Chinese Automaker First to Deliver Over 100 Million Units, Why SAIC?

On November 15, 1977. A customized gas-powered Fairmont Futura rolled off the line at the New Jersey plant. This was Ford's 100 millionth vehicle produced in the US. Under the pressure of the CAFE mandate, the influx of Japanese cars, and controversies over excessive cost-cutting, Ford decided not to sell this car. Instead, it used it to kick off a cross-coast tour to celebrate.

When the Detroit Three and Toyota were staging a showdown of the century in the world's largest auto market, a bold idea appeared on the banks of the Huangpu River, 11,460 kilometers away. The accumulation of handmade Phoenix sedans became the momentum for Shanghai-brand sedans entering a steady development phase. Even with an annual output close to 3,000 units, this still could not meet the soaring demand. The concept of adopting Ford's assembly line operations for China's sedan production was brought back to the agenda.

Joint venture cooperation with transnational automakers became the most realistic option. Across the domestic automotive industry, there was only one place capable of mass-producing sedans and having an assembly line: Shanghai. Next, the story of China's auto industry entered the SAIC Volkswagen (now known as: SAIC Volkswagen) era. Amidst the acclaim of "driving a Santana anywhere is safe", transnational car companies rushed to China to seek fortune. The craze of sedans entering ordinary households caused the world's largest auto market to shift accordingly. After the fierce competition of the fuel vehicle era, the machine changing the world gradually switched to the smart-electric track.

On the afternoon of May 28, 2026. Inside the World Living Room of North Bund, Shanghai. SAIC Group Chairman Wang Xiaoqiu handed an IM LS9 Hyper exclusive custom model to Momenta CEO Cao Xudong. Applause erupted, they shook hands, and SAIC Group's 100 millionth vehicle delivery was frozen in time. Over 70 years of vehicle building journey converged in the giant waves of Shanghai's new era, making SAIC the first Chinese vehicle group to enter the global 100 million-level auto camp: Leading the charge at the forefront of the tide.

In January 1997. Toyota welcomed its 100 millionth car after 50 years. Cross Ford's assembly line operations, Toyota used its unique lean production method to pull the efficiency of the fuel vehicle era to the peak. In the shadow of the Heisei recession and the Asian financial crisis, Japanese cars completed the disassembly of the Euro-American auto myths. Amidst a chorus of praise, Toyota did not indulge in the steel dividends piled by 100 million fuel vehicles. Less than 10 months later, Toyota shocked the world again. The Economist wrote at the turn of the century: When Detroit was still obsessed with the roar of large-displacement SUVs, this Eastern automaker knocked on the door of green and low-carbon early with the Prius.

Now, SAIC IM LS9 Hyper is accelerating the transformation of the auto world with a Chinese way. This car is equipped with the next-generation Star Super Extended-Range Power System, the next-generation Full-Line-by-Wire Four-Wheel Steering System, and the next-generation Intelligent Driving Technology. Every item points to the highest standards of the next generation of electric vehicles. It is both the culmination of SAIC's 70 years of vehicle building foundation and technology, and more importantly, a declaration of China's new energy to the auto world. If the Prius was a gentle reform of the fuel vehicle order, then SAIC IM LS9 Hyper is a breakthrough reshaping of the global automotive gravitational field. Chinese Academy of Engineering academician Wu Wangxing said that LS9 Hyper implants China's original endogenous safety system into the car, which is a very important highlight moment for the whole world: it is the flagship benchmark for the Chinese automotive industry entering the "Fourth Generation Electric Vehicle" era.

Looking back, from a golden phoenix hatched from a grassy nest, to SAIC Volkswagen taking root in Anting, to SAIC GM rising in Pudong, MG, Roewe, IM, Wuling, Baojun, Maxus, etc. have become the backbone of independent brands, Shangjie and Huajing are forging new roads for vehicle building; from fuel vehicles to pure electric; from passenger cars to commercial vehicles; Shanghai's open-mindedness that accepts hundreds of rivers has made SAIC Group different: no technical walls, no ecological islands.

In May 2005. With a silver Touran rolling off the production line, Wolfsburg's 100 millionth car pushed the Volkswagen brand to the 100 million automobile brand club. It is the highest harvest of human mechanical manufacturing system on hardware replication consistency. The golden age of China's automobiles provided even richer dividends for Volkswagen. Crossing the threshold of 100 million automobile scale has never been in the soil of coincidence. In the slice of auto history, it corresponds to three hardcore indicators: anti-risk ability in the face of external changes, industrial consistency under a modern manufacturing system, and strategic agility.

20 years later, these three hardcore indicators welcome a redefinition of smart electrification. Entering 2026, the new energy penetration rate of China's auto market continues to climb. Among them, the penetration rate of passenger cars in April broke through 60 percent for the first time. Standing at the new starting point of cumulative 100 million vehicles, SAIC Group has demonstrated strategic agility in capability output to the global auto market.

This May, SAIC Group's vehicle sales reached 349,000 units, continuing to hold the top position in the industry. In the first five months, independent brand cumulative sales reached 1.173 million units, up 8.6% year-on-year; new energy vehicle sales reached 595,000 units, up 13.2% year-on-year; overseas market sales reached 589,000 units, up 45.9% year-on-year. Independent joint ventures, passenger and commercial vehicles, domestic and overseas working in the same direction, promoting SAIC to continue upward while navigating the cycle.

It is worth mentioning that SAIC's joint venture new energy sector also welcomed new growth points. Joint venture new energy made a strong comeback in May. SAIC GM's new energy vehicle sales in May reached 13,000 units, up 75% year-on-year, with Zhijing E7 deliveries breaking 10,000 in its first month after launch. SAIC Volkswagen's new energy vehicle sales in May reached nearly 10,000 units, up 34.3% year-on-year; the newly launched ID.ERA 9X cumulative deliveries exceeded 7,000 units.

SAIC GM Buick's Series 7 models adopt the locally self-researched Xiaoyao Super Architecture, with the Zhenlong Hybrid Power System. From the three-electric system to high-level intelligent driving with LiDAR redundancy, the underlying R&D logic is realized through localization. SAIC's technology output allowed the Buick brand to be reborn. SAIC Volkswagen's flagship SUV model for the Volkswagen brand, ID.ERA 9X, and Audi's AUDI E7X, are all aggregating global resources and precisely customizing for Chinese users' smart-electric needs.

At this year's Greater Bay Area Auto Show, the AUDI E7X officially launched with a starting price of 269,800 RMB, becoming a new answer for BBA solving the China puzzle. With the dense landing of these models, the cooperation between SAIC Group and General Motors and Volkswagen has completed a transgenerational transition from introducing technology to joint development, to the current "Joint Venture 2.0". Volkswagen's 100 million units in 2005 was built on the fuel dividends of 23 million Golfs and 13 million Passats, erecting the peak of hardware replication consistency.

SAIC Group's 100 million units in 2026, one of its most core contents, is through its own technology and architecture output, restructuring the cooperative division of labor of joint venture brands. This has become the optimal solution for transnational automakers to establish themselves in the Chinese market. This round of new energy transformation in the global auto industry is stormy with uncertainties. Holding the trump cards of technology, SAIC has gradually established a position as a rule maker in the future smart-electric era: Ignore the sound of wind and rain through the woods; why not chant aloud and walk leisurely?

In September 2024. After 57 years of building the factory, a Hyundai IONIQ 5 produced at the Ulsan plant pushed its production record to 100 million. This is the Han River Miracle, a new narrative in the history of the world auto business. The Hyundai Motor Group, therefore, became one of the most globalized automakers. After the export volume of Chinese automakers climbed to the scale of 8 million units, Korea and Japan's auto export records were rewritten. The example of Hyundai and Toyota advancing globally has a new protagonist.

On May 30, 2026. After SAIC Group stood on the first 9-digit delivery volume, the first user of the next 100 million appeared in the UK. London doctor Natalia exchanged her grandfather's MGB from memory for the new generation MG4 EV Urban. The ticking pointer brings a new story. In Shanghai Pudong, in Jakarta, Indonesia, in Lantian, Shaanxi, in Singapore DHL Supply Chain Advanced Regional Center, in Taiyuan, Shanxi, in Hechi, Guangxi, the delivery of 15 brands under SAIC Group is laid out by the second.

Along with the alternating pictures on the screen, SAIC Group's Glocal strategy extends a new outline. It is no longer traditional commodity foreign trade and one-way export of products, but using the whole value chain's Chinese smart-electric core to comprehensively fit the specific lives of different global time zones: Every car of SAIC must turn China's best intelligent technology into steady happiness within reach for every family in the world.

In Oceania, MG's small cars rank at the head of the niche market; in Thailand, MG has become the most stable growing Chinese brand; in 7 countries of South America, MG's sales are approaching the 10,000 unit mark; in Europe, MG has held the European sales champion of Chinese brands for 11 consecutive years, and is also the first Chinese automobile brand with sales breaking 1 million.

In the first five months of this year, cumulative sales exceeded 150,000 units, up 20% year-on-year, continuing to lead Chinese brands. The glory of 100 million+, rushes forward along the Huangpu River. In London's rain, in Bangkok's sunset, in the waves of the Suez Canal, in every corner where Chinese smart-electric solutions take root, it is a new answer sheet of a more international SAIC Group: Stars hang low over the vast plains; the moon surges with the flow of the great river.