The first in China, SAIC Group's cumulative production and sales exceed 100 million vehicles! On May 28, at the Shanghai North Bund World Living Room, SAIC Group took this place as the origin to launch a global-reaching "First 100 Millionth User" vehicle delivery ceremony, becoming the first automotive group in Chinese automotive history to break 100 million cumulative production and sales. As a global leader in new energy commercial vehicles, SAIC Commercial Vehicles, with Maxus, Keya, IVECO, Hongyan, and Sunwin five brands, completed the global delivery relay from the 100,000,009th to the 100,000,013th vehicle, jointly creating a milestone in the Chinese automotive industry and engraving a historical coordinate for the Chinese commercial vehicle industry.

Behind the 100 million vehicles lies the long-term accumulation and explosive growth of SAIC's 70-plus years of deep cultivation, and it is also a vivid miniature of Chinese commercial vehicles moving from scale leadership to value leadership. Relying on the group's global resource empowerment, SAIC Commercial Vehicles has built the industry's most complete commercial vehicle matrix covering heavy trucks, buses, light trucks, light vans, pickups, MPVs, and RVs, continuously leading the Chinese commercial vehicle industry with a 35% new energy penetration rate and seizing opportunities in the global carbon neutrality wave. With reliable quality, cutting-edge technology, and a complete ecosystem, products are sold in over 100 countries and regions, winning deep trust from top global partners such as DHL, becoming the core force for Chinese commercial vehicles going global, moving in, and moving up.

Continuously leading Chinese brands to go global, Maxus drives global green logistics upgrade with benchmark strength. In Singapore, Maxus delivered eDeliver 5 (domestic Dana V1) to international logistics giant DHL, welcoming the group's 100,000,009th user. This is another milestone moment since both parties joined hands in 2017. Years of deep cultivation, Maxus not only won the largest procurement order of Chinese brands in DHL's European region, but also firmly stayed in its list of preferred partners for green transformation, with cooperation footprints covering Europe, America, Asia, and Oceania. Nowadays, relying on leading product strength and global strategy, Maxus light vans and high-end pickup export volumes firmly rank first in China, building five 10,000-unit level core markets; won C-NCAP, Euro NCAP, ANCAP global three major five-star safety certifications, continuously leading exports in high-end markets such as Singapore, Europe, Australia, and successfully joined the preferred cooperation camp of global top enterprises such as FedEx, DPD, JD.com, SF Express, Cainiao Logistics, with global strength to strongly expand the 100 million user map.

Based on the domestic market, the four brands deeply cultivate two major tracks of livelihood and infrastructure with green capacity. Keya delivered Dana T1 to Dizhantie in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, relying on high load-bearing, long range, and intelligent connectivity advantages to cover green urban distribution scenarios. In 2025, Keya delivered nearly 10,000 units cumulatively to Dizhantie, unblocking urban-rural logistics "capillaries". Sunwin delivered 10-series low-floor pure electric buses in Shanghai, empowering urban public transport smart upgrade with zero-carbon travel. Hongyan delivered i Jieshi dump trucks in Taiyuan, Shanxi, calmly mastering complex mountain operating conditions with military foundation and powerful performance, deeply protecting the construction of a strong country in infrastructure. IVECO delivered Juxing EV in Luoyang, Henan, 100-degree large capacity battery solved the mountain operation range problem, setting a new benchmark for green passenger transport. The four brands relay delivery, welcomed the group's 100,000,010 to 100,000,013th users, jointly casting a 100-million level milestone with hardcore strength.

From domestic core cities to key overseas markets, from logistics delivery and infrastructure engineering to public travel and tourist passenger transport, every delivery of the five brands is a vivid practice of SAIC Commercial Vehicles "Hand in Hand with Chinese Power, Driving the World's Pulse". 100 million users are not the end point, but a new starting point of trust. Facing the future, SAIC Commercial Vehicles will continue to take technological innovation as the core, user value as the guide, lead green transformation, deepen global layout, and write the brilliant chapter of the Chinese commercial vehicle industry on the new journey.

Recently, Geely announced its May overseas sales figures. Overseas export sales exceeded 85,000 units, hitting a new record, with a year-on-year increase of 184%.

In April, Geely's overseas new energy vehicle sales increased by 624.5% year-on-year, ranking first among Chinese new energy vehicle brands for overseas growth rate again.

In segmented markets, Geely's sales performance continues to flourish across multiple areas. Among them, only 14 months after entering the Australian market, delivery volume surpassed 10,000 units, becoming one of the fastest-growing Chinese automakers locally; meanwhile in the Brazilian market, sales climbed to over 4,000 units, refreshing the highest single-month sales record in that country. The Mexican market accumulated sales of 16,000+ units from January to April, creating a new historical record.

The Geely EX2 achieved B-segment hatchback new energy vehicle sales Top 1 in multiple markets including Mexico, Indonesia, and Costa Rica; The Geely EX5 became the sales champion in the pure electric SUV-C market in the first quarter in multiple countries such as Australia, the UAE, and Uruguay. Zeekr models 7X and 009 became the sales champions in the segmented markets, among which the Zeekr 7X topped the sales chart in the Australian market again, surpassing the long-time market leader Tesla Model Y.

Facing pressure from surging orders, Geely relied on the Ningbo overseas export hub, simultaneously deploying Ro-Ro vessels, container ships, and international railway trains to conduct sea-land intermodal transport, fully guaranteeing complete vehicle delivery. The head of international business at Geely Auto Group Logistics Center stated in an interview that currently multiple transport routes have been urgently added, forming a capacity resource layout of 4 major rail ports and 6 major sea ports, equipped with two self-owned Ro-Ro vessels, and multiple new cross-border transport lines have been opened to continuously supplement various capacity resources, capable of stably shipping nearly 10,000 new vehicles to core European ports monthly. The China-Europe Railway Express Geely special train operates regularly, reducing transport time by 40 days compared to sea transport. In the future, to cope with the explosive growth in overseas sales, Geely will continue to expand its overseas transport scale and further optimize vehicle delivery timelines.

The surge in Geely's overseas sales intuitively demonstrates Geely's strong product capabilities and the implementation of its localization strategy, and further reflects the strong strength of Chinese automobiles in the field of high-end and technology exports.

On May 28, SAIC Group welcomed the delivery of the first 100 millionth vehicle globally, becoming the first automotive group in China to cumulatively exceed 100 million units in production and sales. Among them, SAIC-GM-Wuling contributed more than 32 million units cumulatively. On that day, SAIC-GM-Wuling delivered its global car EKSION to the first batch of users in Jakarta, Indonesia.

[SAIC Group's 100,000,003rd vehicle delivered in Jakarta, Indonesia]

"What people need, Wuling builds." SAIC-GM-Wuling precisely grasped market trends, responding to user needs with hit products. Wuling Hongguang, with its versatile characteristics of "suitable for business and home, tough and durable", has become the preferred model for many entrepreneurs and families. As resident consumption gradually upgraded to quality life, Baojun 730 broke the monopoly of joint-venture brands in the household multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) market with its flexible space and high cost-performance ratio. In 2020, during the window period of new energy transformation in China's automotive industry, the launched Hongguang MINIEV became one of the pioneers in the domestic new energy commuting vehicle field. In May this year, the first technology flagship large six-seater SUV jointly created by SAIC-GM-Wuling and Huawei Qiankun, Huajing S, officially launched, breaking the technical premium barrier of high-end intelligent driving with innovative practices of cross-border synergy.

[Equipped with Huawei Qiankun Technology Flagship Large Six-Seat Huajing S]

SAIC-GM-Wuling accelerated its layout for new energy and intelligence, and while promoting the electrification and intelligence upgrade of its products, deepened and solidified its global market layout. Currently, SAIC-GM-Wuling's cumulative overseas sales have exceeded 1.5 million units, with business covering more than 110 countries and regions globally.

The company has built a full-dimensional core competitiveness covering the intelligent manufacturing system, product matrix, and industrial ecosystem. First, the globally first intelligent island manufacturing system, using the flexible intelligent manufacturing mode of "cars finding workstations, materials finding cars", achieving full-dimensional breakthroughs in efficiency, quality, and cost; Second, a diversified product matrix adapted to the global market. Multiple models such as EKSION (Starlight 560), DARION (Starlight 730), BINGO (Wuling Bingo), BINGO S (Bingo S) have landed overseas successively, covering mainstream categories such as SUV, MPV, and sedans, meeting the differentiated travel needs of different countries and different consumer groups; Third, a unique "Moving Chains Overseas" globalization model, which, through the deep collaboration of the five chains: manufacturingchain, supply chain, sales chain, financial chain, and talent chain, broke the single path of traditional product trade going overseas and promoted the Chinese intelligent manufacturing system and standards to go global.

[Globally First Intelligent Island Manufacturing System (I²MS)]

The global car EKSION delivered in Indonesia this time is the latest footnote of the in-depth promotion of Wuling's globalization strategy. Relying on Indonesia as a core fulcrum, SAIC-GM-Wuling continues to deepen the "Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Integration" regional strategy, comprehensively covering Malaysia and Thailand with new energy products and localized supply chain systems, and gradually radiating to ASEAN countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines, forming a globalization pattern of regional synergy and linked development.

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.

Connecting smart green transportation, enjoying a wonderful journey! On May 22, the ceremony for the batch delivery of Zhongtong New Energy Tourist Coaches to Macao China Travel Service Co., Ltd. under the Southlight Group (hereinafter referred to as "Southlight Macao Travel") was successfully held in Macao. Wang Zhijian, Party Secretary and Chairman of Shandong Heavy Industry Group, and Fu Jianguo, Chairman of Southlight Group, attended the event and cut the ribbon.

The delivery of this batch of range-extended new energy coaches is a landmark achievement of the deep collaboration between Zhongtong Bus and Macao's culture, tourism, and transportation sectors to jointly build a green and low-carbon Greater Bay Area. It is also a vivid practice of Zhongtong Bus using core technologies to create green application cases for the global high-end market and promoting the high-quality development of global green transportation.

Deeply Cultivating Core New Energy Technologies

Empowering Macao's Low-Carbon Transportation Development

As a high-end window for China's opening up and an important node city of the Greater Bay Area, Macao sets strict standards for the safety, stability, comfort, and regional environmental adaptability of passenger vehicles. It is a "high-end trial field" to test the smart manufacturing strength of new energy coaches.

Southlight Macao Travel is Macao's largest land passenger transport service provider. As a leading enterprise in Macao's tourism industry and a core operating entity for transportation, culture, and tourism, it has deeply cultivated Macao's entire industry chain of "eating, living, traveling, entertainment, sightseeing, and shopping". It is the backbone force of Macao's public transportation and cultural tourism passenger transport services.

To actively respond to the Macao Special Administrative Government's "Macau Long-term Decarbonization Strategy" and "Green Transition of Land Transportation" deployment, and implement the national "Dual Carbon" goals, in recent years, Southlight Macao Travel has comprehensively launched the new energy upgrade of its passenger fleet, accelerating the construction of a green, smart, and efficient modern passenger transport system. Zhongtong Bus has become its core partner for new energy development.

Zhongtong Bus has deepened its focus on new energy technology R&D and possesses the capability for full-series new energy coach product solutions, including pure electric, hybrid, and range-extended technologies. At the same time, with deep exploration of the global market, Zhongtong Bus has accumulated a massive amount of complex road conditions and multi-scenario operation data. Technology iterations continue to lead the industry.

Relying on hardcore technology and extreme adaptability, Zhongtong Bus's cooperation with Southlight Group covers cross-border, urban, and tourist passenger transport fields. The total cooperation scale reached 600 units, effectively boosting the quality improvement and upgrade of the local transportation industry.

Deeply Adapting to Macao Scenarios 

Customizing to Build Green Travel Benchmarks

Macao has a special regional environment, complex road conditions, congested traffic, and limited charging resources, facing challenges in new energy transition. Based on a deep understanding of Macao's local operation scenarios, Zhongtong Bus has tailored a range-extended product solution for the local area.

Zhongtong range-extended coaches combine the dual advantages of pure electric models (quiet and comfortable, zero idling pollution) and fuel vehicle models (worry-free range, convenient refueling/recharging), precisely solving Macao's pain points of insufficient charging infrastructure, limited long-distance range, and high operating costs.

At the same time, the vehicle has undergone comprehensive upgrades in comfort details and intelligent safety. High-end configurations such as ergonomic seats and healthy environmental interior decoration improve the quality standards of cultural tourism passenger transport. Deeply optimized vehicle passability and turning radius make the vehicle better adapt to Macao's street conditions, improving operational flexibility and safety. At the same time, the vehicle integrates intelligent systems such as collision warning, automatic emergency braking, tire pressure monitoring, and driving assistance, achieving a dual upgrade in safety and intelligence.

Relying on refined customization and all-dimensional comfort experiences, Zhongtong range-extended coaches have now become the main model for Macao tourism transfer and commuter services. Delivered in three batches to the Macao market, it has won high recognition from passengers and users.

Leading the Global Green Track 

Zhongtong Manufacturing Empowers Global High-Quality Development

Currently, the global carbon neutrality process is accelerating, and the green public transportation system is iterating and upgrading. New energy coaches have become a winning track for China's automotive industry development.

As a representative enterprise in China's coach industry, Zhongtong Bus closely follows the national "Going Global" strategy and the "Belt and Road" Initiative deployment. It takes new energy going overseas as a core development strategy, continuously increasing investment in overseas markets. Against diverse global market needs, it adheres to localization strategies, tailoring solutions for the market and enhancing product adaptability.

In Chile, over 1,000 Zhongtong pure electric coaches have become the backbone of local green public transportation; in Denmark, Zhongtong coaches on Bornholm Island have become a green landscape for the local area; in Dubai, Zhongtong Bus pioneered the entry of Chinese coach brands into the Dubai public transportation system; in Singapore, Zhongtong new energy coaches continue to provide innovative solutions for public transportation in Singapore's high-density cities...

Currently, more than 100,000 Zhongtong new energy coaches are roaming around the world. They not only bring green, intelligent, and efficient travel experiences to the world but also demonstrate the quality standards and innovative strength of Chinese manufacturing to the globe. With high-quality, highly intelligent, and low-energy-consumption green coach product solutions, they contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to the development of global green transportation.

On the afternoon of May 28, 2026, the 100,000,000th vehicle of SAIC Motor — an IM LS9 Hyper — was delivered at the Shanghai North Bund World Living Room to SAIC's 100 millionth user, Momenta CEO Cao Xudong.

The delivery list provided by SAIC Motor shows that the 99,999,999th user is Yang Chen, a former Chinese national football team player who played in Germany; the delivered model is SAIC Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, and the delivery location is Shanghai Anting. In addition, for users from the 99,999,996th to the 100,001,100th, apart from the majority of users from China, there were also users from London, UK; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Singapore, and models included multiple models from multiple brands such as Shangjie Z7, Huajing S, MG4 EV Urban, AUDI E7X, Buick Zhijing Shijia, Sunwin Series 10 Pure Electric Bus, and Jiyue Danaka T1.

Sales data from January to May this year shows that SAIC Motor has cumulatively sold 1.651 million new vehicles, of which overseas cumulative sales reached 589,000 units, accounting for a proportion of up to 35% of the group's sales. Among them, in Australia and New Zealand, the MG3 and MG4 led, with market share shares of 21.1% and 12.8% respectively, ranking TOP 1 and TOP 3 in the CAR-B segment market; in Belgium, MG sales doubled directly; in the UK, the MG brand ranked in the top six; in Chile, MG ZS successfully took the top spot in the local SUV market. Especially in SAIC's largest overseas regional market — Europe, the global car brand MG cumulatively sold 150,000 units from January to May, a year-on-year increase of 20%, continuing to claim the title of "Chinese Brand Europe Sales Champion".

Data from 2025 shows that SAIC Motor's cumulative sales reached 4.507 million units, ranking 7th among global automotive groups, leading world-established automotive groups such as Ford and Honda. This means that today's SAIC Motor has transformed from the "handcraft workshops" of those years into a global automotive enterprise.

From Hand Hammering to 18 Consecutive Years of Sales Champion, Haipai Culture is Key

SAIC Motor's growth history is basically a microcosm of the Shanghai automotive industry, and even the national automotive industry, going from 0 to 1, from weak to strong.

In 1955, the predecessor of SAIC Motor — Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Parts Manufacturing Company — was established. This company consolidated a total of 274 original factories and workshops in the entire industry, the vast majority of which were alleyway handcraft workshops and small private repair and matching workshops. This illustrates the hardships of the start of China's automotive industry.

In 1958, workers hammered out the first "Phoenix" brand sedan with hammers, achieving a "zero breakthrough" in Shanghai sedan manufacturing.

Then in 1978, the state established the policy that "joint venture operations can be carried out", and Shanghai Volkswagen and Shanghai General Motors were established successively. As the earliest generation of joint venture enterprises in China, Shanghai Volkswagen's greatest contribution was "persisting in German Volkswagen's high standards, enabling the Chinese automotive standard system to span 30 years". "Shanghai General Motors established in the late 1990s also brought the full set of models for contemporary automotive marketization operations: network, brand, public relations, service, used cars, evolving from pure manufacturing to forming systemic competitiveness in the value chain". Li Anding described the contribution of joint venture enterprises under SAIC Motor to the entire Chinese automotive industry in this book "Car Diary".

In fact, not only joint venture enterprises, relying on the unique "Haipai Culture", SAIC Motor was the sales champion of Chinese car companies every year during the 18 years from 2006 to 2023. In these eighteen years, various parts enterprises, forward-looking technology research and development centers led and founded by SAIC Motor, the vast majority have become the leaders or market segment drivers of the entire Chinese automotive industry. China as a whole also established a highly complete and developed automotive supply chain. It was thanks to this highly developed and complete automotive supply chain that there were the magnificent new energy vehicles in the Chinese market later.

"A century of historical sedimentation has created the 'Haipai' connotation of Shanghai automobiles: open, market-oriented, integrity; exquisite craftsmanship, superior quality; inclusiveness, good at building bridges between East and West." Li Anding wrote so in the book "Car Diary". In fact, this openness, marketization, integrity, exquisite craftsmanship, and superior quality are also a true portrait of SAIC Motor.

From Joint Venture to Independent, SAIC Motor's Final "Butterfly Transformation"

If the "Phoenix" born in 1958 represents the original intention of China developing independent brands, IM Motors established by SAIC Motor in 2020 represents Chinese automotive professionals who have always stood at the forefront of China's automotive industry, experiencing decades of wind and rain, still not forgetting this original intention.

Shanghai has always been Shanghai, and SAIC has always been that SAIC.

In 2003, SAIC Motor launched the acquisition of the British century-old factory Rover, the acquisition target was only the intellectual property rights of two Rover 25 and Rover 75 models. This is completely different from the situation where most Chinese automotive enterprises acquire the brand itself along with the industrial M&A overseas. This means that from the beginning, SAIC Motor has chosen the road of fully developing independent brands.

In 2006, SAIC Motor launched the brand-new independent brand Roewe, the first car chosen was the mid-size car Roewe 750, hoping to break away from the old road of Chinese brands "poor quality and cheap price". In comparison, in the past era, most independent brands often chose to start from compact cars or even micro cars. SAIC Motor in 2006 was undoubtedly one step ahead. In 2016, SAIC Roewe launched the world's first mass-produced Internet car Roewe RX5, which further set off the development wave of Internet cars in the entire Chinese market later.

In 2020, SAIC Motor established the IM brand, the pricing and positioning of the new brand was clearly aimed at the high-end market. From the current trend that the market share of independent brands in China's automotive market is getting higher and higher, and independent high-end brands are beginning to occupy the BBA market share on a large scale, SAIC Motor's approach, its foresight, and determination to pursue brand elevation are obvious.

Latest data shows that in recent years, the proportion of independent brand sales of SAIC Motor in the group has been increasing, first breaking 50% in 2021, reaching 65% in 2025, and this year January-May even broke 70% for the first time, reaching 71.1%. SAIC Motor's striving upward has much to do with SAIC Motor's innate Haipai Culture.

Nowadays, not only SAIC's independent brands Roewe and IM, including overseas brands cooperating with SAIC, German Volkswagen and American General Motors, are all making use of SAIC Motor as an important innovation base, starting the development path of comprehensive transformation towards electrification and intelligence.

On May 20, 2024, again at the World Living Room, SAIC Motor and Audi Cars officially signed a cooperation agreement to jointly develop multiple high-end intelligent electric new cars for SAIC Audi and jointly develop Advanced Digitized Platform intelligent digital platform. Audi Cars, for this cooperation, even went so far as to use the AUDI letter logo, a logo used when the Audi brand was established, as the brand logo for SAIC Audi. The last time this logo appeared independently as an Audi brand car logo can be traced back to 1994, 30 years ago.

"Audi Cars possesses powerful high-end model product definition, whole vehicle R&D and engineering technology capabilities; SAIC Motor's intelligent electric innovation technology is industry-leading, both sides will join hands through this cooperation to "technologically empower" SAIC Audi, fully support joint venture brands to sprint on new tracks and grasp new opportunities", both sides wrote so on the cooperation agreement. "SAIC Motor's intelligent electric innovation technology is industry-leading", for China's automotive industry, obtaining recognition from the German automotive industry which once led China's automotive industry significantly, and becoming a partner on equal footing with German cars, took China's automobiles a full 40 years. And for SAIC Motor established in 1955, it took a full 71 years.

Not only that, in April 2026, SAIC and Audi further cooperated to set up the Audi Innovation Technology Center in Shanghai Anting, forming the AUDI brand's technology home port in China, helping SAIC Audi continue R&D in China. This innovation technology center is even Audi's first "full value chain" R&D entity outside of Europe.

China R&D, China manufacturing luxury brand cars, re-exporting globally, this is SAIC Audi's new brand goal. Behind this brand goal, the underlying logic is precisely SAIC Motor's industry-leading intelligent electric innovation technology.

In fact, not only Volkswagen, but General Motors from the United States is also making use of SAIC Motor to build its intelligent electric vehicle whole vehicle R&D and manufacturing base in China. The brand-new high-end new energy sub-brand Zhijing of SAIC General Buick was established in such a context. Looking at the sales volume this year in May, Buick Zhijing terminal sales reached 12,253 vehicles, a month-on-month surge of 64.8%.

In fact, the first "Joint Venture" partner chosen by China's initial automotive industry was American General Motors, not German Volkswagen. And the concept of Joint Venture was also proposed by General Motors CEO Thomas Murphy at that time when he came to China to discuss cooperation in October 1978. Nowadays, SAIC Motor's cooperation with General Motors has also gone from the initial "Joint Venture", to later establishing the global R&D innovation base PanAsia Automotive Technical Center jointly by both sides, to now Zhijing brand focusing on new energy vehicles, SAIC Motor's technical weight in the entire Joint Venture system has been raised to a new height.

"The accumulation of a century of Haipai car culture has not only made Shanghai the backbone of China's car manufacturing industry, but also made Shanghai the earliest starting and most accomplished car R&D innovation base. This point, although the competent authorities and media have not paid sufficient attention, multinational corporations have already regarded it as a rare cooperative force." This is the observation given by Li Anding when writing the book "Car Diary" in 2010. More than ten years later, the constantly evolving cooperative relationship between SAIC Motor and Volkswagen, General Motors further confirmed Li Anding's observation.

Just on the afternoon of May 28, at the delivery ceremony of SAIC Motor's 100,000,000th new vehicle, a new car delivery ceremony originally worthy of being written extensively by enterprises and the entire industry "China's First 100-Million-Level Vehicle Enterprise", instead appeared restrained and low-key.

On the entire delivery ceremony, among the delivered car owners, there were former national team players and football stars like Yang Chen, current CEOs of top-tier enterprises like Momenta Cao Xudong, internet celebrities like Luo Zhenyu, Indonesian active national team players, DHL Senior Vice Presidents, and Village Party Secretaries, etc. Models also included multiple brands from passenger cars to commercial vehicles, from ordinary family sedans to luxury cars. But in this press conference, there were no leadership speeches popular in the industry, no parameter stacking that consumers found somewhat annoying, and no exaggerated and affected emotional performance. All temperature, height, breadth, and depth condensed into a string of numbers: 100,000,000.

From 0 to 1, from 1 to 100 million, it is less said that SAIC Motor is telling an "100-Million-Level Vehicle Enterprise" industry story, telling the era changes spanning a full 71 years, rather, it is telling the life legend of 100,000,000 users. Just as SAIC Motor's corporate Slogan says: Understand Cars, Understand You Better. This is what SAIC Motor wants to accomplish.

According to media reports, Chery is establishing a joint venture with multiple Chinese and Japanese enterprises to launch an independent all-electric brand in Japan. Instead of following Chery's traditional direct overseas model, the new venture adopts a strategy of "Chinese Technology + Japanese Local Operation".

This is a result of a five-party cooperation, including: Chery Automobile, which provides vehicle platforms, electric powertrains, and core intelligent driving technology, while serving only as a shareholder without participating in local Japanese operations; Jiangsu Yueda Group, which utilizes the former HiPhi factory in Yancheng to handle vehicle production; and Gotion High-Tech, which is responsible for supplying power batteries.

The Japanese side is mainly responsible for channels, craftsmanship, and localization. Autobacs Seven, Japan's largest automotive aftermarket retail chain with approximately 1,200 stores, manages sales, after-sales service, and localized brand operations. Anest Iwata, a prominent leader in industrial painting equipment, provides specialized technical support for the vehicle's body-painting and finish processes.

The operating entity's parent company is registered in Singapore, with a subsidiary EMT (Electric Mobility Technologies) established in Yokohama, Japan, to fully operate the new brand, R&D, and sales.

Positioned as an all-electric brand originating from Japan, the new venture has built a world-class team, recruiting technical talent from Honda and Mazda alongside a former Nissan executive serving as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

In terms of product planning, the first all-electric model is scheduled for delivery in Japan in 2027, focusing on the compact and subcompact EV segments to adapt to Japanese urban driving needs. By 2029, the company aims to launch four distinct models covering subcompact cars, SUVs, and MPVs. Looking beyond 2030, it plans to explore building localized factories in Japan.

Chery Automobile's overseas expansion strategy dictates that its vehicles utilize Chery's proprietary technology and are Made in China, while carrying a new brand identity tailored for the Japanese market. Direct utilization of AUTOBACS's nationwide stores bypasses heavy overseas retail construction costs, enabling rapid network scalability. This joint venture allows Chery to precisely target Japan's electric vehicle vacuum, created by the slower electrification pace of legacy giants like Toyota and Honda. Capitalizing on this massive market gap, Chery is well-positioned to leverage its technological edge and local partnerships to seize a powerful first-mover advantage—an expansion strategy that holds immense promise.

According to data from the Japan Automotive Importers Association (JAIA), total New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales in Japan reached 16,924 units in March 2026, with BYD capturing a 3.7% market share. Notably, within the imported EV segment, BYD secured a dominant 10.3% share, ranking first among all imported all-electric vehicles. Driven by this momentum and upcoming market entries from other Chinese brands like GAC Aion and Zeekr, annual sales of Chinese NEVs in Japan are projected to surpass 20,000 units by 2027.