Volkswagen announced recently that Audi plans to bring at least two RS models into China annually over the next three years.

The RS 5 Coupe, the first model in the plan, was launched in China during the Chengdu auto show at the end of August.

Next year Audi will introduce the RS 5 Cabriolet that made its global premiere at the Paris motor show in September, the automaker said.

The brand has selected 40 out of 261 authorized Audi dealerships in China for the RS models in 31 cities.

The models will be sold at more dealerships as Audi's dealership network in China grows to 500 by 2015, according to the announcement.

Audi now has 11 R and RS high-performance models in the compact, mid-sized, large-sized and limousine segments, including nine RS models.

Audi and the joint venture FAW Volkswagen will also develop high-performance models tailor-made for the Chinese market, the company said.

Audi now has a 10 percent stake in the joint venture based in northeastern city of Changchun. The rest is held by its parent Volkswagen and Chinese auto group FAW.

Dominique Boesch, general manager of the Audi sales division at the joint venture, said the high-performance segment in China has great growth potential as customers mature and need more options.

"We have confidence that Audi RS will play a key role in the segment," he said.

Ge Shuwen, executive deputy general manager of the Audi sales division, said the RS high-performance car strategy will not only bring more models to China, but also consolidate the brand's "dynamic appeal" to customers.

Audi has been the biggest premium car provider in China for two decades dues to its early local production and continuing efforts to build the brand.

But it has the label of a "government car" because almost all high-profile Chinese government officials ride in Audis.

The RS strategy in China is seen as another move to help alter that image.

Audi's China sales surged by 32 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of the year to 294,952 cars.

It now produces the A6L large sedan, A4L mid-sized sedan and Q5 mid-sized SUV at the joint venture.

It will also make the Q3 compact SUV later this year and the A3 compact sedan next year in China.

gongzhengzheng@chinadaily.com.cn