Audi E5 Sportback Achieves Remarkable Milestone with 10,153 Orders in Just 30 Minutes

EV editor focused on charging, batteries and ownership costs. Drives a Kia EV6 GT and does tough winter range tests.
In a significant boost to its electric vehicle lineup, SAIC Audi has announced that its newly launched E5 Sportback received an astounding 10,153 orders within just 30 minutes of its debut. This remarkable demand underscores the growing appetite for electric vehicles in China, particularly in the competitive mid-size segment.
The Audi E5 Sportback, which was launched on September 16, 2025, is making waves in the automotive industry with its sleek design and advanced features. Priced from 235,900 yuan (approximately 32,400 USD), the vehicle is available in four distinct trims, each catering to different performance and luxury preferences. These include the Pioneer, Pioneer Plus, Pioneer Quattro, and the Flagship Quattro. Each model in the lineup is designed with a focus on style and aerodynamics, featuring a fastback profile, hidden door handles, and frameless doors that enhance its futuristic appeal.
The E5 Sportback is built on the Advanced Digitised Platform, a joint venture development, and is produced at SAIC Audi's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The vehicle's design draws inspiration from the Audi E concept car, boasting a drag coefficient of just 0.252 Cd. The car's lighting system is particularly noteworthy, featuring 942 LEDs and nearly 2,000 triangular elements that create visually stunning welcome animations. Measuring 4,881 mm in length, 1,960 mm in width, and 1,479 mm in height, the E5 Sportback offers ample space and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, ensuring a comfortable ride for all passengers.
Inside, the E5 Sportback is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a 59-inch integrated display powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8295 chip, running the Audi OS operating system. The digital "Audi Island" control interface, electronic rear-view mirrors, and a voice-interactive Audi Assistant highlight its technological prowess. The system supports multi-zone wake-up commands and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Huawei HiCar, enhancing connectivity and entertainment options for tech-savvy drivers.
Safety and performance are at the forefront of the E5 Sportback's design. It comes equipped with 27 sensors, including lidar, radar, ultrasonic sensors, and cameras, integrated with an Nvidia Orin-X chip. The vehicle also incorporates Momenta’s EBM end-to-end large-model assisted driving solution, enabling advanced driving assistance features such as automated parking and city and highway driving. The E5 Sportback is available in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, with power outputs ranging from 220 kW to 579 kW. The dual-motor versions can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, making it a formidable contender in performance metrics.
Battery technology is another area where the E5 Sportback excels, featuring capacities from 76.2 kWh to 100 kWh, provided by CATL. This allows for a maximum CLTC range of 773 km, supported by an 800V architecture and a standard heat pump system. Such specifications place the E5 Sportback in direct competition with the Tesla Model 3, Nio ET5T, and Zeekr 007 GT, which are all prominent players in China’s mid-size EV market. In August 2025, Tesla's Model 3 led the sales in this category with 17,739 units, setting a high benchmark for the E5 Sportback to target.
Despite the formidable competition, the rapid success of the Audi E5 Sportback emphasizes the increasing consumer interest in electric vehicles that offer both luxury and performance. As environmental concerns continue to push the automotive industry towards sustainable solutions, models like the E5 Sportback are poised to capture a significant market share. With its blend of innovative technology, impressive range, and robust performance, Audi has set a new standard in the mid-size EV segment, one that rivals will undoubtedly be watching closely.

About Elena Park
EV editor focused on charging, batteries and ownership costs. Drives a Kia EV6 GT and does tough winter range tests.