Even globally, no other car model had ever pulled this off.
On launch day alone, Audi Motors racked up 60,000 pre-orders—not for an A-class budget car, but a B-class luxury sedan.
For comparison:
Toyota Corolla, the best-selling A-class car in the world, never cracked 50,000 units on day one—and it sells for under ¥100,000 (≈ $13,760).
The Audi A4? It launched at ¥248,800–¥400,000 (≈ $34,240–$55,040)—double or triple the price.
Yet it still destroyed records.
And the shocking part?
That number only came from sales in China.
If Haifeng had opened global pre-orders, the number would've been terrifying.
Naturally, everyone's first reaction was disbelief.
"There's no way this is real."
But there was no scandal. No proof of manipulation.
Audi Motors had nothing to gain by faking sales and everything to lose if caught.
The conclusion was clear:
The numbers were real.
And with that came panic.
To the other automakers, this wasn't just a big sale—it was a wolf at the gates.
For A-class economy cars, the impact wasn't so bad.
But for B-class luxury brands, it was a death sentence.
Their entire market share was now at risk.
So now? They had only two choices:
Drop prices
Retreat from the B-class market entirely
And none of them wanted to retreat.
So… the price war began.
🔻 Benma Motors (aka BMW)
"To thank our loyal customers, Benma Group announces sweeping price reductions on models including the B210, B240, and B250."
"Discounts of up to ¥150,000 (≈ $20,640).
Pre-order now! All models now include:
• 5-year/100,000 km warranty
• 2-year/50,000 km 'Three Guarantees' policy"
🔻 Baolai Group (aka Volkswagen)
Baolai thanks its customers for their trust and support.
Today, models like the E315, E325, and E345 will receive significant discounts."
"Up to ¥120,000 (≈ $16,510) off, plus mystery gifts.
All vehicles now come with the same extended warranties as Audi."
🔻 Aotuo Group (aka Audi in past life, now competitor brand)
"As a century-old carmaker, Aotuo remains committed to its customers.
Effective immediately, models like the S425, S455, and S485 will see discounts up to ¥130,000 (≈ $17,890)."
"We've also matched Audi's 5-year/100,000 km and 2-year/50,000 km guarantees."
And so it began—a massive, industry-wide markdown.
Every car brand that had been forced to sit and watch yesterday's blowout now jumped into action.
All the B-class cars priced between ¥300,000 and ¥700,000 (≈ $41,280–$96,310) saw steep cuts—many now dropping to below ¥200,000 (≈ $27,520).
Suddenly, mid-level cars and luxury cars were priced the same.
But while this seemed great for consumers, it was a disaster for the brands.
Has a luxury brand ever slashed its prices by that much?
Its entire image collapsed.
A Benma B-class car for under ¥200,000?
That's no longer luxury—that's desperation.
These were brands that had held firm at the top for decades.
And now?
They were on the shelf next to mid-tier commuter cars.
It wasn't just a price cut.
It was a fall from grace.
The most bitter part?
They knew it.
But they had no choice.