Beijing, Oct 27: The world's top luxury car manufacturers -- Audi, Mercedes and BMW -- are drawing up battle plans to conquer the emerging Chinese market for upmarket limousines. The latest to join the tough competition is Audi AG's new luxury limousine, Audi A8 LWB (longer-wheel base), which was launched on Saturday in Shanghai, China's financial hub.

The German auto giant has recently boosted its efforts to build its brand, although it is already China's no 1luxury car marker after being among the first to produce vehicles locally. But its arch-rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz of Daimlerchrysler, have also launched their own offensives.
Audi A8's launch came ten days after BMW unveiled the 325i, its first Chinese-made sedan, also in Shanghai.

Mercedes-Benz will start producing its C and E-class sedans in Beijing in 2005 as part of Daimlerchrysler's recent deal with the Beijing automotive industry holding corp. Bureau Report