Environmental and social commitment

Sustainability

Audi in China will do its part in support China in achieving its goal to have peak CO₂ emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Audi continues to improve energy efficiency in China, expand the application of renewable energy in its production sites, and reduce and compensate emissions from the whole value chain through various measures. In terms of resource management, Audi strives to improve land use efficiency and optimize logistics and transportation by compactly arranging production departments and establishing joint workshops as far as possible.

The production plant for electric models of the Audi FAW NEV Company in Changchun sets new standards in efficiency and sustainability. As part of Audi's company-wide environmental program, “Mission Zero,” Audi is pursuing sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing with focus on net carbon-neutral automobile production. A significant proportion of the building’s energy supply is generated in-house, among other sources, via photovoltaic systems on the roofs of the plant.

Also at the Changchun location, the new Q-Factory production site for Audi SUV models was commissioned in 2018. It is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including the EcoDryScrubber dry separation system employed in the paint shop.

Investments have also been made in resource conservation in existing buildings, such as the use of residual heat and a more efficient dryer in the paint shop. Its paint workshop has one of the world’s highest levels of automation for an automotive workshop, with an automation rate of over 80%. As a result of the various energy efficiency measures, around 100,000 metric tons of CO₂ are saved at the Changchun site every year.

The factory in Foshan was also built according to environmental precepts, employing technologies such as heat recovery, a closed process water circuit, and integrated recycling. A ten‑megawatt solar power system was installed on the factory roofs back in 2015.

Since 2017, the ultra-modern E-Cube paint separation technique has been used at the paint shop in Foshan, which significantly reduces energy demand and water consumption compared to conventional methods. Modern, electrically operated servo presses are used at the pressing plant, reducing oil consumption and machine wear. As a result of these and other measures, Audi saves some 26,500 metric tons of CO₂ at Foshan every year.

The MEB plant is supplied with 100% renewable electricity through onsite solar photovoltaics (PV) installation as well as the direct purchase of renewable electricity and certificates. 

Audi China is committed to environmental protection with its CSR strategy. The company has joined the Volkswagen Group's Green Belt project: by 2024, a total of 3.4 million trees were planted on a reforestation area of 16 million square meters. The aim of this project is to plant around 8.5 million trees at 10 locations in Chinese provinces and autonomous regions including Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia between 2021 and 2030.

Audi Logistics launched the LOGISTICS initiative in 2021, which uses improved logistics and packaging processes to reduce material consumption and emissions at Audi production sites in China. At Audi's three main import ports (Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shanghai), digitalization and sustainability are continuously promoted through measures in various areas such as digital upgrades, electrification, new energy development, and employee training.

Initiated in 2023, the “Audi China Biodiverse City Initiative” began with the release of the Beijing Biodiverse City Birdwatching Guidebook. It expanded its focus to include the protection of ancient urban trees in 2024 and launched the Beijing Biodiverse City Ancient Tree Guidebook, which serves as a vivid testament to its continuous contributions to a sustainable future where people, nature, and urban environments thrive in harmony. Through these actions, Audi China continues to fulfill its commitments to environmental stewardship and community engagement in China.