Forbidden electric car got 10,000 orders in 30 minutes: 2026 Audi E5 Sportback hits the mark in China as special joint-venture model looks to challenge Tesla Model 3, BMW i4 and MG IM5

Audi launched its China-only fully-electric E5 Sportpack this week and took more 10,000 orders within the first 30 minutes of it becoming available.

Even in a market as enormous as China 10,153 orders the first half-an-hour is impressive and it’s a good start for the E5 Sportback, which is the result of a joint venture between Audi and Chinese auto giant SAIC.

The joint venture has even seen the creation of a new brand AUDI. The vehicles don’t wear Audi's familiar four rings, but instead sport exclusive-to-China AUDI letting on the nose and tailgate.

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The E5 Sportback’s styling is very different from Audis we’ve come to know, but the long, low, swooping profile of the first vehicle from Audi and SAIC is undeniably appealing.

The E5 will be the first model from the new brand that the CEO of the Audi-SAIC team-up Fermin Soneira said will leverage strengths from both companies.

“Every vehicle from the AUDI brand embodies the best of both worlds: iconic design, premium quality, technical precision, emotional driving dynamics, combined with China’s cutting-edge technology, innovation and digital ecosystem,” he said.

The E5 uses the same electric vehicle platform that underpins other SAIC vehicles including the IM L6 and LS6, which recently launched in Australia as the IM5 and IM6 via MG, and is offered in rear- and all-wheel drive.

2026 AUDI E5 Sportback

The entry grade E5 Sportback is powered by a single electric motor making 220kW and 420Nm with a 76kWh battery. The dual motor makes a combined 386kW and 725Nm and has a 83kWh battery.

A luxurious interior featuring an expansive 27-inch curved screen running across the dashboard headlines what is an almost button-less, minimalist interior. Wood trim, sumptuous seating and an electrochromic glass roof also feature.

Priced from A$50,031 the E5 Sportback is only being sold in China, but given the impressive reaction from both Chinese buyers and the rest of the car-watching world it will be interesting to see if some of the styling and tech makes it into our Audi’s too.