SIGNS are growing that Audi is poised to add China’s largest carmaker as a manufacturing partner as the German premium brand pushes to regain share lost to Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the world’s biggest market.

Audi parent Volkswagen AG and China’s SAIC Motor Corp. invited parts makers to bid to become suppliers for an Audi A7L they plan to build, according to a document they posted on the website of China Bidding and Purchasing Network. Interested bidders can obtain bidding documents by Monday, according to the statement.

The document suggests that long-time talks between Volkswagen and SAIC over Audi have progressed to the point that they can start laying the groundwork to set up a supply chain. Audi, which has thus far had China FAW Group Corp. as its sole China manufacturing partner, has faced opposition to the SAIC plan from dealerships concerned that they would lose business.

Audi dealers said in February 2017 that they would drop opposition to a second joint venture once the German automaker reaches sales of 1 million cars a year in the country. (SD-Agencies)