SAIC Motor
Company History
SAIC Motor History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1955 in Shanghai, China
When was SAIC Motor founded?
SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 in Shanghai, China by Chen Xianglin, making it 71 years old.
- Founded
- 1955
- Founding place
- Shanghai, China
- Founders
- Chen Xianglin
- Headquarters today
- Shanghai, China
- Milestones documented
- 11 (1955–2025)
- Current CEO
- Wang Xiaoqiu
- Acquisitions
- 7
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1955 | Shanghai auto industry roots |
| 1958 | Phoenix sedan built |
| 1984 | SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed |
| 1997 | SAIC General Motors formed |
| 2004 | SsangYong Motor Stake |
| 2006 | Roewe Brand Launched |
| 2007 | Merger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG |
| 2018 | Sales Pass 7 Million Vehicles |
| 2020 | IM Motors launched with Alibaba |
| 2024 | Leadership change; BYD takes top spot |
| 2025 | Profit rebound and 4.5 million sales |
- Where was SAIC Motor founded?
- SAIC Motor was founded in Shanghai, China in 1955.
- Who founded SAIC Motor?
- SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin.
- When did SAIC Motor start?
- SAIC Motor was founded in 1955.
- How old is SAIC Motor?
- SAIC Motor is 71 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
SAIC grew out of Shanghai's auto workshops of the 1950s. It built the Phoenix sedan in 1958 and the Shanghai SH760 from 1964. In 1984 it signed China's first car joint venture with Volkswagen to build the Santana. A second joint venture with General Motors followed in 1997. In 2007 SAIC merged with Nanjing Automobile, which had bought the MG brand after MG Rover collapsed in 2005. MG later became the centre of SAIC's export push.
Founders
Chen Xianglin
Chen Xianglin was a senior executive of the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation in the 1990s and early 2000s, during the period when SAIC Motor was restructured and listed and the SAIC-GM joint venture was formed. SAIC has no single founder; it grew out of Shanghai's state-run auto industry, which dates to 1955. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Key Milestones
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
Source: saicmotor.comPhoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
Source: saicmotor.comSAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
Source: saicmotor.comSsangYong Motor Stake
SAIC bought a 48.9 percent stake in the South Korean carmaker SsangYong Motor in 2004 for about $500 million.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRoewe Brand Launched
SAIC launched the Roewe brand in 2006, using technology it had bought from MG Rover.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMerger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG
SAIC takes over Nanjing Automobile, uniting MG and Rover-derived assets under one roof.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSales Pass 7 Million Vehicles
SAIC sold more than 7 million vehicles in 2018, its highest annual total.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgIM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLeadership change; BYD takes top spot
Wang Xiaoqiu becomes chairman and Jia Jianxu president, the year BYD overtakes SAIC as China's top-selling carmaker.
Source: cnevpost.comProfit rebound and 4.5 million sales
Revenue rises 4.6% to ~$91.2 billion (CN¥656.24 billion), net profit recovers to ~$1.41 billion (CN¥10.11 billion), and wholesale sales reach 4.507 million.
Source: saicmotor.comMajor Acquisitions
Nanjing Automobile (incl. MG brand)
2007Merged Nanjing Automobile's car business into SAIC, uniting the MG brand with SAIC's Rover-derived technology.
SsangYong Motor (48.9% stake)
2004SAIC bought 48.9 percent of SsangYong Motor in 2004 to gain sport-utility vehicle technology and an overseas base.
KG Mobility
2026South Korean manufacturer acquisition.
Wuhan Kotei Informatics
2017Strategic push into automotive intelligence and software.
Nanjing Automobile
2007Brought MG brand under corporate umbrella.
Rover Group Technology
2005Technical foundation for Roewe.
SsangYong Motor
200448.9% controlling stake for international footprint.
Keep researching SAIC Motor
SAIC Motor Company History FAQ
When and how was SAIC Motor originally founded?
SAIC Motor traces its origins to 1955 when the Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Components Company was established in Shanghai, China, modernizing under state sponsorship to assemble the historic Shanghai SH760 sedan in 1964 before transforming into China's largest automotive manufacturing conglomerate.
What was the historic significance of the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture in 1984?
In October 1984, SAIC and Volkswagen Group signed the landmark contract establishing Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. (SAIC-Volkswagen), the first major Sino-foreign automotive joint venture in China. It commenced assembly of the iconic Santana sedan, modernizing China's entire automotive parts supply chain.
When was the SAIC-General Motors joint venture established?
In June 1997, SAIC and General Motors established Shanghai General Motors (now SAIC-GM), opening a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Pudong, Shanghai, producing Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac vehicles for the Chinese market.
How did SAIC acquire the historic British brand MG (Morris Garages)?
Following the 2005 collapse of Britain's MG Rover Group, Nanjing Automobile acquired MG's assets. In December 2007, SAIC acquired Nanjing Automobile for $285 million, gaining global ownership of the MG marque and the historic Longbridge engineering center in Birmingham, England.
How did SAIC revitalize the MG brand globally?
SAIC transformed MG from a struggling niche sports car badge into a global electric vehicle powerhouse, designing modern, affordable electric SUVs and hatchbacks (like the MG4 Electric and MG ZS EV) that became bestsellers across Europe, the UK, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
What is the SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) joint venture and what mega-hit did it create?
Established in 2002, SGMW combines SAIC (50.1%), General Motors (44%), and Wuling (5.9%). In 2020, SGMW launched the ultra-affordable Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (priced around $4,500), which became a cultural phenomenon and the bestselling electric vehicle in China.
How did SAIC become China's number-one automotive exporter?
Leveraging MG's global brand recognition and proprietary maritime car carrier shipping fleets, SAIC has been China's largest automotive exporter for eight consecutive years, exporting over 1.2 million vehicles annually to more than 100 countries.
What is IM Motors (Zhiji Auto) and when was it founded?
In late 2020, SAIC partnered with e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and the Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park to launch IM Motors (Zhiji Auto), an ultra-luxury intelligent electric vehicle marque designed to compete with Tesla and NIO.
What is the origin of the Roewe brand?
In 2006, after failing to acquire the rights to the "Rover" name (which Ford purchased), SAIC acquired the technology and tooling of the Rover 75 and Rover 25, creating the domestic luxury passenger vehicle brand "Roewe" (derived from the German word Löwe, meaning lion).
Who leads SAIC Motor as Chairman today?
Wang Xiaoqiu was appointed Chairman of SAIC Motor in July 2024, succeeding Chen Hong, who retired after a distinguished multi-decade career leading SAIC's expansion into the Fortune Global 100.
What milestones has SAIC achieved in solid-state EV battery commercialization?
In 2024, through IM Motors and battery partner QingTao Energy Development, SAIC launched the IM L6 sedan featuring the industry's first mass-produced quasi-solid-state battery ("Lightyear"), delivering over 1,000 kilometers of range on a single charge with ultra-fast charging.
Where is SAIC Motor's global corporate headquarters located?
SAIC Motor is headquartered in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai, China, operating major R&D centers in Shanghai, London, Silicon Valley, and Tel Aviv, with vehicle assembly plants across China, Thailand, Indonesia, and India.
Related Companies
Compare SAIC Motor History With Competitors
Related Strategic History
Compare founding milestones and corporate evolution
Toyota Motor Corporation
Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Suzuki Motor Corporation
TVS Motor Company
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
Explore SAIC Motor
Core profile pages, founders and related research hubs for this company.