From "A Small Happiness" to "Tomorrow Will Be Better": SAIC's Symphony of One Hundred Million Vehicles

One hundred million cars connected bumper to bumper, how long would they be? Calculating at a vehicle length of 4.5 meters, it is enough to circle the Earth 11 times; if considering longer models, it can reach up to 12 times — this is the road SAIC Group has traveled over the past 70+ years, and the distance traveled alongside 100 million users.

This road was destined not to be smooth. At its inception in early 1955, who would have thought there would be 100 million deliveries? Yet over 70+ years, SAIC turned every hesitation into determination at every turn, turning every challenge into composure — just like the line in 'A Small Happiness': 'Since it's a road, there must be turns, every landscape is beautiful'.

And having arrived at today, standing at the peak of 100 million vehicles, ahead lies the deep water of the intelligent electric era and a new global competition chessboard. SAIC did not linger in looking back, but reached out to grasp a farther future — just as sung in 'Tomorrow Will Be Better': 'Sing out your enthusiasm, extend your hands'.

Early summer 2026, Shanghai North Bund World Lobby, river winds carrying humid warmth. Children from the 'Hydrangea' small choir stand in staggered steps, clear child voices first singing the liveliness of 'A Small Happiness', then transitioning to the melodious tune of 'Tomorrow Will Be Better'. Amidst this singing, an IM LS9 Hyper slowly drove onto the stage, the key was handed over to SAIC's 100 millionth user — Momenta CEO Xu Dong Cao. SAIC became the first automotive group in the history of China's automotive industry to achieve this milestone.

Choosing these two songs seems like an unintentional understanding. 'A Small Happiness' sings of turning ordinary days into poetry, treating every bump along the way as scenery — is this not a depiction of SAIC's 70+ years from hand-squeezed Phoenix to joint venture cooperation, from independent innovation to intelligent electric transformation? Every step was not easy, but every step was taken with steadiness and peace of mind. 'Tomorrow Will Be Better' sings of the power to move forward, the courage to reach out and embrace the unknown — is this not exactly what SAIC is doing now? Turning from a traditional manufacturer to an ecological technology enterprise, from China to over 170 countries and regions globally. 100 million vehicles are not the end point, but a new departure for the next journey.

Before the singing ended, far away in London, intern doctor Natalia Nobes also received the key to the MG4 EV Urban, formally becoming SAIC Group's 100,000,001st car owner. Her grandfather's classic MGB was the brightest red in her childhood memory; now she finally held her own steering wheel.

On the same day, similar stories continued to unfold globally. In Jakarta, Indonesia, football legend Eji Maulana Vikri formally became the owner of the Wuling Eksion; at the Singapore DHL Supply Chain Advanced Regional Center, Senior Vice President Herbert Vongpusanachai received the key to the SAIC Maxus eDeliver 5 — from Anting to Liuzhou, from Lintian to Taiyuan, from Nanjing to Shanghai, delivery lights lit up simultaneously in dozens of cities around the world.

Every turn of a key is a real echo of 'a little bit of happiness' in ordinary people's lives, and every departure knocks awake a slumbering heart, bringing a better tomorrow to more corners.

Continuing to lead the Chinese automotive industry

According to the latest sales data released by SAIC Group, SAIC Group achieved total vehicle sales of 349,000 in May, with a cumulative sales of 1.651 million vehicles from January to May.

For comparison, in the first 5 months of this year, BYD Group's cumulative sales were 1.405 million vehicles; Geely Group's cumulative sales were 1.1822 million vehicles.

SAIC Group continues to lead the Chinese automotive industry.

Compared to the increase in total sales, SAIC Group's performance in various segments is more worth attention: In May this year, SAIC's independent brand sales reached 263,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 14.7%; in the first five months of this year, SAIC independent brand cumulative sales reached 1.173 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 8.6%.

More worthy of mention is that the sales proportion of independent brands within SAIC Group is rising rapidly. Data shows that from January to May, the sales proportion of SAIC independent brands reached 71.1%, an increase of 7 percentage points compared to the same period last year. The history of large automotive groups relying on joint venture brands for support is being rewritten.

Among the rapidly advancing independent brands, SAIC Maxus and SAIC Passenger Vehicle showed the most brilliance: In May, SAIC Maxus sold 26,000 vehicles, up 43.7% year-on-year, with 109,000 cumulative sales from January to May, up 24.4% year-on-year; SAIC Passenger Vehicle sold 100,000 vehicles in May, up 37.7% year-on-year, with 434,000 cumulative sales from January to May, soaring 42.5% year-on-year.

While the rise of independent brands, new energy vehicles also welcomed a 'total surge': In May this year, SAIC's new energy vehicle sales reached 182,000 vehicles, up 46.5% year-on-year; cumulative sales from January to May reached 595,000 vehicles, up 13.2% year-on-year.

Among them, IM Motors cumulative sales from January to May reached 32,000 vehicles, surging 114.6% year-on-year; SAIC Passenger Vehicle new energy vehicles cumulative sales reached 174,000 vehicles, surging 195% year-on-year; SAIC Maxus new energy vehicles cumulative sales reached 34,000 vehicles, up 63.3% year-on-year; SAIC General Wuling new energy vehicles cumulative sales reached 255,000 vehicles.

In addition to the outstanding performance of independent new energy, joint venture new energy also started to strive upwards. In May, SAIC General new energy vehicle sales reached 13,000 vehicles, surging 75% year-on-year. Its new car 'Zhijing E7' achieved sales of over 10,000 deliveries in its first month. The same story is also unfolding at SAIC Volkswagen; in May, SAIC Volkswagen new energy vehicle sales reached nearly 10,000 vehicles, up 34.3% year-on-year; The newly listed ID.ERA 9X cumulative deliveries exceeded 7,000 vehicles.

Against the background of pressure in the domestic market and China's automotive industry flooding into overseas markets, the export-strong SAIC Group still performed brilliantly. Data shows that in the first 5 months of this year, SAIC overseas market cumulative sales reached 589,000 vehicles from January to May, up 45.9% year-on-year.

SAIC's largest overseas sales market is Europe. In the first 5 months of this year, MG sold 150,000 vehicles cumulatively in the European market, up 20% year-on-year, continuing to hold the throne of 'European Sales Champion for Chinese Brands'.

Knows Cars, Understands Users Better

The reason why it can lead the Chinese automotive industry is because SAIC understands consumers very well.

On May 28, 2026, SAIC Group welcomed the delivery of the world's 100 millionth model. This is a milestone event in the development of China's automotive industry and the best demonstration of SAIC Group's strength.

Since the establishment of Shanghai Internal Combustion Engine Parts Manufacturing Company in 1955, Shanghai automotive industry officially started. In 1958, the first 'Phoenix' sedan came out, achieving the 'zero breakthrough' of Shanghai car manufacturing. The first hand-assembled Santana rolled off the line in 1983, SAIC officially opened the path of joint venture cooperation.

Afterwards, SAIC established SAIC General Motors (now SAIC General Motors) in 1997, and simultaneously built China's first joint venture professional automotive design and R&D center, contributing great power to the cultivation of China's automotive talents. In 2006, the independent brand Roewe was born, in 2016 the world's first internet car Roewe RX5 was launched; in 2020 the high-end intelligent electric brand IM Motors was established, fully advancing towards the intelligent electric era.

From nothing to something, from something to excellent, SAIC Group is not only a witness to the development of China's automotive industry, but also a powerful promoter — every step is like singing in the song, 'Since it's a road there must be turns', but SAIC turned calmly at every bend, turning every corner into scenery.

And every development in this is the best response to user needs. The temperature of technology finally falls into every user's daily life. The Roewe i6, priced at only over 60,000 yuan, comes standard with the 8155 chip and Doubao Large Model. Huajing S series is equipped with Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Driving Pro. Shangjie Z7 series is equipped with ADS 4.1 and 896-line LiDAR — making every commute a bit less anxious, every parking maneuver a bit more composed, this is the most plain footnote of 'knows cars better understands you'.

In Shanghai Anting, in Guangxi Liuzhou, in Shaanxi Lintian, in Jiangsu Nanjing, in Shanxi Taiyuan, one after another car owners received the keys to Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X, Huajing S, Wuling Rongguang Pure Electric Edition, Iveco Juxing EV, Hongyan i·Jieshi Heavy Trucks respectively, opening a new journey of life.

Open Integration, Transforming into an Ecological Technology Enterprise

Behind the 100 million vehicles is also the result of SAIC Group's global layout.

Currently, SAIC has established over 100 parts production bases and over 3,000 dealer networks overseas. Built 3 R&D and innovation centers including London and 4 production centers in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and formed China's first and globally leading whole vehicle logistics self-operated fleet — Anji Logistics owns 42 various RoRo ships. 8 international routes cover Southeast Asia, Europe, Americas and other major markets. SAIC products and services have spread across 170+ countries and regions, overseas cumulative sales exceeded 7 million vehicles.

Being able to continue to sell well globally is the result of SAIC always adhering to the user concept of 'Knows Cars, Understands You Better'. Knowing cars is the extreme pursuit of core technology; Knowing you is to land every cutting-edge technology precisely into user-perceivable and enjoyable wonderful mobility experiences.

In order to let consumers enjoy a better vehicle experience, SAIC worked hand in hand with global top partners, continuously upgrading.

In over ten years, SAIC invested nearly 190 billion yuan in R&D, obtained over 24,000 valid patents, building up SAIC's widest technical moat.

On the technology route: SAIC transformed from a traditional manufacturer to a technology enterprise defining intelligent electric vehicles with 'Smart Brain, Strong Body, Powerful Heart'; using innovative technology as an anchor, quickly built a hard technical label and a business moat that is becoming clearer day by day.

And the industry's only passenger/commercial vehicle L4 dual license; 'End-to-End' intelligent driving large model mass production; Building leading intelligent cockpits with OPPO and Doubao; IM Motors globally first to equip Qwen Large Model, Shangjie series standard Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Driving, as well as the industry's first 'Active/Passive Integrated' safety system, digital chassis, steer-by-wire, 'Stellar Super Range Extender' and MG4X equipped semi-solid-state battery, etc., are all the results of SAIC accelerating the transformation.

A series of technical support also gave products more competitiveness. In the past May, over ten new cars were launched within SAIC Group's family. Semi-solid-state battery, steer-by-wire, AI large models, and other advanced technologies went into full mass production. Not only that, SAIC is also accelerating the layout of related ecosystems, starting to transform from 'Manufacturer' to 'Ecological Technology Enterprise'.

Public data shows that since SAIC initiated strategic direct investment in 2021, cumulative investment has exceeded 18 billion yuan, promoting 24 enterprises to IPO. In the new investments added in 2025, nearly 70% focused on AI, humanoid robots, high-end manufacturing and other 'New Quality Productive Forces' fields. This fully demonstrates SAIC's forward-looking layout on cutting-edge technology and industrial change.

Internally around cockpit, chassis, power, etc. core businesses strengthened key component layout, strengthened endogenous development momentum. Externally deepened collaboration, invested in AI, robots and other emerging tracks, actively carried out forward-looking layout, expanding future growth space.

In addition, SAIC Volkswagen ID. ERA 9X uses Momenta's intelligent driving solution. SAIC's first embodied intelligent humanoid robot employee — 'Nengzai No. 1', went on duty on the Buick Zhijing E7 battery mass production line, etc., are also the results of SAIC's open integration development.

100 million vehicles are not the end point, but a new starting line. When the children of the 'Hydrangea' choir finish the last line, the afterglow on the river surface falls just on the body of the IM LS9 Hyper. Those 'Little Happiness' in the songs will travel to different families and different countries with every vehicle; And the action philosophy of 'Sing out your enthusiasm, extend your hands' is hidden in the eyes behind every steering wheel, in the assembly lines of every overseas factory, in the laboratory lights of every technical breakthrough. SAIC proved with 70+ years: The great journey is never dependent on waiting for a better tomorrow, but by stretching hands to the distance in countless days, driving wheels towards the future. Wheels never stop, songs never cease — this is probably the most touching narrative of China's automotive industry.