China's biggest automaker SAIC Motor saw its full-year auto sales edge down 2.94% from a year ago to 5,302,644 units in 2022.

Nevertheless, SAIC Motor still scored a year-on-year surge of 46.51% in its annual new energy vehicle (NEV) sales, which stood at 1,073,430 units. The group's export volume and overseas sales totaled 1,017,459 units last year, leaping 45.92% from the previous year.

Photo credit: SAIC Motor

In 2022, SAIC Motor made major headways in the development of intelligent driving, fuel cell vehicles, overseas businesses, premium electric vehicle brands, and many other fields. We hereby selected some noteworthy stories for you reviewing SAIC's experience last year.

SAIC HONGYAN starts production at fuel cell heavy-duty truck plant in Ordos

SAIC HONGYAN, a heavy-duty truck subsidiary of SAIC Motor, on Jan. 14 celebrated the start of production at its vehicle manufacturing plant in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with the first-batch vehicles rolling off the production line at the same time, according to a post on SAIC Motor's WeChat account.

Covering a floorage of 10,000 square meters, the new plant would be built into a base integrating functions of assembly, testing, and delivery of new energy heavy-duty trucks. It is designed to feature a production capacity of 3,000 vehicles per year.

SAIC Z-ONE partners with auto part mogul Yanfeng for smart cockpit development

In mid-Jan., SAIC Motor's automotive intelligence arm, SAIC Z-ONE, inked a strategic cooperation agreement with China’s leading auto parts supplier, Yanfeng, for intelligent cockpit development.

According to the agreement, the two companies would work on the integrated computing platform dedicated to SAIC’s Z-One Galaxy Full-stack 3.0 Solution and explore the market.

SAIC Audi starts presale of Q5 e-tron BEV, starting at 395,500 yuan

The Q5 e-tron, the second model under the SAIC-Audi project, officially became available for presale on Feb. 18. Coming with nine trim levels, the new model is priced between 395,500 yuan and 510,000 yuan in presale.

As SAIC Audi's first luxury all-electric SUV, the Q5 e-tron is the mass production version of the Audi Concept Shanghai concept car shown at the Auto Shanghai 2021. It is built on VW Group's MEB electric vehicle platform, which also provides the underpinnings for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen's ID. series.

SAIC Motor, Tsingshan Industry step up cooperation on battery resource projects, tech development

SAIC Motor announced on Feb. 21 it has stepped up the collaboration with stainless steel producer Tsingshan Industry, for the sake of the joint ambition to boost the development of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry.

The stronger partnership came after both parties inked a strategic cooperation agreement in November 2021. In early 2022, SAIC Motor led an industrial funding round of Ruipu Energy Co., Ltd. (REPT), a power battery manufacturer backed by Tsingshan Industry.

SAIC Motor launches general innovation R&D institute for NEV, ICV development

On March 1, SAIC Motor announced the establishment of its general institute for innovation research and development (“general R&D institute”).

As a unit directly managed by SAIC Motor, the newly-built general institute will integrate the auto group’s resources of five information technology centers (dedicated to software, AI, big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity respectively), the passenger vehicle technology center, and the overseas innovation centers (located in UK, Israel, and North America).

SAIC Z-ONE names new chief scientist of intelligent driving computing platform

On March 8th, SAIC Motor's automotive intelligence arm, SAIC Z-ONE, announced that the renowned autonomous driving specialist, Dr. Huang Yu, had assumed the position of chief scientist of the intelligent driving computing platform.

According to public records, Dr. Huang Yu is an experienced veteran in computer vision, artificial intelligence, and autonomous driving. The doctor holds ample R&D and practice experience in the L2-L4 autonomous driving field of study, especially in deep learning, multi-sensor calibration and integration, vision SLAM, image-based rendering, volume data rendering, stereoscopic vision, vision target detection and tracking, camera scene parsing and reconstruction, image/ video denoising and enhancing, AR/VR, and cloud computing.

SAIC Motor's NEV brand Rising Auto says R7's first PPV prototype comes off line

Rising Auto, a new energy vehicle brand of SAIC Motor, saw the first PPV (production process validation) prototype of the R7, the first flagship model of the brand after its independent operation, roll off the production line at SAIC Motor's plant in Lin-gang Special Area on March 21, according to a post on Rising Auto's WeChat account.

The milestone meant that the R7 has moved one step closer to volume production. According to Rising Auto, the maturity of the production technique and facilities, the reliability and durability of R7's battery, electric motor and electric control systems, the matching status of software and hardware for the smart cockpit have all reached a level ready for mass production.

SAIC Motor breaks ground on 2nd phase of Zhengzhou engine base

On March 22, SAIC Motor celebrated the ground-breaking for the second phase of its engine manufacturing base in Zhengzhou city, the capital of China's Henan province.

The project is managed by SAIC Motor Zhengzhou Powertrain Branch, which was founded in May 2019 to work on building manufacturing facilities for SAIC Motor's new-generation efficient and energy-saving engine “GS6”.

SAIC Motor, Tsingshan Group team up on power battery project in Liuzhou

China's Liuzhou Saike Technology Development Co., Ltd. (“Liuzhou Saike”) and Ruipu Energy Co., Ltd. (“REPT”) on March 24 signed cooperation and investment agreements with local authorities of Liudong New District, Liuzhou to build a power battery and battery system industrial base, according to a post on REPT's WeChat account.

According to the corporate database Tianyancha, Liuzhou Saike is a subsidiary indirectly wholly owned by SAIC Motor, while REPT's controlling shareholder is majority-owned by the Chinese stainless steel producer Tsingshan Holding Group.

SAIC-backed IM Motor's L7 hits market, starting at 368,800 yuan

IM Motor, a joint venture among SAIC Motor, Alibaba and Zhangjiang High-Tech, saw its first production model, the IM L7, formally hit the market on April 17. The model currently comes with two variants—the Dynamic and the Pro, which are priced at 368,800 yuan and 408,800 yuan, respectively.

The price and configuration details of the IM L7 Pro were unveiled at the end of March, while the information of the Dynamic version remained covered until Apr.17.

SAIC Motor sets up wholly-owned energy technology subsidiary

SAIC Motor recently set up an energy technology subsidiary, whose business scope includes the sales of new energy vehicle battery swapping facilities.

According to the enterprise information inquiry platform Tianyancha, the new company, dubbed Shanghai Jieneng Yidian Energy Technology Co., Ltd., was incorporated on April 30 with a registered capital of 30 million yuan. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SAIC Motor Investment Management Co., Ltd., which is entirely controlled by SAIC Motor.

SAIC Volkswagen bumps up prices of Volkswagen-branded models

SAIC Volkswagen, the joint venture between SAIC Motor and Volkswagen Group, announced this week the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) of several Volkswagen-branded models would be raised from May 11, another mainstream automaker in China joining the wave of price rise.

The latest price increase involves both NEV and oil-fueled models. To be specific, prices of the ID. series and Volkswagen-branded PHEVs have been lifted by 3,000-5,000 yuan per car, while the models running on gasoline or diesel have risen in price by 1,000-3,000 yuan.

SAIC Audi's Q5 e-tron starts at 376,500 yuan

The Audi Q5 e-tron, the second production model under the SAIC-Audi project, features a formal price range of 376,500-479,500 yuan with five trim levels offered, the automaker announced on May 17.

As SAIC Audi's first luxury all-electric SUV, the Q5 e-tron is the mass production version of the Audi Concept Shanghai concept car shown at the Auto Shanghai 2021. It is built on VW Group's MEB electric vehicle platform, which also provides the underpinnings for the Audi Q4 e-tron and Volkswagen's ID. series.

SAIC Motor's Ningde PV base hits production milestone of 400,000 vehicles

On June 12, SAIC Motor's Ningde manufacturing base saw its 400,000th complete vehicle roll off the production line, according to a press release offered by the automaker.

SAIC Motor announced in April 2018 the official start of the construction of the Ningde passenger vehicle base project, which would be the fourth complete vehicle base for the Shanghai-based auto giant's own-brand passenger vehicles.

SAIC Z-ONE, Rising Auto inaugurate digital intelligence co-creation center

SAIC Motor's Rising Auto and its automotive intelligence arm SAIC Z-ONE held an inauguration for their jointly-built digital intelligence innovation center in Shanghai's auto town, Anting.

As the center's first achievement, their co-developed RISING OS smart cockpit interactive system will be implemented onto Rising Auto’s new flagship SUV, the R7.

SAIC-backed IM Motors starts delivery of IM L7

The first batch of the IM L7s was delivered to consumers in Shanghai and Suzhou on June 18.

The model's delivery was originally scheduled to begin in April, but was delayed to mid-June due to the coronavirus impact.

SAIC Motor, QingTao Energy co-unveil solid-state battery lab

On July 6, SAIC Motor and QingTao (Kunshan) Energy Development Co., Ltd. (“QingTao Energy”) signed an agreement to inaugurate a joint lab dedicated to R&D of solid-state batteries, the Shanghai-based auto giant announced via its WeChat account.

Through the new lab, both parties would co-work on the mass production and applications of the solid-state power battery capable of over 1,000 kilometers of range and the development of 4C fast charging technology dedicated to solid-state battery.

Horizon Robotics, SAIC Motor to launch Journey 5-powered vehicle model in 2023

On July 18th, Horizon Robotics deepened its strategic cooperation with SAIC Motor and SAIC Z-ONE to jointly create a future-oriented intelligent driving computing platform based on Horizon Robotics' automotive chips.

The partners aimed to promote the development and application of advanced intelligent driving products. Their first cooperative mass-production model carrying Horizon Robotics' Journey 5 chips can be expected in 2023.

SAIC Motor puts 410 FCVs into commercial operation

On August 4, a ceremony was held in Shanghai to put 410 fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) of SAIC Motor into commercial operation, the Shanghai-based auto giant announced via its WeChat account.

The FCVs newly deployed include SAIC MAXUS' hydrogen-powered MIFA MPVs, SAIC Hongyan's fuel-cell heavy-duty trucks, and SAIC Yuejin’s fuel-cell cold-chain logistics vehicles.

SAIC AI LAB to arm Robotaxis with high-level autonomous driving 2.0 architecture

SAIC Motor's SAIC AI LAB launched its latest high-level autonomous driving 2.0 technology architecture on August 16th.

Based on years of accumulation in the autonomous driving field, SAIC AI LAB provided a self-developed software/hardware integrated L4 autonomous driving solution for the newly released 2.0 technology architecture.

SAIC Motor, OPPO co-launch software platform for vehicle-smartphone fusion

On August 24, SAIC Motor and OPPO, leading Chinese automobile group and smartphone maker, announced the launch of a software platform, which the duo named as the "eco-domain" designed to serve as a user-centric "vehicle-phone cross-terminal integrated solution", according to a post on SAIC Motor's WeChat account.

At the same time, the two companies signed an agreement to build an "eco-domain" joint laboratory, which will work on boosting the R&D and application of relevant technologies and products.

SAIC Motor puts MG MULAN BEV onto global market

SAIC Motor announced on Sept. 13 the MG MULAN (named "MG4 ELECTRIC" or "MG FOR ELECTRIC" in overseas regions) officially hit the global market. On the same day, 10,000 MG MULANs departed for European markets from Shanghai.

The new model is a full-electric hatchback built on SAIC's Modular Scalable Platform (known as the Nebula Platform in China) and fitted with Mofang (Rubik's Cube) batteries. Coming with four trim levels, the MG MULAN is priced between 129,800 yuan and 186,800 yuan in China, while its price range for European markets is €31,990-€37,990.

SAIC Motor announces foundation of battery swapping joint venture

SAIC Motor announced on Sept. 22 via its WeChat account that a battery swapping business-focused subsidiary it jointly built with Sinopec Group, PetroChina Company Limited, CATL, and Shanghai International Automobile City had been incorporated already, marking the Shanghai-based auto giant's foray into the battery swapping domain.

The newborn company, dubbed Shanghai Jieneng Zhidian New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (“Jieneng Zhidian” is Chinese Pinyin), involves a registered capital of 4 billion yuan. Focusing on the power battery rental service, it would work on the R&D and promotion of battery swapping technology, battery operation and management, big data service, etc, aiming to build a complete ecosystem of vehicle-power separation and a standardized battery swap platform.

Pony.ai, SAIC AI LAB unveil L4 driverless concept vehicle

On September 27, Pony.ai announced the cooperation with SAIC Motor's AI LAB (SAIC AI LAB) on the autonomous driving technology R&D and self-driving vehicle service operations.

Under the cooperation framework, both parties would integrate their advantageous resources to jointly promote the R&D of fully autonomous vehicles. In fact, the duo had jointly created a driverless concept vehicle based on SAIC Motor's Marvel-R model, which was unveiled today at an event in Shanghai Auto Expo Park, offering unmanned shuttle service for guests.

SAIC Motor's Rising Auto sees R7 flagship SUV hit market

On Sept. 27, Rising Auto, the premium electric vehicle brand of SAIC Motor, officially put its first flagship model, the R7, onto the market.

Coming with four trim levels, Rising Auto's R7 features a post-subsidy price range of 289,900 yuan to 356,900 yuan. Notably, the users who adopt the vehicle-battery separation consumption model can get an R7 with a price as low as 205,900 yuan and rent battery packs separately on a monthly basis.

SAIC MAXUS puts 80 MIFA fuel cell MPVs into operation via SAIC's mobility service platform

The first 80 MAXUS MIFA fuel cell MPVs from SAIC MAXUS had been put into operation in Shanghai through Xiangdao Chuxing, the mobility service platform of SAIC Motor, according to a press release issued by SAIC MAXUS on Sept. 29.

The hydrogen-powered MAXUS MIFA embodies the automaker's fuel cell technology breakthroughs in the passenger vehicle (PV) field. The company said the model was equipped with the next-generation air filtration system capable of 99.9% particulate matter PM2.5 removal. As for safety guarantee, the vehicle's hydrogen cylinder can endure an extreme high temperature of up to 842 degree Celsius and a high pressure of 70Mpa as it is wrapped by aerospace-level carbon fiber materials with a thickness of 25mm.

SAIC Motor, SemiDrive put in joint efforts for intelligent connected vehicle advancement

China's automotive processor supplier SemiDrive shared its business layout and its cooperation with SAIC Motor at a summit held by the latter through Oct.19-20.

According to SemiDrive, its in-depth cooperation with SAIC Motor kicked off since 2021. The duo officially launched their first collaborative vehicle model equipped with SemiDrive's chips this year, and plans to further their partnership to bring out more vehicle models powered by SemiDrive’s high-performance automotive chips.

SAIC Motor's Xiangdao Chuxing launches Robotaxi in Shanghai Lin-gang Area

SAIC AI LAB and Xiangdao Chuxing, SAIC Motor's mobility service platform, officially put the Robotaxi 2.0 vehicles into operation in Shanghai Lin-gang Area on December 15.

The vehicles are powered by SAIC AI LAB's proprietary 2.0 autonomous driving architecture, and are operated via the Xiangdao Chuxing platform. Users can hail a ride via Xiangdao Chuxing's mobile application.

SAIC-GM unveils images of Ultium-based Buick Electra E5 SUV

SAIC General Motors (“SAIC-GM”) was about to launch the first Buick-branded production model built on the Ultium battery-electric vehicle (BEV) platform, named Electra E5, the joint venture announced on Dec. 19 with several photos unveiled at the same time.

Positioned as a five-seater SUV, the Buick Electra E5 measures 4,892mm long, 1,905mm wide, and 1,655mm tall, with a wheelbase that spans 2,954mm.

SAIC Motor-backed IM Motors starts presale of LS7 all-electric SUV

IM Motors kicked off presale of its second production model, the IM LS7, on Dec. 20.

Coming with three power solutions, the IM LS7 features a presale price range of 350,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan.

SAIC-backed Xiangdao Chuxing kicks off Robotaxi pilot operation in Shenzhen

SAIC Motor's Xiangdao Chuxing mobility service platform officially kicked off pilot operation of Robotaxis in Shenzhen on December 28.

Users in Shenzhen are now able to hail a SAIC Motor Robotaxi via Xiangdao Chuxing's mobile application.

SAIC-GM Wuhan Ultium Center starts operation for battery, electric drive system production

SAIC General Motors saw a significant power center, named SAIC-GM Wuhan Ultium Center, start operation in Wuhan city, the capital of China's Hubei province, on Dec. 28.

The recent move signified a milestone in the joint venture's transition towards electrification and also part of efforts for the company to further improve its ability to locally manufacture new energy vehicle-related core parts.