Audi reportedly weighs Huawei platform for next A8 in China
Audi is reportedly discussing a China-specific next-generation A8 with Huawei, but neither company has confirmed the proposed partnership or its 2028 production target.
Audi is reportedly discussing a China-specific version of its next-generation A8 with Huawei, according to reporting cited by TechNode and Germany’s Manager Magazin. The proposal is not final, and neither company has confirmed an agreement. 12
What is being reported
The plan would see Audi develop a China-specific A8 variant with Huawei providing key vehicle technology and development support. The car would reportedly be built in China, with initial production targeted before the end of 2028. The discussions are also said to cover another premium vehicle, including an SUV.
The reported arrangement would be separate from the next-generation A8 intended for other markets. According to the reporting summarised by TechNode, Audi is considering the Huawei-linked vehicle as part of a wider effort to strengthen its position in China’s increasingly competitive premium-car market.
Why Huawei is involved
Huawei already supplies technology for intelligent vehicles and has built partnerships across China’s automotive industry. In this reported proposal, its role would go beyond supplying a single component: Huawei would contribute to the vehicle architecture and development of the China-specific model.
That distinction matters because the story is about a possible product and industrial partnership, not a confirmed Audi launch. The companies have not announced the A8 variant, its final specifications, its name, pricing or a production timetable beyond the reported target. Audi’s official A8 L media image is used here to identify the model family, not to depict the unconfirmed China-specific vehicle. 3
The China angle
The reported plan would fit Audi’s push to adapt its premium range to local conditions rather than rely solely on models developed and imported from Germany. It could also give Huawei a larger role in a flagship luxury vehicle, although the commercial and technical details remain unknown until the companies publish something themselves.
Our opinion
The interesting part is the possible division between a globally developed A8 and a China-specific version built around local technology. But this remains a report about negotiations, not a product announcement. Until Audi or Huawei confirms the arrangement, the 2028 production target and the model’s eventual hardware should be treated as provisional.