SAIC Motor

This article is about the Chinese automotive company. For similarly-named companies, see SAIC.
SAIC Motor Corporation Limited
上海汽车集团股份有限公司
Public
Traded as SSE: 600104
Industry Automotive
Founded 2011 (SAIC Motor Corporation Limited)
1995 (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (Group))
1955 (Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Components Company)
Headquarters Shanghai, China
Key people
 Chen Zhixin (President)
Chen Hong (Chairman)[1]
Products Automobiles, commercial vehicles
Production output
 5,620,200 units (2014)[2]
Revenue US$101.7 billion (2014)[3]
Number of employees
 144,955 (2013)[4]
Parent Assets Supervision and Administration Commission[5]
Divisions Maxus
Roewe
MG Motor
Nanjing Automobile
MG Motor UK
Subsidiaries
Website www.saicmotor.com/english/
SAIC Motor
Simplified Chinese 上海汽车集团股份有限公司
Traditional Chinese 上海汽車集團股份有限公司
Literal meaning Shanghai Automotive Group Joint-stock Limited Corporation
Abbreviation
Simplified Chinese 上汽集团
Traditional Chinese 上汽集團

SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (informally SAIC, formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) is a Chinese state-owned automotive design and manufacturing company headquartered in Shanghai, China, with multinational operations. A Fortune Global 100 company and one of the "Big Four" state-owned Chinese automakers (along with Chang'an Motors, FAW Group, and Dongfeng Motor),[6] the company had the largest production volume of any Chinese automaker in 2014 making more than 4.5 million vehicles.[7] Its manufacturing mix is not wholly consumer offerings, however, with as many as 1,000,000+ SAIC passenger vehicles being commercial vans.

SAIC traces its origins to the early years of the Chinese automobile industry in the 1940s, and SAIC was one of the few carmakers in Mao's China, making the Shanghai SH760.[8] Currently, it participates in the oldest surviving sino-foreign car making joint venture, with Volkswagen, and in addition has had a joint venture with General Motors since 1998. SAIC products sell under a variety of brand names, including those of its joint venture partners. Two notable brands owned by SAIC itself are MG, a historic British car marque, and Roewe, one of the few domestic Chinese luxury car brands.

History

A 1986 Shanghai SH760, Shanghai's automotive mainstay for over 25 years

Origins to 2000

Although it has a long history, originating from an automobile assembly factory established in Shanghai sometime around World War II, SAIC, unlike domestic rivals FAW Group and Dongfeng Motors, has only recently attained a position of prominence in the Chinese vehicle industry.[9] A small company in the 1970s,[10] SAIC owes its rise to more than an increase in domestic demand for passenger vehicles. A cooperative agreement made with Volkswagen in 1984[11] followed by the formal establishment of Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co Ltd in March 1985[12] allowed it to produce competitive cars with foreign technology. Early success at SAIC may also be a result of guidance provided by local Shanghai authorities; at one time SAIC was simply an extension of the Shanghai Municipal government.[13] For these two reasons and more, SAIC grew swiftly. In the 11 years leading to 1996, annual production capacity increased ten-fold to 300,000 units/year, and the company established itself as one of the leading Chinese automakers.[14]

During this period, SAIC effectively built an entire modern automotive component supply chain in Shanghai from scratch,[15] and the number and quality of locally produced auto parts rose significantly.[16] Cars that were previously assembled in China from knock-down kits provisioned by Volkswagen[17] became products built from parts produced in Shanghai,[18] and between 1990 and 1996 the city more than doubled its contribution to the national output of automotive components.[16] In 1987, the only local parts used in one car, the Volkswagen Santana, were tires, radio, and antenna,[19] but by 1998 over 90% of the components used in its manufacture were locally sourced.[18] A goal set by the Shanghai Municipal government,[13] creation of a local parts industry is an example of the influence that the local government has had on the development of SAIC.

In June 1997, SAIC formed a second major joint venture, Shanghai General Motors Co Ltd, with General Motors.[12][20] The new joint venture began operations in 1998, and helped to drive a doubling in SAIC's vehicle production between 2000 and 2004.[21] Initially partnering with foreign automakers, creating joint ventures with component suppliers, such as the American Visteon,[22] may now help underpin SAIC success.

2000 to 2010

The MG/Roewe 550, which was launched in 2008

At the start of the 2000s, SAIC made several acquisitions in Korea. In 2002 it participated in GM's purchase of Korean automaker Daewoo, acquiring a 10% stake in the newly formed GM Daewoo company for US$59.7 million,[23] and in 2004 it also assumed control of an ailing South Korean automaker, SsangYong Motor, paying US$500 million for 48.9% ownership of the company.[24] Around this time SAIC created a new holding company for its subsidiaries employed in passenger car production, Shanghai Automotive Group.[25]

In the middle of the decade, SAIC attempted to acquire the British automaker MG Rover, but in 2005 was outbid by another Chinese automaker, Nanjing Automobile.[26] SAIC did manage to obtain some MG Rover technology that was incorporated into a new line of luxury sedans sold under the Roewe marque,[27] and it subsequently purchased the winning bidder.[28]

While the company saw sales success in the late 2000s, with 2.72 million vehicles sold in 2009,[29] its 2004 purchase of an ownership stake in a Korean SUV-maker, Ssangyong, soured. In January 2009, after an additional US$45 million was provided to it by SAIC, SsangYong Motor Company was placed into receivership in Korea.[30] Courts might have mandated SAIC reduce its ownership, and by 2010 a 51.33% share of the Korean company had become a 10% one.[31] The 2009 Ssangyong failure also saw riot police quell protesting Ssangyong workers who staged a 77-day-long sit in.[32] SAIC may have benefitted from exposure to some technology from Mercedes that Ssangyong controlled during this time.[33]

2010 to present

A Maxus V80 on display in Kuala Lumpur

In 2010, SAIC produced 3.58 million units, the largest output of any China-based automaker that year.[34]

In February 2011, SAIC unveiled a new commercial vehicles marque, Maxus.[35]

On 13 April 2011, mass production resumed at the MG Motor UK Longbridge plant as the first MG 6 to be produced in the United Kingdom came off the production line.[36] This plant is likely little more than a CKD factory on a par with similar setups in Africa and other developing nations.

In 2011, SAIC produced 3.97 million vehicles, the largest output of any China-based automaker that year.[37]

In June 2012, SAIC's United States-based subsidiary Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp USA, Inc. opened a new North American Operations Center in Birmingham, Michigan.[38][39][40] The opening ceremony was attended by the Governor of Michigan Rick Snyder, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and senior executives from General Motors and SAIC Motor.[40] The 30,000-square-foot, three-story facility will house nearly 100 staff and focus on sourcing components.[38]

In 2012, SAIC retained its top spot among domestic rivals by producing around 3.5 million units.[41]

Mergers and company name-changes

The present-day SAIC is the product of numerous mergers and corporate re-structurings. Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Components Company was founded in December 1955.[12] In March 1958, Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Components Company and Shanghai Powertrain Equipment Manufacturing Company were merged into Shanghai Powertrain Machinery Manufacturing Company.[12] In January 1960, Shanghai Powertrain Machinery Manufacturing Company was renamed Shanghai Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Company.[12] In April 1969, Shanghai Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Company was renamed Shanghai Tractor Industry Company. Shanghai Automobile & Tractor Company was established in July 1984.[12] In March 1990, Shanghai Automobile & Tractor Company was renamed Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.[12] Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (Group) was founded in September 1995.[12]

Operations

The MG 6, currently produced in China and the United Kingdom

Marques

SAIC sells vehicles under a variety of brands. Brand names that are exclusive to SAIC include Maxus,[42] MG,[43] Roewe,[43] and Yuejin.[44] Products produced by SAIC joint venture companies are sold under marques including Baojun,[45] Buick,[46] Chevrolet,[46] Iveco,[44] Škoda,[47] Volkswagen,[47] and Wuling.[48]

Joint ventures

SAIC participates in cooperative efforts with foreign automakers that see the products of large international companies such as General Motors and Volkswagen made and sold in China. Sino-foreign joint ventures that SAIC is involved with include Nanjing Iveco Auto Co Ltd ("New Naveco") with Iveco,[49] Saic-Iveco Commercial Vehicle Co Ltd,[50] SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive, Shanghai General Motors Corporation, and Shanghai Sunwin with Volvo.[51]

Production facilities

MG Motor UK HQ - SAIC UK Technical & Design Centre.

SAIC has numerous production facilities in China, including sites in: Chongqing, Liuzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, and Yantai.[52] It also has an assembly plant in the United Kingdom, the Longbridge plant.[53]

Research and development

SAIC operates a large research and development centre in the United Kingdom, the SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre, which as of 2012 employs around 275 engineers and 25 designers.[54] The UK Technical Centre is the principal site worldwide for the development of MG cars,[55] and it also plays a major role in the development of Roewe products.[56]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Top Management". Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (Group).
  2. ↑ http://www.saicgroup.com/chinese/xwzx/xwk/2015/38043.shtml
  3. ↑ "2014 Annual Report - Year in review". Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (Group). Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "2013 Annual Report - Highlight figures (page 30)" (PDF). Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (Group).
  5. ↑ Zhao, Hejun (2010-10-22). "Shanghai's Slow Boat to State Asset Reform". Caixin. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  6. ↑ New policy to encourage China's carmaker consolidation xinhuanet.com, 2010-02-22 10:27:20
  7. ↑ "2014年11月汽车分车型前十家生产企业销量排名". caam.org.cn. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 12 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  8. ↑ The home team: Indigenous carmakers are working their way up economist.com, Nov 13th 2008
  9. ↑ Richter, Frank-Jürgen (2000). The dragon millennium: Chinese business in the coming world economy. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 65–69. ISBN 9781567203530.
  10. ↑ Richter, Frank-Jürgen (2000). The dragon millennium: Chinese business in the coming world economy. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 66. ISBN 9781567203530.
  11. ↑ Richter, pp. 67.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Roewe: A homegrown brand with brilliant origin". China Economic Net. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  13. 1 2 Thun, Eric (2006). Changing lanes in China: foreign direct investment, local government, and auto sector development. Cambridge University Press. p. 103. ISBN 9780521843829.
  14. ↑ Richter, Frank-Jürgen (2000). The dragon millennium: Chinese business in the coming world economy. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 68. ISBN 9781567203530.
  15. ↑ Yasheng, Huang (2003). Selling China: foreign direct investment during the reform era. Cambridge University Press. p. 264. ISBN 9780521814287.
  16. 1 2 Yasheng, Huang (2003). Selling China: foreign direct investment during the reform era. Cambridge University Press. pp. 264–265. ISBN 9780521814287.
  17. ↑ Thun, Eric (2006). Changing lanes in China: foreign direct investment, local government, and auto sector development. Cambridge University Press. p. 102. ISBN 9780521843829.
  18. 1 2 Chiu, Becky; Lewis, Mervyn (2006). Reforming China's state-owned enterprises and banks. New horizons in money and finance. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 310. ISBN 9781843767589.
  19. ↑ Thun, Eric (2006). Changing lanes in China: foreign direct investment, local government, and auto sector development. Cambridge University Press. p. 104. ISBN 9780521843829.
  20. ↑ "G.M. Expects Asia Deals to Raise $400 Million". The New York Times. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  21. ↑ Chiu, Becky; Lewis, Mervyn (2006). Reforming China's state-owned enterprises and banks. New horizons in money and finance. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 309. ISBN 9781843767589.
  22. ↑ "Visteon's Global Electronics Platforms Launched on Shanghai GM's Chevrolet New Sail". Visteon Corp. 25 Feb 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  23. ↑ "Auto Venture in Korea". The New York Times. 14 October 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  24. ↑ "SAIC Takes on Ssangyong Motors". China Daily. 29 October 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  25. ↑ "Chinese auto firm looks overseas". BBC News. 29 November 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  26. ↑ "Rover sold to Nanjing Automobile". BBC. 23 July 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  27. ↑ "China debut for Rover-based car". BBC. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  28. ↑ "REFILE-UPDATE 2-SAIC to make MG 6 in UK, upbeat on own-brand car" Reuters, Nov 25, 2009
  29. ↑ "SAIC: Company Profile". ChinaAutoWeb.com.
  30. ↑ Kitchen, Michael (Jan 9, 2009). "Korean auto maker Ssangyong enters receivership". MarketWatch. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  31. ↑ For court-ordered destruction of SAIC ownership and 51.33% stake, see Seo, Eun-kyung (Dec 17, 2009). "UPDATE 1-Court backs Ssangyong plan, shares briefly halted". Reuters. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  32. ↑ "S Korea factory occupation ends". BBC. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  33. ↑ For possible benefit from exposure to technology, see 김, 동환 (2009-01-20). '먹튀 논란' 상하이車 반박 "쌍용車 주장 근거없어" (in Korean). 아시아경제. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  34. ↑ China Car Market 101: Who Makes All Those 18 Million Cars? thetruthaboutcars.com, January 19, 2011
  35. ↑ "SAIC unveils first international brand". Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  36. ↑ "New MG Sports Rolls Out Of Longbridge Plant". Sky News. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  37. ↑ 2011年前十家乘用车生产企业销量排名. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 2012-01-20.
  38. 1 2 "China's Shanghai Automotive Industries opens office in Birmingham". Crain's Detroit Business. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  39. ↑ VLASIC, BILL (May 14, 2013). "Chinese Creating New Auto Niche Within Detroit". pp. A1.
  40. 1 2 "SAIC USA Opens New North American Operations Center in Michigan". Aftermarket News. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  41. ↑ "2012年12月分车型前十家生产企业销量排名". China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 14 January 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  42. ↑ "SAIC unveils first international brand". SAIC. 2011-03-29. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  43. 1 2 Fang Yan; Tom Miles (Dec 27, 2010). "SAIC invests $1.5 billion to boost own-brand car capacity: paper". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  44. 1 2 "About Naveco: About Us". Naveco. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  45. ↑ "SGMW to launch Baojun brand". SAIC. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  46. 1 2 GM Communications (2005-04-19). "GM Family Showcases Record Lineup of Brands and Products at Auto Shanghai 2005". General Motors. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  47. 1 2 "SVW Introduction: Overview". SAIC. Archive.org. Archived from the original on April 30, 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  48. ↑ Muller, Joann (2010-04-22). "Can China Save GM?". Forbes. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  49. ↑ "Navco". Iveco. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  50. ↑ "A LONG STANDING, STRONG, RELIABLE SINO-ITALIAN TEAM". Iveco. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  51. ↑ "1,500 buses from Volvo to World Expo". Volvo Group. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  52. ↑ "Introduction of SAIC". SAIC. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  53. ↑ Pomfret, James (Jun 26, 2011). "China's premier promotes Sino-UK trade synergies". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  54. ↑ "About SMTC UK". SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  55. ↑ "MG". SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
  56. ↑ "Roewe". SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
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