A quick glance will not note anything special about this white 2010 A4L. The extra 2.36 inches leg room for the back passengers doesn’t impact the dynamic roof line and the original well proportioned sporty silhouette. Unless there is a standard A4 next to it, most people will not even notice the difference. However, once we sit in the back, the extra leg room is greatly appreciated. Since 2000, Audi has been very successful in selling A6L in China. A4L is definitely following its brother’s footstep.

Audi in China

For 22 years, Audi has been the number one premium brand in China. In 2007, China became the largest Audi export market surpassing UK and US. In 2009, there are about a total of 600,000 Audi cars. Based on the increasing number of yearly sales, China is poised to become the largest Audi export market in the world.

This achievement is not only due to the fact that Audi invested very early, but more importantly it is also due to Audi’s persistence and perseverance in quality and craftsmanship. Additionally, because of its long tenure, Audi understands the local tastes. By listening intently to its customers, Audi has been able to customize its lines to meet the Chinese requirements. Today, at Changchun, northeast of China, an Audi factory produces A6L, A4L, and Q5 for this specific market.

It doesn’t take market research or a special inquiry to the Audi country office to learn which model is the best selling. Just look around the highways and city streets—we cannot go for a mile without running into at least one black A6L. It is very common to see a wedding procession that consists of over a dozen black A6Ls and some black A8Ls on weekends. In recent years, people in China started to desire other models such as Q5, A4L, and TT.

Foreign or international driving licenses are not recognized in China. A foreigner must apply for a local permit to drive. So, for this trip, I am being chauffeured around instead. Being a passenger in an Audi, which I rarely do, gives me a different perspective.

Forbidden City

Beijing roads are in grid, so they are relatively easy to study. There are ring roads around the city—they are not circular but rectangular—with Tiananmen as the center. Today, our first stop of the day is the Forbidden City. This historical place was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO and has the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Built in 1406, it housed 24 emperors and two dynasties.

After walking through a massive towering gate, we arrive at the outer courtyard. From this vantage point the vastness of the place can be felt. Today, there are close to 1,000 buildings with over 8,000 rooms in an area that is about one fifthNew York City Central Park. Images from The Last Emperor movie come to mind. The yellow wavy roofs, large and tall red columns, ornate carvings on the walls and horizontal beams, vibrant and colorful mosaics, and marble floors highlight the imperial architecture. The gate to the inner courtyard seems so far away from where we stand. Excited, we start to walk towards it.

A quick glance will not note anything special about this white 2010 A4L. The extra 2.36 inches leg room for the back passengers doesn’t impact the dynamic roof line and the original well proportioned sporty silhouette. Unless there is a standard A4 next to it, most people will not even notice the difference. However, once we sit in the back, the extra leg room is greatly appreciated. Since 2000, Audi has been very successful in selling A6L in China. A4L is definitely following its brother’s footstep.

Audi in China

For 22 years, Audi has been the number one premium brand in China. In 2007, China became the largest Audi export market surpassing UK and US. In 2009, there are about a total of 600,000 Audi cars. Based on the increasing number of yearly sales, China is poised to become the largest Audi export market in the world.

This achievement is not only due to the fact that Audi invested very early, but more importantly it is also due to Audi’s persistence and perseverance in quality and craftsmanship. Additionally, because of its long tenure, Audi understands the local tastes. By listening intently to its customers, Audi has been able to customize its lines to meet the Chinese requirements. Today, at Changchun, northeast of China, an Audi factory produces A6L, A4L, and Q5 for this specific market.

It doesn’t take market research or a special inquiry to the Audi country office to learn which model is the best selling. Just look around the highways and city streets—we cannot go for a mile without running into at least one black A6L. It is very common to see a wedding procession that consists of over a dozen black A6Ls and some black A8Ls on weekends. In recent years, people in China started to desire other models such as Q5, A4L, and TT.

Foreign or international driving licenses are not recognized in China. A foreigner must apply for a local permit to drive. So, for this trip, I am being chauffeured around instead. Being a passenger in an Audi, which I rarely do, gives me a different perspective.

Forbidden City

Beijing roads are in grid, so they are relatively easy to study. There are ring roads around the city—they are not circular but rectangular—with Tiananmen as the center. Today, our first stop of the day is the Forbidden City. This historical place was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO and has the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Built in 1406, it housed 24 emperors and two dynasties.

After walking through a massive towering gate, we arrive at the outer courtyard. From this vantage point the vastness of the place can be felt. Today, there are close to 1,000 buildings with over 8,000 rooms in an area that is about one fifthNew York City Central Park. Images from The Last Emperor movie come to mind. The yellow wavy roofs, large and tall red columns, ornate carvings on the walls and horizontal beams, vibrant and colorful mosaics, and marble floors highlight the imperial architecture. The gate to the inner courtyard seems so far away from where we stand. Excited, we start to walk towards it.