Gasgoo Munich-On July 29, HASCO released a resolution from its 11th board meeting. Following Xu Ping's departure for a new assignment, the board officially appointed Tao Hailong as general manager. He was also nominated as a candidate for non-independent director, with his term aligned with the current board.
This personnel move is part of a sweeping reshuffle across SAIC Motor's vehicle and components divisions, unfolding alongside management changes at SAIC Motor and SAIC-GM. A senior engineer, Tao has spent over three decades deep in the SAIC system, spanning vehicle manufacturing, quality control, and parts operations. His résumé cuts across the entire SAIC supply chain.
Tao Hailong. Image source: SAIC Volkswagen
Tao's early roots lie in SAIC Volkswagen (formerly Shanghai Volkswagen), where he served as deputy manager of quality assurance and acting deputy manager of manufacturing, gaining deep familiarity with assembly line production and end-to-end quality standards. After leaving, he joined SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle as executive director of quality assurance and deputy general manager, where he built a comprehensive quality control system for the group's proprietary brands. He later took the helm at Shanghai Automotive Gear Works, focusing on core transmission components and building expertise in mass production management.
Tao is no stranger to HASCO; he previously served as a director and general manager. In July 2024, he was transferred to SAIC Volkswagen as general manager and Party committee secretary, taking full charge of production, brand operations, and channel management. There, he integrated production and sales, further aligning parts supply with vehicle delivery. His return to HASCO represents a typical SAIC arrangement for the two-way flow of talent between vehicle manufacturing and components.
Amid the electrification surge, automakers are rapidly iterating core components—batteries, motors, and electronic controls—along with smart chassis and cockpit systems, requiring upstream suppliers to match their R&D pace precisely. Tao brings a mix of experience in plant management, proprietary brand quality control, and parts operations. He understands the demands of OEMs as well as the pain points of parts R&D and mass production.
That track record positions HASCO to optimize coordination across the supply chain, allowing it to better secure smart component orders for Roewe, MG, SAIC Volkswagen, and SAIC GM, and to align its parts business with the transition to new energy vehicles.
