Units like BAW and Foton act more autonomously with respect to the parent group. In fact, BAW is not even owned by BAIC Group Co. Ltd. in the formal sense.
Quote from
here as translated:
According to this idea, the reformed BAIC Holdings no longer manages the specific production and operation of the subordinate enterprises, but assigns directors and managers to the subordinate enterprises as the owners of the property rights, and influences the development of the enterprise through the board of directors of the enterprise. BAIC is mainly responsible for the macro planning and strategic layout of the Beijing auto industry.
Note: BAIC Holdings = BAIC Group Co. Ltd. now.
Read the last few paragraphs from the above link to see the twists and turns in the history of BAW (Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd.). The article is somewhat old (2009), so names and shareholders may have changed.
BAW is owned by "Beijing Automobile Assembly Factory", which is owned by Yao Changsheng, the general manager.
BAW current corporate profile:
https://www.qichacha.com/firm_7286b0308c0ea72972d2ac3283634d76.html
P.S.: Also note, BAW and BAIC Off-Road (that makes BJ80/CTL151 and BJ40/L) are not formally related to each other. So never say the BJ80 (also called Yongshi) and BAW Yongshi (BJ2022JC and successors) are from the same firm
