Resolving the problem of light wide-body buses SAIC is among the 4th largest automakers in the world.

As the first car company with a sales volume of over 2 million cars, Shanghai Auto will rank higher than Suzuki and Fiat this year in the world, ranking eighth.

Yesterday, Shanghai Automotive President Chen Hong said in an exclusive interview with the Morning Post reporter that SAIC Motor’s sales of over 2.65 million vehicles this year are no suspense. SAIC Motor has set a target of producing and selling 4 million vehicles within five years, of which the total number of self-owned brands can exceed 500,000. According to reports, SAIC will also purchase LDV Group, a commercial vehicle manufacturer in Birmingham, UK.

Roewe MG dual brand force

Yesterday, Chen Hong led the team to the opening ceremony of the Guangzhou Auto Group to promote its own brand MG and Roewe. The reporter noted that in the past, in order to highlight the "Shangnan One," Roewe and the MG have been exhibited on the same stage, but this year they unexpectedly divided their brands into exhibition booths. In response, Chen Zhixin, executive vice president of Shanghai Automotive and general manager of the passenger vehicle company, said that this represents a new stage in the development of Shanghai Automotive's “dual brand”. Roewe will focus on the domestic market and position itself as an “international standard independent brand”. MG will become an international brand independently operated by SAIC. Chen Hong revealed that the MG6, which has been on a strong attack at the Guangzhou Auto Show, will be produced in the UK by the end of next year while it is listed on the domestic market.

It is understood that sales of SAIC Roewe and MG this year will increase from 30,000 vehicles last year to 90,000 vehicles. "Our next year's goal is to double our base this year." Chen Hong announced without hesitation. It is reported that this year, SAIC Motor sales of over 2.65 million vehicles, ranking eighth in the world. In terms of profitability, Chen Hong said that it is also among the best in the world. For the approaching exercise, he said that the capital is not a short board for SAIC, and SAIC hopes that the exercise will mainly reflect the confidence of the public and investors of SAIC. “If we can exercise our rights and obtain funds, we will still invest in how to build competitive power in the high end of the value chain. For example, in terms of development, we will begin construction of the second phase of our technical center, and we will also invest in our autonomy in Lingang, Shanghai. The second phase of the brand factory."

Looking for opportunities to enter the Indian market

Chen Hong revealed that SAIC will also join forces with local British companies to acquire LDV light commercial vehicle manufacturing company in Birmingham. "Shangqi mainly bought its intellectual property rights and the corresponding tooling molds, and its factory in the United Kingdom retained some of its production. Our parts will be exported to the United Kingdom and assembled locally, which will solve the problem of our wide-body passenger cars in terms of light buses. ."

The LDV Group has an annual production capacity of 13,000 units and the main products are the Maxus series vans and minibuses. Due to losses in recent years, it was once acquired by a Russian car company. However, because of the financial crisis, LDV did not return to life, and now the Russian car company hopes to transfer the equity in the hands.

As for setting up a plant in India with GM, Chen Hong said that they are still in negotiations. "I think India is the most potential market except China. We are really looking for opportunities to enter. SAIC-GM-Wuling and Shanghai-GM-Pan Asia have developed products that are very suitable for this market in India."

“This year, the total automobile production and sales in China will reach 13.4 million, which may be even higher, with an increase of more than 40%. All external conditions, such as the financial crisis, oil price fluctuations, etc., can only delay this market effect. We expect the current The automobile industry policy will continue and new policies will be introduced, such as used cars and auto finance.” Chen Hong said with full confidence that “in 2014, the Chinese auto market may reach 20 million vehicles. Has begun to consider how to achieve annual sales of 4 million, 3 million is no longer a threshold."