SAIC Motor has kicked off 2026 with strong sales performance, reporting wholesale vehicle sales of 327,000 units in January, a 23.9 percent year-on-year increase, alongside retail sales of 363,000 units. Both wholesale and retail volumes placed the company at the top of China’s domestic automotive industry, signaling a robust start following last year’s double-digit growth.
The performance was led by self-owned brands, which sold 214,000 units, up 39.6 percent year-on-year, accounting for 65.3 percent of total sales—a rise of 7.3 percentage points compared to January 2025. SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle posted sales of 77,000 units, up 53.8 percent, Wuling delivered 105,000 units (+37 percent), and MAXUS recorded 18,000 units, reflecting steady expansion across core brands.
New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) continued to gain traction, with January sales reaching 85,000 units, marking a 39.7 percent year-on-year increase and ranking among the industry’s top performers. IM Motor reported a 66 percent growth in sales, while the unveiling of the IM LS9 Hyper, the industry’s first mass-produced SUV featuring all-wheel steer-by-wire technology, generated strong market interest. SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle sold 28,000 NEVs, surging 576.9 percent, while Wuling delivered 36,000 NEVs, driven by rising demand for the newly launched Starlight 560 SUV.
Overseas markets also recorded accelerated growth, with SAIC Motor selling 105,000 vehicles internationally in January, a 51.7 percent year-on-year increase. MG, SAIC’s flagship global brand, delivered nearly 26,000 units in Europe, maintaining its position as Europe’s top-selling Chinese brand for the 11th consecutive year, and ranking second in the UK automotive market in December.
Looking ahead, 2026 marks a pivotal year for SAIC Motor as it advances comprehensive reforms under its “More Than Auto” user-centric philosophy. The company plans to leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate innovation in intelligent driving, smart cockpits, intelligent chassis systems, and solid-state battery technology, strengthening its competitive position in both domestic and global markets as it enters the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).
