[dmitra]

Santa Clara, CA-based SF Motors, which is a subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group, has entered an agreement to acquire the Commercial Assembly Plant of AM General in Mishawaka, Indiana (USA). SF Motors intends to produce unspecified electric vehicles at this plant when AM General's contract with Daimler AG expires. The commercial plant is currently making Mercedes-Benz R-Class vehicles and previously made the Mobility Ventures MV-1 van. About 17,200 R-Class were produced in 2016 (~7,200 in Jan-May 2017).

This purchase does not include AM General's Military Assembly Plant where the HMMWV tactical vehicles are produced. The Military Assembly Plant also supplies kits for the Humvee C-Series, which is an export-only civilian version of the HMMWV assembled by VLF Automotive of Auburn Hills, MI.

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
SF Motors

 

[CCF mod]

SF Motors

SF Motors was founded in Silicon Valley as a company focused on building electric vehicles. The company, which is a subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group, has established several R&D facilities around the globe.
Parent company, Sokon Industry Group, was granted production permits from the Chinese government to produce electric vehicles. SF Motors recently completed the acquisition of the AM General Assembly Plant in Indiana, thus making it the only electric vehicle company to have manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and China

Homepage:
http://www.sfmotors.com/company

Company has just unveiled their first two cars. SF5 is a medium-sized crossover SUV, and the SF7 is a full-size crossover.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/03/28/sf-motors-ev-announce/

SF5:
https://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series/4752.html#pvareaid=2042212
http://price.pcauto.com.cn/cars/sg22824/

 

[CCF mod]

SF Motors

SF7:
https://car.autohome.com.cn/pic/series/4753.html#pvareaid=2042212
http://price.pcauto.com.cn/cars/sg22827/

 

[dmitra]

Jinguo EV

Sokon introduced a new brand "Jinguo EV" (金菓EV), meaning "Golden Fruit", under which these vehicles will be made and sold in China.

https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201807/920179.html

Chongqing Sokon Industry Group's subsidiary Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. has already received EV project approval for their factory from NDRC (it was #8 among the 15); however, it has not yet been included in the MIIT Notice as a manufacturer which is a second condition that needs to be fulfilled (after that remains type-approval of the cars themselves).

The Jinkang project is situated on 229 Fusheng Avenue in Jiangbei District of Chongqing; this is also the site where Chongqing Ruichi Automobile Industry Co., Ltd., another Sokon subsidiary, is already producing Ruichi EC35 electric vans.

 

[dmitra]

Jinkang Ruichi EV (S513)

Chongqing Jinkang's new compact electric SUV revealed in MIIT's latest Notice. It will be built in Sokon's new plant in Yufu Industrial Park. The model name, as evident in the picture below, is Ruichi, the same as the brand name of Sokon's electric vans (EC35, EK05) that are produced on the adjacent site (in the same complex) in Jiangbei District, Chongqing.

Chongqing Jinkang has received a new production license (SKE) from NDRC. Chongqing Ruichi, however, has its own enterprise code (CRC).

The 4.4 m SUV is powered by a 120 kW motor.

http://data.miit.gov.cn/viewCar?carId=194231#
http://data.miit.gov.cn/viewCar?carId=193983#

 

[dmitra]

Jinguo EV

Production version of the SF5 spied:

https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201812/927895.html#pvareaid=102624
http://info.xcar.com.cn/201812/news_2034464_1.html

 

[dmitra]

Jinkang Ruichi E3

Same car as seen in post #5, now sporting a Dongfeng logo and renamed as Ruichi E3.

http://data.miit.gov.cn/viewCar?carId=224606#

 

[Lawrence]

Re: SF Motors, Chongqing Jinkang

For those not familiar with the Dongfeng-Sokon (Jinkang) connection, see the following posts here at CCF and the DFSK website:

https://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3041&highlight=DFSK
http://www.dfsk.com/

From its small fry status when joining Dongfeng in 2003, SF's parent Sokon, has grown into a global powerhouse.

 

[dmitra]

Re: SF Motors, Chongqing Jinkang

Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd., which owns 50% of the joint venture Dongfeng Sokon Automobile Co., Ltd. (DFSK), is acquiring the other 50% stake in the JV from Dongfeng Motor Group Corporation Ltd. (DFMC), which will make DFSK a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd.

In return, DFMC will be offered a 26.01% shareholding in Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd., which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Currently, 60.2% of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd. is held by Chongqing Sokon Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company of the Sokon Group. The Sokon group is controlled by Forbes-listed billionaire Zhang Xinghai of Chongqing's better-known Zhang family (not to be confused with the namesake Zhang family, also of Chongqing, that controls Yinxiang group).

Following the share swap, as described in the quoted post (you can follow it to the source thread), DFSK is no longer a joint venture. Instead Dongfeng Motor Group is a part owner of Sokon Industry Group, which perhaps explains the Dongfeng logo now on a car that was developed by Sokon without Dongfeng financial involvement (Chongqing Jinkang started as a pure Sokon enterprise, originally called Chongqing Dongkang). Chongqing Jinkang, Chongqing Ruichi and Dongfeng Xiaokang (DFSK) are all subsidiaries of Sokon Industry Group.

 

[dmitra]

Ruichi E3

Spyshots:

https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201903/931012.html#pvareaid=102624

Note different logos.

 

[dmitra]

Chongqing Jinkang

For the time being, Seres is not going ahead with the U.S. launch of its car(s). These plans have been put on indefinite hold.

https://electrek.co/2019/07/12/seres-electric-car-launch-us-hold/
https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201907/939506.html

_______________________
Please note: Seres has acquired only one factory (out of two) from AM General in South Bend–Mishawaka, Indiana. AM General is still building Humvees at the Military Assembly Plant.

 

[dmitra]

Re: SF Motors, Chongqing Jinkang

Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd., which owns 50% of the joint venture Dongfeng Sokon Automobile Co., Ltd. (DFSK), is acquiring the other 50% stake in the JV from Dongfeng Motor Group Corporation Ltd. (DFMC), which will make DFSK a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd.

In return, DFMC will be offered a 26.01% shareholding in Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd., which is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Currently, 60.2% of Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd. is held by Chongqing Sokon Holdings Co., Ltd., a holding company of the Sokon Group. The Sokon group is controlled by Forbes-listed billionaire Zhang Xinghai of Chongqing's better-known Zhang family (not to be confused with the namesake Zhang family, also of Chongqing, that controls Yinxiang group).

Following the share swap, as described in the quoted post (you can follow it to the source thread), DFSK is no longer a joint venture. Instead Dongfeng Motor Group is a part owner of Sokon Industry Group, which perhaps explains the Dongfeng logo now on a car that was developed by Sokon without Dongfeng financial involvement (Chongqing Jinkang started as a pure Sokon enterprise, originally called Chongqing Dongkang). Chongqing Jinkang, Chongqing Ruichi and Dongfeng Xiaokang (DFSK) are all subsidiaries of Sokon Industry Group.

Sokon has temporarily suspended acquisition of the residual 50% of the shares of DFSK as laid out in the November 2018 plan, owing to adverse capital market conditions as well as the general slowdown in the auto industry. Sokon will approach the matter once again, with any suitable adjustments, when the market/economic environment is more favorable.

https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2019-07-25/doc-ihytcerm6253486.shtml

 

[dmitra]

Re: SF Motors, Chongqing Jinkang

Sokon has temporarily suspended acquisition of the residual 50% of the shares of DFSK as laid out in the November 2018 plan, owing to adverse capital market conditions as well as the general slowdown in the auto industry. Sokon will approach the matter once again, with any suitable adjustments, when the market/economic environment is more favorable.

https://finance.sina.com.cn/roll/2019-07-25/doc-ihytcerm6253486.shtml

A revised asset restructuring plan has been announced:
http://www.caam.org.cn/chn/8/cate_81/con_5226221.html
https://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201909/946153.html

 

[Chinese LSEV]

New Seres SUV patented:

 

[CCF mod]

There were many reports on the internet that Huawei and SERES are going to introduce a new vehicle. It will be the second vehicle that Huawei Smart Selection will be launching in cooperation with SERES AUTO. Source reported that it’s 2nd EV will be named as “AOTU”(Chinese spelling by its Chinese name “傲图”).
It is said that the cooperation method adopted for the upcoming vehicle will be different from the method adopted for Huawei Smart Selection SERES SF5, which was released in the first half of the year 2021. That is, for the previous model, Huawei was only a supplier (smart car solution provider). According to the sources, for the upcoming model, Huawei will be handling starting from designing to marketing, they will also handle sales and after-sales service. SERES will be only responsible for production.
To make it clear, the whole process is like Huawei buying the whole SF5 series except for the manufacturing process. By adopting this method, Huawei did not break its promise of not building cars. There was a question being asked to Huawei, which was “is SERES Auto the next car of Huawei?” The relevant person in charge of Huawei’s smart car division replied to the media that you wouldn’t have your own new car if you didn’t build a car.
There are reports that the new car will use a complete set of Huawei smart car solutions during the manufacturing process. You may wonder why these were absent on the SERES SF5. It is because this car was manufactured when the cooperation was finalized. Because of this, Huawei has limited space to play with the vehicle. It could only add some intelligent parts that can be installed aftermarket. But Huawei deliberately started the cooperation for the upcoming SERES Auto from the beginning.
According to the data from the Travel Federation, since the launch of SERES SF5, the manufacturer’s cumulative sales from April to September totaled more than 3,000 vehicles. It is a significant increase compared to the previous period, but it is still far from the industry’s expectations.
Even though Huawei does not build cars, they are indeed looking for different ways to take the automotive sector. The upcoming SERES Auto is more like a sample for partners to promote and attract more cars. And those enterprises enter Huawei’s automotive ecosystem. Reports were claiming Huawei is planning to bring a 7-seater SF7 SUV from SERES AUTO. It will be equipped with its full-stack smart car solution technology.
It is reportedly coming in two variants, and the pricing for the base variant will start from 300,000 Yuan. The top variant is expected to start at 500,000 Yuan. In addition to SERES, the official also stated that the delivery of the ARCFOX Alpha S Huawei HI version (an EV from BAIC) would start from the fourth quarter of 2021. It is also expected to enter the Huawei sales channel. However, there are not many reports about Avita. For this, Huawei is cooperating with Changan Automobile and CATL.

Huawei's second EV or be named "AOTU" - Chinapev.com

 

[CCF mod]

Seres unveils new premium brand AITO, aims to build over 1,000 stores with Huawei next year - CnEVPost

Huawei announced in late April that it would start selling cars, with the first model to enter its channel coming from Seres, a brand owned by Chongqing Sokon, which has now unveiled a new brand to fulfill its ambitions in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
Seres today announced the launch of a premium smart car brand called AITO, which stands for "Adding Intelligence to Auto".
The brand will feature Seres' capabilities in extended-range technology, as well as cutting-edge technology from partners including Huawei, to bring a new experience to users, Seres said.
Huawei will use the technology it has accumulated over the past 30 years in communications and ICT to help AITO build a mid-size luxury SUV, Richard Yu, the company's managing director, CEO of Consumer BG and CEO of Huawei Intelligent Vehicle Solutions BU, said in a video posted on AITO's Weibo account.
Seres also announced the first model of the AITO brand, the Wenjie M5, which will be the first production SUV to feature Huawei's latest HarmonyOS smart cockpit and Huawei's smart car solutions.
The model will be built on Seres' extended-range platform DE-i, using the same technology as the Seres SF5 currently sold in Huawei's channel.
Seres did not release details about the model, saying that more information will be announced on December 23.
AITO will aim to be among the top three sellers of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China in the next five years and hopes to become one of the leading brands of NEVs in the world, according to Seres.
Seres will build over 1,000 flagship stores and experience centers with Huawei in the next year to meet consumer demand for AITO products and services, Huawei's Yu said.
Notably, according to information previously declared by Seres to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Wenjie M5 measures 4,770/1,930/1,625mm in length, width and height, with a wheelbase of 2,880mm, which is longer than the Seres SF5.
It will be powered by a 1.5T engine with a maximum power of 92kW, as well as a front motor with a peak power of 165kW and a rear motor with 150kW, and a fuel consumption of 0.80L/100km under WLTC conditions.
In addition to the Wenjie M5, AITO's models in the planning include a mid-size luxury pure electric SUV as well as a mid-size luxury SUV, according to Seres.

 

[Chinese LSEV]

Import records for SF Motors, in 2020 they imported a "lava orange" and "pearl white" (2 units total) of the SF5 to their Silicon Valley location, at 3303 SCOTT BLVD.

Also on 2020, they imported a "electric truck" from Chongqing Sokon, delivered to the same address.

https://usimports.info/importer-sf-motors-inc/data-1.html

And then 3 years ago, this picture was taken, supposedly at the Silicon Valley location, SF7 model

 

[Chinese LSEV]

I found a video on there site and they show the SF7 downstairs. I wonder if it's open for the public...

However, the camera goes down the stairs and you see a keypad so it appears to be behind locked doors.

At the same time, you see a lounge area and a TV in the background, which gives the feel of an experience center.

SERES - Careers in Building Intelligent EVs

We are looking to expand our team with professionals looking for careers in helping move human mobility forward. Join our growing team of experts.

www.driveseres.com