On May 28, 2026, the Shanghai North Bund World Reception Hall hosted a delivery ceremony to be recorded in the history of China's automotive industry. As an IM LS9 Hyper drove out, SAIC Motor officially welcomed its 100 millionth user globally. At this moment, SAIC Motor became the first automotive company in China's industry to surpass 100 million cumulative production and sales, setting a new milestone for the development of China's automotive industry. This delivery ceremony was not limited to a single venue; instead, through the form of "Global Relay Delivery," the delivery scene extended from the main venue in Shanghai to domestic cities such as Nanjing and Liuzhou, as well as overseas markets like the UK, Indonesia, and Singapore. This was not only a delivery spanning continents but also a concentrated display of the globalization operational capability of Chinese automotive brands.
SAIC's 100 million journey almost spanned the entire process of China's modern automotive industry from nothing to something, from weak to strong. The establishment of the Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Parts Manufacturing Company in 1955 marked the beginning of Shanghai's automotive industry; in 1958, workers hammered out the first "Phoenix" brand sedan with hammers, achieving a zero breakthrough in domestic sedan manufacturing. Over the subsequent decades, SAIC has always walked at the forefront of industry transformation: the launch of the Santana in 1983 opened the precedent for Chinese automotive joint venture cooperation; the establishment of Shanghai General Motors in 1997 created the "Shanghai Speed" of "plant construction and vehicle production within 23 months"; the birth of the Roewe brand in 2006 marked the rise of independent innovation; in 2016, the Roewe RX5 took the lead in defining the "Internet Car". Today, the establishment of the high-end smart electric brand IM is the mark of SAIC's comprehensive entry into the smart electric era. What runs through this long journey is SAIC's consistent adherence to the concept of "Understanding Cars and Understanding You More," transforming breakthroughs in core technologies into travel experiences perceptible to users.
As the model for the 100 millionth unit off the line, the IM LS9 Hyper embodies over 70 years of SAIC's technical accumulation. This flagship model is equipped with a full-line-by-wire four-wheel steering chassis, a 520-line super-vision LiDAR, and the NVIDIA Thor chip, combined with a global 800V high-voltage platform and the Star Super Range-Extending Technology, achieving breakthroughs in handling, intelligent driving, and range. It is worth mentioning that the 100 millionth user is exactly Momenta, the core strategic partner of SAIC in the field of intelligent driving - Cao Xudong, CEO of Momenta Company. This delivery model of "ecosystem partners becoming users" also confirms the new paradigm of technical co-creation in China's automotive industry.
Behind the scale of 100 million units is the support of SAIC's powerful full-value-chain ecosystem. Data shows that in the first four months of 2026, SAIC Motor led the Chinese car market with 1.302 million units in sales, among which overseas market sales increased by more than 50% year-on-year. Currently, SAIC has established over 100 parts bases, more than 3,000 sales outlets overseas, as well as 8 international logistics routes covering Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas. From early product exports to the release of the "Glocal" Global Localization Integration strategy, SAIC is accelerating the transformation from "product going global" to "value chain going global". The MG brand has held the title of best-selling Chinese brand in the European market for eleven consecutive years, the IM AD intelligent driving system covers five continents globally, and cutting-edge technologies such as semi-solid-state batteries have also landed in the global market. Standing at the new starting point of 100 million scale, SAIC is using technological innovation as a pen to re-write the narrative method of China's automotive industry participating in global competition.
At the delivery site, in addition to the full-scale offensive of independent brands, the performance of joint venture brands was equally bright. Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, Audi E7X, and Buick Zijing E7 models were displayed together, marking the entry of SAIC joint venture cooperation into the "2.0 era". In this stage, SAIC's technical role has changed from early "local adaptation" to "technical definition". For example, the Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X globally first deployed Momenta R7 Reinforced Learning World Model, and the Audi E7X plans to become the first Audi global model to achieve landing of L3-level autonomous driving. This ability of technical reverse output is a powerful proof of SAIC's over 70 years of technical accumulation.
"Understanding Cars and Understanding You More" is not an empty slogan, but is reflected in the story of every real user. From the tech blogger moved by Stelato Z7 Huawei Intelligent Driving, to the London intern doctor who inherited their grandfather's sentiment and chose MG; from former national football player Yang Chen who chose Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, to public welfare blogger Liu Jia who was moved by Buick Zijing E7 cockpit. Whether it is white-collar workers commuting in the city, players who love off-roading, or strivers working on the logistics front line, every user is a witness to SAIC's development process.
100 million units is both a milestone and a new starting point. In 2014, SAIC was the first to respond to the national new energy vehicle development strategy, opening the "second entrepreneurship" of smart electric transformation. Today, SAIC has formed a development pattern of coordination between independent and joint ventures, parallel progress between passenger and commercial vehicles, and resonance between domestic and overseas. With the in-depth promotion of the "Glocal Strategy", SAIC is continuously perfecting the overseas product matrix covering SUV, sedan, MPV, pickup and other full categories, promoting Chinese smart manufacturing to go further to the world. From the 1955 initial exploration to the 2026 industry leadership, SAIC will continue to walk the 100 million journey with global users and co-create a new future for better travel.
