SAIC Motor Becomes China’s First Carmaker to Hit 100 Million Vehicle Sales

Takeaways
  • SAIC Group hit 100 million cumulative vehicle sales, becoming China’s first automaker to reach the milestone.
  • SAIC’s 2025 rebound drove 4.507 million sales, NEVs up 33.1% and recurring net profit surging 237.2% to ¥7.42B.
  • SAIC’s global push spans 170+ markets, 7M overseas deliveries, and manufacturing hubs across Asia under Glocal 3.0.

This afternoon, SAIC Group officially delivered its 100 millionth vehicle to a customer.

This makes SAIC Group the first automaker in China’s automotive industry history to surpass 100 million in cumulative production and sales, and also places it in the ranks of the world’s eighth automotive group to achieve this milestone.

And today marks exactly 71 years since 1955, when SAIC’s predecessor — the Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Fittings Manufacturing Company — was founded.

A colorful skyline of Shanghai at sunset, featuring iconic buildings, with starry fireworks forming the number '1000' above.
SAIC’s cumulative sales surpass 100 million units

SAIC’s history of carmaking is almost synonymous with the entrepreneurial history of China’s automotive industry.

According to public records, in 1955, the Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Fittings Manufacturing Company was established, laying the foundation for today’s SAIC Group. In 1958, the first Phoenix-branded car was successfully trial-produced. In 1983, SAIC pioneered joint ventures and cooperation in China’s auto industry, assembling the first domestically produced Santana sedan.

In 1985, SAIC Volkswagen was formally established, introducing a modern automotive industrial system. In 2015, SAIC launched the world’s first internet-connected car, the Roewe RX5, stepping firmly into the wave of intelligent transformation.

A row of white cars lined up at a shipping dock next to a large blue cargo ship.

It is worth noting that SAIC’s path to becoming a “100-million-unit automaker” was not always smooth.

Data shows that in 2018, SAIC Group’s vehicle sales reached a historic peak of 7.0517 million units, ranking first in China for 13 consecutive years.

Thereafter, affected by industry transformation pains and pressure on its joint-venture segments, sales began to decline: 6.238 million units in 2019, 5.6 million in 2020, falling to 4.013 million in 2024.

Table showing automotive production and sales data, including figures for major companies, production volume, sales volume, and percentage changes compared to the previous year.
SAIC Group’s production and sales data for 2024

In the second half of 2024, SAIC launched a comprehensive deep reform, systematically restructuring its organizational framework, technology R&D, and brand strategy.

In 2025, the results of the reform were fully realized — the group sold 4.507 million vehicles for the year, up 12.3% year-on-year, with retail sales of 4.67 million units, marking the first positive growth since 2018. Among these, proprietary brand sales reached 2.928 million units, up 21.6% year-on-year, accounting for 65% of total sales. New energy vehicle sales hit 1.643 million units, up 33.1%. Recurring net profit rebounded sharply from the previous year’s low to 7.42 billion RMB, up 237.2%.

In 2026, the recovery momentum has further accelerated. From January to April, SAIC’s cumulative sales reached 1.302 million units. Among them, proprietary brand sales were 910,000 units, up 6.9% year-on-year; NEV cumulative sales reached 412,000 units, up 2.8%.

Infographic showcasing SAIC Motor sales data from January to April 2026, highlighting total sales of 130.2 thousand vehicles, with a focus on April sales of 32.8 thousand. Includes brand performance, electric vehicle sales, and international market figures.
SAIC Group’s sales report for January–April 2026

On the global map, SAIC was also the first Chinese automaker to go abroad.

Since its first passenger vehicle export in 2001, SAIC’s products and services have covered over 170 countries and regions, with cumulative overseas deliveries exceeding 7 million units.

A row of electric cars in a factory setting, with a focus on a light blue car that has the number '100000' on its license plate.
The 100k th MG4 rolls off the assembly line

In 2025, SAIC officially released its Overseas Strategy 3.0 — the Glocal (Global + Local) strategy. The plan leverages its electric and intelligent connected technology expertise to launch over 10 new overseas models, with HEV hybrid vehicles covering mainstream global segments.

Currently, SAIC has more than 100 component production bases and approximately 3,000 dealer networks overseas, has built three R&D innovation centers in locations including London, and four production manufacturing centers in Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan. It has also established a self-operated vehicle logistics fleet that leads China.


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