Audi is moving away from a development strategy centered on global common models and is strengthening market-specific vehicle strategies for key markets such as the United States and China. CEO Gernot Doellner said the brand’s global strategy will remain, but vehicle development will increasingly prioritize regional consumer needs. He cited the new Q9 as a U.S.-first model and said China requires a stronger “Local for Local” approach with localized production, supply chains and ecosystems.

Stock market money in China is continuing to concentrate in the AI supply chain, including semiconductors, software and cloud, even as the broader economy slows. Investors are focusing on companies aligned with Beijing’s push for technological self-reliance, and performance gaps between mainland and Hong Kong markets reflect listing structures. Selective bets are also emerging among hardware and AI model companies. Price competition, highlighted by DeepSeek’s discounts and low API costs, is another key driver.