The clip was just 20 seconds long.
But the moment it aired, it lit the internet on fire.
The Headline?
"China's First Domestically Developed Car Engine Begins Mass Production."
And the footage?
A quick look at the HX888 turbo engine
A nod to Audi Auto's breakthrough
The phrase "independent intellectual property" repeated clearly
Across Weibo, Tieba, and every central forum—
"Wait… is this real?"
"Holy crap!"
"We did it?"
Even China's top state-owned automakers like FAW Group hadn't developed an engine from scratch for years.
Most people assumed Audi Auto was bluffing when they claimed dealer recruitment.
After all, they were a startup.
How could they possibly beat the Giants?
But with this clip airing on national television—and officially confirmed?
Game over.
The people who mocked Audi Auto fell utterly silent.
The news spread like wildfire:
"The first domestically produced engine is installed in the new Audi A4!"
"Thoughts?"
The comments came fast:
"No thoughts. Just shouting 'awesome!' and '666!'"
"You don't need to know engines to understand how insane this is."
"The blockade is broken. This is history."
"I always admired China Star. Now they've got a car division, too? Madness."
"Wait, Audi Auto is a China Star subsidiary? No wonder!"
Still, not everyone cheered.
Trolls tried to stir things up:
"It's just a damn engine. Why's this news?"
"Bet they copied it from Japan or Germany."
"You believe a domestic company can pull this off? Lol."
Some even claimed:
"Audi Auto will always be nothing more than a contract manufacturer for foreign brands."
"Garbage. Just hype."
But they were buried fast.
Because this time?
The confirmation came from state news.
And when that happened—even the skeptics had to shut up.
Sure, a few stubborn haters stayed in the comments:
"Compare it to a BMW engine, then we'll talk."
"Japanese tech is still better. Cope."
But the tide had turned.
Most of the public? They were done with the foreign worship.
The Comments Took a Turn
"If you don't like it, cry in your foreign daddy's lap."
"I hope your imported car breaks down in the middle of nowhere."
"Foreign brands never gave a damn about you. But you bark for them like dogs."
"Bro, chill with the curse."
"Nah, say it louder."
"I'm screenshotting this for my wall."
Even some trolls started mocking their kind.
"I'm a troll. I want attention. May all who slander domestic tech… give birth to sons without butts."
"Bro. Chill."
"No chill left. I'm on fire."
By the end of the night?
The internet had chosen its side.
Audi Auto wasn't a joke anymore.
It was the new face of Chinese innovation—and everyone knew it.