Gasgoo Munich- According to SAIC Motor's latest production and sales report, cumulative sales for the first five months reached 1.651 million units. The share of self-owned brands exceeded the 70% mark for the first time, with new energy vehicles and overseas markets serving as the dual drivers of growth.
Accounting for Over 70% of Sales, Self-Owned Brands Become Main Driver
Historically, joint ventures like SAIC Volkswagen and SAIC GM served as the foundation of SAIC's sales volume, but that dynamic has shifted fundamentally in recent years. The self-owned segment has evolved from a supplementary role into the primary driver of the group.
From January to May, cumulative sales of SAIC self-owned brands reached 1.173 million units, up 8.6% year-on-year. Their share of total sales exceeded the 70% threshold for the first time, reaching 71.1%, a 7-percentage-point jump from last year. This is a significant milestone. It indicates that SAIC's self-owned sector is no longer a supporting player but the primary engine of growth. This marks a fundamental reversal in the balance of power between joint ventures and domestic brands.
By brand, the self-owned sector demonstrates strength across multiple areas.
SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle performed well. May sales reached 100,000 units, rising 37.7% year-on-year, while the five-month total reached 434,000, a 42.5% increase. That growth is notable given the sluggish overall market expansion. Notably, the MG brand continues to expand globally while maintaining its domestic presence with models like the MG4.
Image Source: SAIC Motor (same below)
In the commercial vehicle sector, SAIC Maxus sales reached 26,000 units in May, up 43.7%. The five-month total reached 109,000 units, a 24.4% increase, demonstrating strong competitiveness in niche markets.
SAIC-GM-Wuling recorded 119,000 units in May and 551,000 over the first five months. While its growth lags the passenger vehicle sector, recent launches like the Wuling Bingo Pro and Huajing S started strong. High pre-order numbers indicate future gains.
The data reveals a clear trend: SAIC's domestic brands do not rely on a single model but have built a complete portfolio covering mainstream family cars, high-end smart vehicles, commercial vehicles, and micro EVs. From passenger to commercial, and high-end pure electric to micro commuting, multiple sectors are growing in sync. This diversified approach offers greater resilience and risk mitigation than dependence on a single model.
Dual Drivers Accelerating: NEVs Up 13.2%, Overseas Sales Rise 45.9%
If the rise of self-owned brands is SAIC's current foundation, the growth in new energy vehicles and overseas markets is the key variable determining its future potential.
The May numbers are particularly notable: NEV sales reached 182,000 units, rising 46.5%, while overseas sales reached 130,000, up 32.5%. Over the first five months, NEVs totaled 595,000 units, a 13.2% increase, and overseas sales reached 589,000 units, rising 45.9%.
In the NEV sector, growth is characterized by self-owned brands leading and joint ventures following. Among domestic players, IM Motors, the high-end pure electric brand, sold 32,000 units from January to May, rising 114.6%. This indicates that SAIC is gaining market recognition for its high-end intelligent driving strategy.
SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle's NEV sales reached 174,000 units in the first five months, increasing 195%. The MG4 alone exceeded 15,000 units in May, marking eight consecutive months above that threshold. Notably, the MG4 X, launched in late May, introduces semi-solid-state batteries and a five-link rear suspension to the 90,000-yuan SUV segment. This strategy of technology democratization challenges the convention of reserving high-end technology for luxury cars and could impact the mainstream market.
Joint ventures are also active. SAIC GM's NEV sales reached 13,000 in May, rising 75%, with the Zhijing E7 delivering over 10,000 units in its first month. SAIC Volkswagen sold nearly 10,000 NEVs, up 34.3%, while the ID. ERA 9X has delivered over 7,000 units. At the Greater Bay Area Auto Show, SAIC VW launched the Tiguan L ePro, Passat ePro, and Audi AUDI E7X with new Golden Super Hybrid technology, signaling that joint ventures are rapidly narrowing the electrification gap.
Overseas, SAIC is building a strong competitive position through its deep localization strategy. The 45.9% increase to 589,000 units reflects broad success across multiple regions.
In Europe, its largest overseas market, MG sold 150,000 units in the first five months, up 20%. In Australia and New Zealand, the MG3 and MG4 ranked first and third in their segments with 21.1% and 12.8% market shares, respectively. In Belgium, MG sales doubled year-on-year.
Significantly, on May 28, SAIC held a ceremony for its 100 millionth global user delivery, becoming the first Chinese automaker to surpass 100 million units in cumulative production. This historic moment confirms decades of manufacturing capability and marks a new starting point in the race for intelligent electric vehicles.
Collectively, the mass production of NEV technology and localized overseas ecosystems have allowed SAIC to move away from its traditional reliance on domestic internal combustion engines. For investors and industry observers, the focus should shift beyond total sales volume to the sales mix of NEVs, penetration in high-value overseas markets, and margin shifts driven by technology democratization. These variables will define the valuation of the automaker going forward.
