SAIC news
 

BEIJING (AFX) - SAIC Motor Corp Ltd, one of China's largest automakers, said it has appointed Wang Dazong, a former chief engineer and design manager at General Motors, as its vice president.

Wang will be in charge of technical management and product development at the Chinese automaker, including establishing R&D capabilities for launching its own brand vehicles, said SAIC Motor in a statement.

Yale Zhang, head of auto consultancy CSM Worldwide's China operations, told XFN-Asia that there is a growing trend among Chinese automakers to employ more and more overseas professionals to bring in production and management expertise.

Zhang said that most Chinese firms, including Chery and Lifan, already have key R&D personnel who have worked for major international automakers.

'But it is hard to measure how much value these personnel can create for the Chinese automakers in developing their own cars,' Zhang added.

SAIC Motor Corp Ltd said in February that it has set up a company -- SAIC Motor Manufacturing Co Ltd -- to produce automobiles of its own design with an investment of 3.68 bln yuan.

The first model, which was designed based on the Rover 75, is scheduled to be released in the second half of the year.

State media reported earlier this year that SAIC Motor may hire GM China's former president Phil Murtaugh to head SAIC Motor Manufacturing Co Ltd.
Source:forbes

SAIC, FAW drive into Fortune 500
 

Jin Jing
2006-07-14
TWO Chinese car giants drove themselves into the new Fortune 500 list as a result of the nation's booming auto industry.

SAIC, the Chinese partner of General Motors Corp and Volkswagen AG, took the 475th position with a sales revenue of US$14.3 billion for 2005, two years after it entered the list in 2004.

First Automobile Works Group, China's largest automaker, maintained its name on the list for a second consecutive year and was No. 470 with revenue of US$14.5 billion.

However, its ranking dropped from No. 448 in the last list with US$13.8 billion sales income.

FAW's profit for 2005 totaled US$116 million while SAIC's was US$21 million.

Analysts said SAIC's acquisition of South Korea's Ssangyong Motors Corp, which increases its sales, helped the Chinese automaker back onto the list this time in addition to its rapid development in car manufacturing in the Chinese market.

SAIC overtook FAW as China's largest carmaker for the first time last year when it sold 1.05 million vehicles, a 24 percent jump from a year earlier.

The Shanghai-based company also sold over 680,000 units in the first half of this year.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/200...ortune_500.htm

SAIC appoints Gao to head its R&D subsidiary
 

Jin Jing
2006-08-11
SHANGHAI Automobile Industry Corp has hired Gao Jiawei, formerly with General Motors Corp, to strengthen its research and development capability as it seeks to roll out vehicles under its own nameplate.

SAIC Motor Manufacturing Co Ltd, the major platform of SAIC for making vehicles with its own technology, has appointed Gao as the director of its production line-up.

It is understood that the new company is considering producing smaller-sized vehicles, a source told Shanghai Daily.

A SAIC Motor spokesman refused to comment yesterday.

SAIC Motor has an abundance of talent in its pool after lapping up 150 auto engineers from failed carmaker MG Rover.

Gao's appointment comes after SAIC named another former General Motors staffer Wang Dazhong as its vice president in March.

The former GM chief engineer and design manager will be responsible for technical management and product development, including R&D capabilities of the company.

SAIC, China's second-largest automaker, has been aggressively eying expansion after winning the intellectual property right for Rover 25 and Rover 75 from the British carmaker early last year.

The Shanghai enterprise, which cooperated with both General Motors Corp and Volkswagen AG, plans to invest 13.6 billion yuan (US$1.69 billion) to launch 30 models with its own technology in the market over the next five years.

SAIC Motor's first self-branded model, a mid-to-high range family car based on the Rover 75, will roll out in the second half of this year followed by another family car early next year.

Reports elsewhere said the company has also spent US$22 million to gain the Rover brand from BMW Corp. However, Huang Huaqiong, a spokesman for SAIC Motor, said the Chinese name for the models haven't been decided yet. The company's manufacturing plant aims to produce 300,000 vehicles by 2010.
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/200...subsidiary.htm

They should stick with SAIC as their Western brand name.

I think they will become a global giant in ten years. They have the resources and the foundation.

22 million just for the Rover brand name??? :nono: Well I guess an established brand name will help them but so far the vehicles are virtually the same as the old Rover 75 they are based on, more to should have been done apart from some minor stylistic enhancements.

SAIC/Nanjing - a bit like the Rolls Royce/Bentley sale that VW thought it had scored on, and then BMW removed the big ace for a fraction of the price! Ok, maybe SAIC had contributed previoulsy to MG Rover, and maybe Rover is not such a big prize in British eyes, but Rover is certainly a more useable name in the Far East for prestige cars than MG.

SAIC to buy parent's JV stakes
 

SAIC business news
 

By Jin Jing 2007-7-28
shanghaidaily.com
THE Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp yesterday signed a letter of intent with the Yuejin Motor (Group) Corp that will allow it to tie up with the Nanjing Automobile Corp.

The result will be the biggest alliance in China's auto industry for developing home-branded model.

China's largest auto maker and Yuejin plan to jointly set up panels working on the possibility of cooperation on complete cars, auto parts and auto trades between the two state-owned car makers, SAIC said in a statement late yesterday.

The proposed synergy is based on an assets-restructuring program for both Jiangsu Province-based Yuejin and its subsidiary, Nanjing Auto, with the aim of a comprehensive cooperation with the SAIC, the statement added.

Analysts said the announcement marks the launch of a long-awaited merger between SAIC and Nanjing Auto, which acquired assets and intellectual property rights from the failed British MG Rover Corp to make their own-branded vehicles. "The cooperation will combine the strength of each other and will be carried out in an extensive way," SAIC said in the statement.

"The unity should help to consolidate resources for better efficiency, improve research and development capabilities, expand product mix and lift brand value for a win-win situation."

SAIC lost out to Nanjing Auto in a bidding for the bankrupt MG Rover in 2005. It spent 67 million pounds (US$136.21 million) to get the technology for two Rover models, which helped its listed unit, Shanghai Auto, to unveil its own version of Rover 75 last year, called the Roewe 750 sedan.

Nanjing Auto took over the MG brand and complete assembly lines with a 50-million-pound investment. It will sell the Chinese-made MG-branded models - starting next month - as part of a US$2 billion investment to revive the historical brand worldwide.

SAIC didn't elaborate on the cooperation agreement yesterday, saying the consolidation will avoid competition issuer with Shanghai Auto.

We all knew it was coming :)

So will the forums eventually merge? And will Roewe's become MG's and Austins?

Anyone ever heard whether Nanjing plans to import MG Rover's to the U.S.? I saw a new version of what used to be a MGB in America in a British car mag about 10 years ago and it looked pretty good. Retained a lot of that British micro-car charm and looked tight.

Most Americans would poo-poo the idea of buying a MG because of the lack of their crashworthiness, anyway. There would be a small audience, though. Triumphs were also quite popular here in the 60's and 70's with the TR-3, TR-4, TR-250 and TR-6.

SAIC takes green technology path in drive to success
 

Large domestic carmakers are taking the lead in pushing green technology. Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), the mainland's largest carmaker, said it has invested two billion yuan since last year in a technology centre to help the company produce more environmentally friendly vehicles

SAIC Changes Its Name
 

From China Car Times.

SAIC Motor to Set Up Transmission Subsidiary
 

The new subsidiary is to be called SAIC Motor Automotive Transmission Ltd. It will have registered capital of CNY 1.6 billion.

All the businesses, employees, assets, and liabilities of Automobile Gear Works will be totally infused into the new subsidiary.

The new arm is to be engaged in the research and development, manufacturing, and provision of automobile transmission assembly both at home and abroad. It also focuses on the manufacture of automotive gearboxes used in the

Can't believe it! I thaught the Chery M14 project was in "P" ;)

And why do Chery and SAIC work together?

huh what are u talking about chery for?

OK... I thaught it was written "Used in the Chery M14", I didn't realize that was M14's signature.

:nono:

SAIC Boosts Investment, Challenging GM, VW in China
 

SOURCE: http://www.bloomberg.com
Seonjin Cha and Irene Shen
Nov. 29 (Bloomberg) -- SAIC Motor Corp., China's largest automaker, will increase spending to make cars of its own design, heightening competition with its partners General Motors Corp. and Volkswagen AG.
The company will spend at least 20 billion yuan ($2.7 billion) to develop between 20 and 30 new models by 2012, President Chen Hong said at a press conference in Shanghai today. That compares with an earlier plan to spend 13.7 billion yuan by 2010.
SAIC Motor is moving up from being a low-wage assembler of overseas brands and is developing five platforms, ranging from recreational vehicles to compact cars. The carmaker has purchased technology from the U.K. and South Korea to help with its own designs.
``It will take SAIC three to five years to build its own brand and catch up with overseas rivals,'' said Wang Liusheng, an analyst at China Merchants Securities Co. in Shenzhen. ``SAIC Motor has competitive edge over its overseas rivals with lower costs in parts purchasing.''
SAIC Motor rose 3.4 percent to 24.34 yuan at the close of trading in Shanghai. The shares have almost tripled this year.
China Growth
Car sales in China surged 24 percent to 7.15 million in the first 10 months of 2007 because of economic growth. The benchmark CSI 300 Index has more than doubled this year, fueling demand as more than three-fifths of Chinese stock-market investors buy new cars with their profits.
``China has become the most important market for all carmakers,'' said Wang. ``SAIC has great potential to develop in its own country.''
The carmaker expects group sales of more than 200 billion yuan this year, Chen said. The company is spending about 8 percent of sales on research and development.
The automaker expects to sell a total of 600,000 own-brand vehicles by 2010, including Roewe sedans.
SAIC Motor's parent in also in talks about a possible tie- up with Nanjing Automobile Group Co., the Chinese maker of MG cars, to expand its own-brand line-up.
``M&A is something you grasp when opportunities arise,'' said Chen. ``We'll continue to closely monitor market situations in China as well as overseas.''

To contact the reporter on this story: Seonjin Cha in Seoul at [email protected] Irene Shen in Shanghai at [email protected]
Last Updated: November 29, 2007 05:36 EST

I wonder if this is partly being done to help absorb MG Powertain from Nanjing...

that would make total sense

SAIC plans to introduce 30 new cars in next five years!

source: China Car Times

Excellent news for SAIC - the company sold 1.5 millions vehicles in first eleven months of 2007!

source: Gasgoo.com

Sales results for 2007.

source: Gasgoo.com

China's SAIC Motor net profit surges 242% in 2007
 

From gasgoo.com:

From China Car Times:

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC looks into future

By Hao Zhou (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-04-09 17:33


On April 1 this year, the entire equity of Nanjing Automobile (Group) Corporation was put under Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC)'s name, and the integration work of both giant automakers entered a new phase.


Nanjing Auto had suspended its long-lasting cooperation with Italian automaker Fiat after SAIC signed its merger deal on December 26 last year with Yuejin Motor Group, controlling shareholder of Nanjing Auto.


However, as orders for SAIC's car models continue to outpace its production capacities, China's largest passenger car maker is considering rejuvenating Nanjing Fiat's car production line.


The 21st Century Business Herald reported earlier that Shanghai Volkswagen, Volkswagen's 50-50 joint venture with SAIC, will pay 1.5 billion yuan ($214 million) to SAIC for Nanjing Fiat assets.


"Shanghai Volkswagen is continuing preparations for assembling its current car models in Nanjing," SAIC said in a statement posted on its website.


It has also been reported that the new base for Shanghai Volkswagen will engage in production in the middle of 2008 and is expected to have production capacity of 100,000 cars by 2010.


At the same time, SAIC, a leader in the passenger car market, also has ambitious plans to produce 400,000 independently developed commercial vehicles between 2006 and 2010.


Although it has bought SsangYong's technology and started to produce the Sunwin-branded coaches under cooperation with Volvo, it was still hardly able meet this year's sales target of 700,000 commercial vehicles.


Wuxi-based Soyat, previously owned by Nanjing Automobile, could be SAIC's next merger target for expanding its commercial vehicle output. The 21st Century Business Herald said SAIC had sent an expert panel to look into the feasibility of buying out Soyat.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchin...nt_6603923.htm

SAIC profit rises on China's Volkswagen car demand.

source: Bloomberg

SAIC to export Roewe 550 to Europe in early 2009.

source: Gasgoo.com

SAIC-Roewe to roll out high-end NLC in 2010.

source: Gasgoo.com

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC Motor H1 net profit down 28 pct

August 30, 2008

SAIC Motor Corp Ltd said first half net profit fell 27.64 percent year-on-year to 1.97 billion yuan ($286.72 million) due to expenses incurred following its acquisition of Nanjing Automobile Group.

SAIC Motor, the listed unit of China's largest automaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), said it sold over 990,000 autos in the six-month period, up 17.6 percent year-on-year.

However, sales growth slowed markedly in the second quarter, and the company failed to meet its sales target for the first half.

Rising raw material costs also hurt its results, the company said.

Operating revenue was 57.64 billion yuan, up 12.87 percent year-on-year, supported by rising auto sales volume.

Domestic revenue rose 28.32 percent to 47.84 billion yuan, while overseas revenue fell 28.92 percent to 9.8 billion yuan.

Earnings per share were 0.30 yuan, down from 0.42 yuan a year earlier.

SAIC Motor said Chinese auto demand growth will ease in the rest of the year. It did not make a forecast for the full year.

In December 2007, SAIC Motor agreed to pay 2.1 billion yuan to Yuejing Motor to purchase the vehicle and core auto parts assets of Nanjing Auto.

In its statement, SAIC Motor said the consolidation of Nanjing Auto was having a short-term negative impact on operating profit.

It added that South Korea's Ssangyong Motor Co, which SAIC Motor controls with a 48.92 percent stake, has also seen a sharp decrease in domestic sales due to higher diesel prices and stricter emission standards.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007...wn-28-pct.html

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC subsidiary approved to buy Shanghai Diesel Engine

September 13, 2008

Shanghai Automotive Co., Ltd. has gotten a nod from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), the nation's securities regulator, for its acquisition of 241.7 million shares or a 50.32% stake in Shanghai Diesel Engine Co., Ltd. , the buyer announced on September 9.

Shanghai Automotive, a listed subsidiary under the aegis of Chinese auto titan Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (Group) (SAIC), is set to buy the shares from Shanghai Electric Group Co., Ltd., a mechanical and electrical equipment manufacturing giant in China, for CNY 923.42 million.

After the deal, Shanghai Automotive will become a controlling shareholder of Shanghai Diesel Engine, part of its parent company SAIC's efforts to grow into an international auto group with powerful core competitiveness.

Besides Shanghai Automotive, SAIC will have the other two listed affiliates such as Shanghai Diesel Engine and Shanghai Bashi Industrial Group Co., Ltd.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007...el-Engine.html

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC plans to double Longbridge workforce


http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008...workforce.html

SAIC launches own-brand project in Nanjing.

from Gasgoo.com

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC sees Q3 net profits down 42.67%

October 31, 2008
Shanghai, October 31 (Gasgoo.com) In a statement it released today, Shanghai Automobile Industry Corporation (SAIC) said its net profits declined by 42.67% year on year to 2.226 billion yuan ($32.63 million) in the third quarter, First Financial Daily reported.

But the auto giant said its financial assets and investment in real estate available for sale this year grew by 182.44% and 266.56%respectively over a year earlier.

However, despite the two large increases, SAIC suffered a book loss related to stocks of China Construction Bank and Bohai logistics by the end of the third quarter. The gross book value only totaled 21,002,400 million yuan from January to September, a loss of 4,829,300 yuan from its initial investment of 25,831,700 yuan.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008...own-42-67.html

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC set to expand car financing business

November 16, 2008

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), China's largest carmaker, plans to expand its car financing business in an effort to spur consumption and boost profitability, the South China Morning Post reported Wednesday, citing SAIC Chairman Hu Maoyuan as saying.

Hu said during a conference in Tianjin that the company is striving to offer more car financing services to customers. But he did not elaborate how SAIC would strengthen its car financing arm.

He added 30% of the company's net profit was generated from servicing business.

SAIC posed a net profit of RMB 260.8 million for the third quarter, representing a 78% of sharp decline year-on-year, due to slowing demand for vehicles.

General Motors China and SAIC has secured regulatory approval to jointly set up their finance arm GMAC-SAIC Automotive Finance in November last year, becoming the first operational automotive financing company offering both retail and wholesale business in the country.

According the report, car financing business is still underdeveloped on the mainland, with only 20% of buyers taking out loans to pay for car, which is far below the rate of 50% in Japan and 90% in the United States.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008...-business.html

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC group to spend $300 mln on green cars

November 26, 2008

SAIC Motor Corp, China's biggest automaker, said on Tuesday it plans to set up a venture with its state-owned parent that will invest 2 billion yuan ($293 million) to develop clean-energy cars.

The SAIC group will hold a 90 percent stake in the venture, which will focus on the development of hybrid and electric vehicles, while its listed unit will hold the remainder.

Domestic and foreign automakers are pouring increasing resources into the development of "green" cars as concerns mount over the environment and the threat of global warming, which is linked to carbon dioxide emissions.

In January, SAIC's car venture with General Motors rolled out its first locally produced hybrid car in China and said it planned to introduce fuel cell-powered vehicles into the world's second-largest auto market after 2010.

Rechargeable battery maker BYD Co plans to launch its first all-electric car in China in the second half of 2009, Henry Li, general manager of BYD Auto's export trade division, told Reuters last month.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008...reen-cars.html

SAIC top man Mr. Chen Zhi Xin, announced yesterday that Roewe and MG will unite together for research, production, scope, purchasing and share investment resources to build their respective brands.

SAIC plans to merge its production bases into one east coat production base, the three factories, Pukou (in Nanjing), Lin Gang, Yi Zheng and An Ting (Shanghai) will come together to produce cars in the SAIC portfolio.

According to SAICs plans, SAIC will no longer be based on brand, but rather platforms. The Nanjing factory will be focussed on production an A-class small car, and small engines. Lin Gang will be focused on producing A+B segment cars, as well as producing the current Roewe 750, Lin Gang will also produce the Ssangyong range of SUVs in China.

The Lin Gang factory will produce 6 different types of car, the Roewe 550, and the next generation 750 and engines. The next generation 750 is expected to enter the market in either 2009, or 2010, further information on the next generation Roewe 750 was not forthcoming. The next generation MG7 is also in the development stage, and could also be produced in the Lin Gang factory.

MG plans to have an A-segment car, which will be available in hatch and sedan format. A small MPV will also be made, and work on a compact car is also in progress, these cars may be named the MG5 and MG6. The MG6 will be the next car to go on the market after the launch of the MG7 Automatic model, and will go on the market in 2009. MG spokesman, Mr. Jian Lu Qiang revealed that the MG6 wont be based on the Roewe 550 platform.

December 2nd, 2008, China Car Times

Re: SAIC business news
 

Israel among first to import SAIC cars from China

January 29, 2009

Peugeot Citroen importer Lubinski will begin the regular import of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. cars in the fourth quarter.

Peugeot Citroen importer David Lubinski Ltd. will begin the regular import of vehicles made by Chinese carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SSE: 600104) (SAIC) in the fourth quarter of 2009, and will begin marketing in January 2010. The first SAIC cars will arrive within a few weeks to give Lubinsky the time to study the cars and train its sales and service staff.

The cars arriving next month will not comply with standards, so they cannot be driven on the roads. SAIC already manufactures cars that comply with EU Euro-5 emissions standards, and these are the cars that will be delivered later this year. SAIC is a partner of General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) and Volkswagen AG

SAIC selected Israel, the UK, and Spain as its first target countries in Europe. Some of the cars will come directly from SAIC's factories in Shanghai and Nanjing, while others will come from the company's UK factory, which it acquired from Rover.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009...rom-China.html

Roewe, MG sales teams merged to cut cost

February 9, 2009
Last week, SAIC's affiliated Roewe, and the sales division of Nanjing MG Auto Co., Ltd. moved out of their former offices to the building of their parent's technology center in Shanghai, said sina.com today. In its effort to cut costs, SAIC is merging the sales networks of the Roewe and MG brands.

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) plans to gain nearly 1% more profits through cutting costs in 2009, as a measure to fight against the worldwide financial crisis that started in the second half of last year. The 1% profit is not only a target set for the parent, but also each affiliate, to be achieved by by lessening expenditures, and lowering salaries of top executives.

SAIC has decided to cut down the losses of affiliated proprietary brands and enhance their profitability through unified marketing. Earlier this month, the sales and marketing divisions of Nanjing GM said they were moving out of their Nanjing offices to SAIC's technology center located in Anting of suburban Shanghai, to be merged with the Roewe sales team of SAIC Motor.

Besides, Nanjing MG will be merged into Nanjing Auto Corp, which SAIC acquired one year ago. With the MG assets as its major part, Nanjing Auto will become an important base for SAIC to develop own-brand models. In addition, the Nanjing Iveco Auto Co assets of Nanjing Auto will also be handed over to SAIC Commercial Business Unit.

Industry experts pointed out that SAIC is the first leading automaker in China to announce its target to lower costs after the financial crisis. As China's auto sales growth is expected to dive to the lowest point of 5% since 1998, more domestic carmakers will follow suit to cut costs and boost profitability.

source: Gasgoo.com

Re: SAIC business news
 

The poor treatment that the 4S dealers give foriegners should give Roewe poor sales forever.
My 7 years in Shanghai, I had never been treated so poorly as I was from Roewe. I had thought that Roewe was a good automobile until 2 weeks ago at the SIAC dealership where I was not permitted to even look inside or touch the cars.
I felt poorly and left but returned 2 hours later to request a test drive. At that time when I walked in and seen Chinese children jumping in the back seats, people looking and touching every part of the cars yet the same SIAC representative that requested me not to inspect the cars (with a test car parked in front) told me the cars had no batteries even after looking under the hood and I pointed to the battery, she turned and as she walked away told me I could not drive or even sit in the car.

Re: SAIC business news
 

SAIC to buy van maker LDV
From China Car Times: