SAIC Motor vs TVS Motor: Founders, CEOs and History
SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 by Chen Xianglin and is led by Jia Jianxu. TVS Motor was founded in 1978 by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan and is led by K. N. Radhakrishnan.
Company facts
SAIC Motor
- Founded
- 1955
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Current CEO
- Jia Jianxu
- Employees
- 179,797
TVS Motor
- Founded
- 1978
- Headquarters
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Current CEO
- K. N. Radhakrishnan
- Employees
- 5,500
Founders
SAIC Motor
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.
TVS Motor
T. V. Sundram Iyengar
T. V. Sundram Iyengar (1877-1955) was a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu who founded T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons in Madurai in 1911.
Venu Srinivasan
Venu Srinivasan, grandson of T. V. Sundram Iyengar, led the TVS two-wheeler business for decades.
CEOs and their tenures
SAIC Motor
- Wang Xiaoqiu2024–present
Chairman of the Board
As President, he successfully managed the incredibly complex global rollout of the MG brand, making SAIC the absolute largest exporter of Chinese-made automobiles in the world.
Source - Jia Jianxu2024–present
President & Director
Appointed as President in 2024, he oversees the company's severe cost-cutting initiatives and attempts to navigate the massive, impending European tariffs on Chinese EVs.
Source
TVS Motor
- K.N. Radhakrishnan2008–present
Director & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Ensured consistent double-digit operating EBITDA margins through disciplined procurement, driving the commercial execution behind the Jupiter, Apache, and iQube sales surges.
Source - Sudarshan Venu2022–present
Chairman & Managing Director
Under his leadership TVS sold a record 5.89 million vehicles in FY2026 and grew consolidated revenue to ~$6.5 billion (₹56,028 crore).
Source
Timeline: SAIC Motor and TVS Motor side by side
1911TVS Motor
T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Founds TVS Group: Thirukurungudi Vengaram Sundaram Iyengar founds T.V.
1955SAIC Motor
Shanghai auto industry roots
Shanghai consolidates auto repair and parts workshops, the base from which SAIC later grew.
1958SAIC Motor
Phoenix sedan built
The Shanghai Automobile Assembly Plant builds the Phoenix, Shanghai's first passenger car.
1978TVS Motor
Establishment of TVS Motor Plant in Hosur: TVS establishes its two-wheeler manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, producing the well-known TVS 50 2-stroke moped, mobilizing millions of Indian rural…
1980TVS Motor
TVS 50 Moped Launched
The TVS 50, a two-seater moped, was launched in 1980.
1982TVS Motor
TVS Suzuki Joint Venture Established: Partners with Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation to manufacture modern 100cc Japanese motorcycles in India (TVS-Suzuki AX100 and Samurai).
1984SAIC Motor
SAIC Volkswagen joint venture signed
China's first car joint venture is signed to build the Volkswagen Santana in Shanghai.
1997SAIC Motor
SAIC General Motors formed
SAIC and GM set up a 50:50 joint venture in Shanghai to build Buick cars.
2001TVS Motor
Amicable Separation from Suzuki & TVS Victor Launch: TVS and Suzuki amicably buy out joint venture shares; TVS launches the 100% indigenously developed TVS Victor 110cc commuter motorcycle, which beco…
2002TVS Motor
World's First Two-Wheeler Maker to Win the Deming Prize: TVS Motor Company is awarded the Deming Application Prize by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE) for total quality management…
2004SAIC Motor
SsangYong Motor Stake
SAIC bought a 48.9 percent stake in the South Korean carmaker SsangYong Motor in 2004 for about $500 million.
2006SAIC Motor
Roewe Brand Launched
SAIC launched the Roewe brand in 2006, using technology it had bought from MG Rover.
2006TVS Motor
Launch of the TVS Apache Series: Introduces the TVS Apache performance motorcycle, originating from TVS Racing's factory track lineage, which grows into a 5-million-rider global sports franchise.
2007SAIC Motor
Merger with Nanjing Automobile brings MG
SAIC takes over Nanjing Automobile, uniting MG and Rover-derived assets under one roof.
2013TVS Motor
BMW Motorrad Strategic Partnership: Signs long-term cooperation agreement with BMW Motorrad to co-develop and manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles (BMW G 310 R, GS, and TVS Apache RR 310) in Hosur.
2013TVS Motor
Jupiter Scooter Launched
TVS launched the Jupiter scooter in 2013.
2018SAIC Motor
Sales Pass 7 Million Vehicles
SAIC sold more than 7 million vehicles in 2018, its highest annual total.
2020SAIC Motor
IM Motors launched with Alibaba
SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech set up premium EV brand IM Motors.
2020TVS Motor
Acquisition of Norton Motorcycles (UK): Acquires historic British luxury superbike brand Norton Motorcycles for 16 million, building a modern factory in Solihull, England.
2022TVS Motor
Sudarshan Venu becomes managing director
Sudarshan Venu became managing director of TVS Motor in 2022. Under his leadership TVS sold a record 5.89 million vehicles in FY2026 and grew consolidated revenue to ~$6.5 billion (₹56,028 crore).
2024SAIC Motor
Leadership change; BYD takes top spot
Wang Xiaoqiu becomes chairman and Jia Jianxu president, the year BYD overtakes SAIC as China's top-selling carmaker.
2024TVS Motor
Surpassing 300,000 TVS iQube EV Deliveries: TVS iQube crosses 300,000 cumulative electric scooter sales, establishing TVS as India's top 2 electric two-wheeler manufacturer alongside Ola Electric.
2025SAIC Motor
Profit 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.
Acquisitions
SAIC Motor
- KG Mobility2026Undisclosed
- Wuhan Kotei Informatics2017$22M
- Nanjing Automobile (incl. MG brand)2007Undisclosed
- Nanjing Automobile2007Undisclosed
- Rover Group Technology2005Undisclosed
- SsangYong Motor (48.9% stake)2004$500M
TVS Motor
- Engines Engineering2025Undisclosed
- DriveX2024Undisclosed
- Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) & EGO Movement2022Undisclosed
- Swiss E-Mobility Group2022Undisclosed
- EGO Movement2021Undisclosed
- Norton Motorcycles (UK) Limited2020Undisclosed
Questions about SAIC Motor vs TVS Motor
Who is the CEO of SAIC Motor and TVS Motor Company?
SAIC Motor is led by Jia Jianxu and TVS Motor Company is led by K. N. Radhakrishnan. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was SAIC Motor founded vs TVS Motor Company?
SAIC Motor was founded in 1955 — 23 years before TVS Motor Company, which was founded in 1978. SAIC Motor's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger TVS Motor Company.
How many employees does SAIC Motor have compared to TVS Motor Company?
SAIC Motor employs approximately 179,797 people, while TVS Motor Company employs approximately 5,500. SAIC Motor has the larger workforce at 179,797 employees, compared to TVS Motor Company's 5,500. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are SAIC Motor and TVS Motor Company headquartered?
SAIC Motor is headquartered in China and TVS Motor Company is headquartered in India. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded SAIC Motor and TVS Motor Company?
SAIC Motor was founded by Chen Xianglin. TVS Motor Company was founded by T. V. Sundram Iyengar, Venu Srinivasan.
Which company has a longer operating history — SAIC Motor or TVS Motor Company?
SAIC Motor has been operating for approximately 71 years, making it the more established of the two companies. TVS Motor Company has been in operation for around 48 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the SAIC Motor vs TVS Motor overview