SAIC Motor: Crossing Mountains and Seas, A New Chapter Opens

In 1958, China's total car production was under 20,000 units.

That year, workers at the Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant hammered out the first Phoenix brand sedan. The body was shaped by hand hammering, and the curves of the fenders and roof were hammered out one strike at a time. No one knew that 71 years later, this factory in the alleyway would deliver its 100 millionth vehicle into users' hands.

100 million units. This figure, globally, is a threshold only a few giants like Toyota, Volkswagen, and GM have crossed.

From 20,000 to 100 million, the Chinese automotive industry took 71 years. SAIC is the one that has walked the furthest and most steadily on this path. But it has not stopped—just two months after 100 million units, it delivered a performance report of 2.384 million units from January to July, continuing to lead the Chinese car market.

From the historical weight of "100 million units" to the realistic speed of "2.384 million units"—SAIC, with a set of figures, wrote the opening of its second half. Crossing mountains and seas, a new chapter unfolds.

100 Million Units, A Coming of Age Ceremony for an Industry

In 1983, the first Santana rolled off the line in Shanghai. The local production rate was 2.7%, and only five items could be matched: tires, radios, horns, antennas, signs—countable on one hand. In the following decade, SAIC chewed through domestic parts enterprises piece by piece, and the local production rate finally broke 80%. That was the first time China possessed a truly modern automotive parts system.

Thereafter, in 1997, SAIC GM built a factory and produced cars in 23 months, and "Chinese Speed" was written into the global automotive industrial coordinate system; in 2006, the Roewe brand was born, and domestic brands had their own names for the first time; in 2016, the world's first internet-connected car, Roewe RX5, debuted, and cars had the ability to "think" for the first time.

Over the 70 years, every leap by SAIC was synchronized with the leap of the Chinese automotive industry—from "Can we build a car" to "Can we build a good car" to "Can we define a car". The walk wasn't fast, but every step counted. Sailed past 70 years of waves and sand, the bow has turned to the next sea area.

2.384 Million Units: Growth Amidst Adverse Trends

The Chinese car market in 2026, when the vast majority of automakers faced challenges of scaling down, SAIC's answer was 2.384 million units sold from January to July, steadily leading.

Behind the numbers lies a structural change. Domestic brands accounted for 72.4%, and for every three cars sold, more than two came from the domestic camp. The proposition of "market for technology" has a new answer—technology was not just traded for, but grew its own roots. SAIC Passenger Cars, IM, Maxus, Wuling, five domestic sectors took root and grew in their respective sub-segments, forming a complete defense line from low to high.

New energy is rewriting the power structure of this enterprise. Sales of 973,000 units from January to July, a growth rate of 27.4%, far exceeding industry average. Behind this figure is the sustained heat of MG4 family delivering over 17,000 units monthly, it is the market rhythm of Shangjie Z7/Z7T delivering over 20,000 units in just over two months, and it is the explosive power of MG07 pre-sale orders breaking 21,000 in 20 hours. Joint ventures were also making efforts—Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X joined the first tier of extended-range large SUVs, and Audi E7X delivered over 7,000 units in two months of launch.

From A0 class to mid-to-large SUVs, from daily commuting to luxury, SAIC's new energy map is covering every corner. New energy is no longer a trend, but daily life. In July, Wuling Starlight L, IM LS9 Hyper, MG07 landed successively, and the rhythm did not break.

Overseas: From Product to Home Court

Overseas cumulative sales of 876,000 units from January to July, year-on-year growth of 52.1%. Against the backdrop of the EU imposing additional tariffs, SAIC's choice was to plant roots deep—Frankfurt European Engineering Center focused on local R&D, Thailand, Indonesia, India three major bases support regional supply, 42 Ro-Ro ships guarantee global capacity.

In July, MG held the technical conference in London. Plug-in Hybrid+ Hybrid System, SolidCore Semi-Solid State Battery, MG Parking Smart Cockpit—three core technologies made a centralized appearance, systematically built three global technology tags: "Hybrid+ Hybrid", "SolidCore Solid/Semi-Solid Battery", "i-SMART Smart Driving". Same month, MG landed at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, MG Go! and Cyber Concept two concept cars had their global premiere.

From the technical conference to Goodwood, the signal released by MG was more important than new car launches: after sales expansion, the brand entered the next stage—from "Product Going Global" upgraded to "Technology Home Court". In Europe, MG brand cumulative sales of 218,000 units from January to July, consecutive champion for Chinese brands in Europe. As of July, overseas cumulative sales broke 7 million units. This road to going global has taken many years, every step is turning "Made in China" into "Known as China".

Domestic, New Energy, and Overseas three horse carriages working simultaneously—SAIC's growth engine switched from joint venture "single-core" to "multi-core" drive. Ranked 125th on the Fortune Global 500, up 13 positions from last year.

Joint Ventures are Being Redefined

Over 40 years of Chinese automotive joint ventures, the fixed script has never changed: foreign party provides technology, Chinese party provides market. SAIC is rewriting this script.

SAIC Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, product definition led by the Chinese team, equipped with SAIC self-developed extended-range system and Yunqi Smart Cockpit—this is not "Importing German cars", it is "Defining German cars". Throughout 2026, SAIC Volkswagen plans to launch 7 new energy products, covering extended-range, plug-in hybrid, pure electric three technology routes.

Audi went further. April this year, Audi and SAIC signed a strategic cooperation agreement, plan to establish Audi Innovation Technology Center in Shanghai—Audi's first "full value chain" R&D entity outside Europe, start from vehicle platform to completely independent R&D. Audi abandoned the "Global Car" strategy, turned to "In the Local Market, For the Local Market".

SAIC GM is also transforming. March this year published three-year strategic plan, next three years launch more than a dozen new cars each year. January-July SAIC GM new energy vehicle sales 62,000 units, year-on-year growth of 75.2%.

Starting from Santana's localization rate of 2.7%, to now SAIC outputting core technology to joint venture brands—this path from learning to chasing to leading took a generation's time. The connotation of the word "Joint Venture" is being redefined. A new situation begins precisely when old boundaries are broken.

Technology: Not Suspended High Up

In the past decade, SAIC accumulated investment of nearly 190 billion yuan in electrification and intelligence, possessing over 24,000 valid patents. But the true meaning of these numbers lies in them moving from the lab to ordinary people's garages.

Roewe i6 at the 60k price level comes standard with 8155 chip and Doubao Smart Cockpit, MG4X at the 90k price level was the first to bring semi-solid state battery and rear-drive five-link independent suspension to this price range, SUVs under 300k come standard with steer-by-wire and rear-wheel steering—a 5-meter long car turns more flexibly than an A0 class small car. In July, IM LS9 Hyper was the first to land the steer-by-wire national standard, MG07 brings 800V+5C fast charging to the 120k price level market.

Industry common play is to divide users by configuration—want good experience, must spend more money. SAIC is doing another thing: turn cutting-edge technology into standard equipment for users at different price levels.

Use scale to dilute R&D costs, use cost advantage to widen user coverage, use order scale to feed back next-generation technology. Once a positive cycle is established, technology is no longer numbers on a spec sheet, but daily life that every ordinary car owner can feel every day.

Conclusion:

From 1958's Phoenix brand to 2026's 100 million units; from the hammer in the alley to Frankfurt's Technology Center, London's Technical Conference, Goodwood's Festival of Speed. This road took 71 years, not fast, but every step changed the boundaries of the Chinese automotive industry.

100 million units is not the end. Standing on this step, the question SAIC needs to answer is no longer "Can we build a car", but "How to define mobility in the next era". Mountains and seas have been crossed, a new situation has opened, the next journey is right beneath your feet.

Every step on this road concerns the daily mobility of countless people. 100 million units is not for looking back, it is for starting out.