Audi has unveiled a new division of responsibilities between its 2 Chinese partners, with FAW Audi focusing on the 4-ring brand and SAIC Audi concentrating on the AUDI letter-logo brand, officially confirming months of reports about the restructuring.

The company has signed separate strategic agreements with its partners to clarify brand positioning, strategic priorities and sales channel structures, Audi China said in a statement on Monday.

Under the agreements, China FAW will strengthen the 4-ring brand's presence in the new energy vehicle (NEV) and combustion-engine vehicle segments, while SAIC Audi will focus on the AUDI brand and the NEV market.

The changes will preserve Audi's "dual-brand, dual-partner" structure in China while further distinguishing the partners' business priorities to accelerate decision-making and improve responsiveness to the market.

The restructuring will take place gradually. Audi said SAIC Audi can continue selling 4-ring models through the end of 2027, while after-sales services for both its 4-ring and AUDI models will continue operating smoothly.

Customer services, after-sales support and dealer operations will continue in an orderly manner, the company said, without detailing how sales channels will be handled after the transition period.

SAIC Audi's shift toward AUDI therefore does not mean an immediate halt to 4-ring model sales, with a defined transition period for existing customers and dealers.

AUDI is a sister brand created specifically for China, using an all-capital-letter logo instead of the traditional four rings. The 4-ring brand continues to cover both combustion-engine and electric vehicles.

The division is therefore primarily along brand lines, rather than a simple split between combustion-engine and electric vehicles.

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