(Yicai) Sept. 13 -- The first prototype auto produced by Chinese auto manufacturer SAIC Motor and its German partner Audi will be revealed to the public at the end of the year, and should hit the market in the first half next year, according to the chief executive officer of the Audi-SAIC joint project.

The tie-up between the two parties, signed in May, also has a sports utility vehicle and a large sedan in the works that should be ready one year to 18 months after the first model, Fermín Soneira told Yicai recently. The two parties have planned to roll out the three models one after another. But the project is progressing so quickly that product development for three models is taking place almost in parallel.

Audi and SAIC plan to roll out more models based on their Advanced Digitized Platform, a brand-new platform that focuses on the Chinese market.

China is Audi's biggest single market worldwide, Soneira said. China is the fastest growing market in the world and also the most determined to develop and transition toward new energy vehicles and intelligent connected autos, Soneira said. Ingolstadt-based Audi hopes to seize more opportunities in the country, he added.

The Audi-SAIC joint project has a team in China and another in Germany. For example, the German team will gather inquiries from the Chinese team and carry out the design process, while the Chinese team will focus on market-specific digital and intelligent features based on mutual agreements. Research and development such as requirements' definition and testing are carried out in China.

The German and Chinese teams’ relay-style of working has ensured that the project is progressing quickly, he said. Strong support from HQ has also helped move things forward.

"If there are any technical issues, I report them directly to Audi's global CEO Gernot Döllner, who holds a meeting each week to discuss the project," Soneira said. We are also in close communication with Shanghai-based SAIC's management and each party wants the project to be successful, he added.

Manufacturing will take place at SAIC's plant in Anting and distribution will be through SAIC's existing Audi sales network, he said. But there will be a different user experience.

Audi, SAIC and SAIC’s joint venture with Volkswagen, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive, agreed to more closely collaborate in a deal penned by the three parties on May 20.

Volkswagen believes that while electric cars are selling well in China at the moment, this popularity is certain to expand to other markets worldwide, a staff member of Volkswagen Automotive said. Therefore, Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen has to be part of it.

Editors: Xu Wei, Kim Taylor