Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC, formerly as Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation) is a Chinese state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Shunyi, Beijing. Founded in 1958,[2] it is the sixth largest automobile manufacturer in China, with 1.723 million sales in 2021.
The company produces and sells vehicles under its own branding, such as Arcfox, Beijing, Changhe, Foton Motor, Ruili Doda, as well as under foreign-branded joint ventures such as Beijing-Benz and Beijing-Hyundai. It also produces electric vehicles under some of the previously listed brandings, including dedicated EV brands such as Arcfox. Its principal subsidiaries include the passenger car maker BAIC Motor (44.98% share); and truck, van, bus, and agricultural equipment automaker, Foton Motor.[3] A large proportion of sales BAIC's sales is in agricultural, commercial, and military vehicles.
History
BAIC was originally founded in 1958[4] as Beijing Automobile Works (BAW), which found success producing the Dongfanghong BJ760, a vehicle based on the Soviet GAZ-21.[5]
BAIC was one of the top ten most-productive Chinese automakers in 2010. This may be due to subsidiary Beijing Automobile Works and a sustained surge of popularity for Beijing Hyundai products.[6] It reached fifth place by selling nearly 1.5 millions units garnering a market share of more than 8%.[7] 2011 production of 1.5 million whole vehicles made BAIC the fifth largest vehicle-maker in China that year in terms of units manufactured.[8] BAIC remained fifth in 2012, which saw the company make 1.7 million whole vehicles; 30% of production was commercial or heavy-duty products.[9]
Saab technology transfer
After several unsuccessful attempts to buy struggling European automakers in 2009, such as Saab, Volvo, and Opel as well as technology from the American Chrysler, BAIC fulfilled its aim of obtaining valuable Western technology that same year purchasing technology from a former unit of General Motors, Saab Automobile.[10] This allows it to produce older Saab models (but not brand them as Saabs[citation needed]) for sale in China.[11]
The intellectual property bought by BAIC includes the rights to three overall vehicle platforms, Saab 9-3 and Saab 9-5 technologies, two engine technologies, and two transmission systems.[12]
Cars with Saab technology were expected to go on sale in 2012[13] but didn't debut until May 2013.[14] The first Saab-based model on sale is the C70 or 绅宝 (Shenbao), which may be translated as "gentleman's treasure".[15]
BAIC BluePark (北汽蓝谷) is BAIC Group's subsidiary mainly engaged in the design, research and development and sales of electric automobiles. BAIC BluePark was restructured from its current subsidiary, Beijing Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. (BAIC BJEV). The company currently operate the brands of Arcfox and EV models of Beijing brand.[16]
BAIC Motor (北京汽车) is the main subsidiary of BAIC Group, it is co-owned by BAIC Group and Beijing Municipal Government.[17] It currently operate the Beijing brand
BAIC Group Off-road Vehicle Co., Ltd.
Beijing Off-road Vehicles (北京越野) used to be a department under BAIC Group, run by the fully owned subsidiary BAIC Group Off-road Vehicle Co., Ltd.[18]
In January 2020, BAIC announced the independence of Beijing Off-road brand.[19] The Beijing Off-road was independently operated, including development and sales channels, but shares the marque "BEIJING" with BAIC Motor (北京汽车) brand together. The current Beijing Off-road models badged in Chinese name "北京".
BAIC Foton (北汽福田), also known as Foton Motor or Foton, is a subsidiary of BAIC Group that designs and manufactures trucks, buses and sport utility vehicles.
The Beijing brand is the main passenger vehicle brand of BAIC, operated by multiple subsidiaries of BAIC Group according to different focus. They all share the same BEIJING badges and logos.
Stelato, Arcfox and electric vehicles of Beijing brand are currently operated by BAIC BluePark.
Beijing brand ICE cars, SUVs are operated by BAIC Motor.
Beijing (北京汽车) is BAIC Motor's major brand, revived in 2020 after BAIC Group discontinued its Senova brand. All the former Senova vehicles were renamed to Beijing brand since then.[20] Beijing Motor will reorganize the product layout of its three major series in 2023. That is to say, it will focus on the main channel of SUVs, supplemented by sedans and crossovers, including multiple levels and multiple power sources.[21]
Beijing Off-road (北京越野), operated by the fully owned subsidiary, the BAIC Group Off-road Vehicle Co., Ltd.,[19] The Beijing Off-road used to be a department of BAIC Motor, but later was acquired back into BAIC Group and independently operated since 2019. The Beijing Off-road models are badged as Chinese characters "北京"(Beijing).
The current Beijing Off-road models badged in Chinese name "北京".
With the Beijing Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. (BAIC BJEV) was reconsolidated into BAIC BluePark, the battery electric vehicle of Beijing brand, like Beijing EU5, Beijing EU7, are also operated by BAIC BluePark at present.
Beiqi Foton Motor Co., Ltd. (Foton Motor) is a subsidiary of BAIC which designs and manufactures trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles, and agricultural machinery. It is headquartered in Changping, Beijing.[22]
Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. (BAW) (北汽制造), which produces light off-road vehicles, trucks, and military vehicles, used to be a subsidiary of BAIC Group but was sold to private sector since 2015.[25][26]
The Beijing Light Automobile Company (BLAC), until 1988 the Beijing Automobile Factory No. 2, started in the late 1960s when production of the independently developed BJ130 began. Its introduction was slowed considerably by the upheavals of the Cultural revolution.[27] In 1984, assembly of the Isuzu Elf/NHR began (originally as the BJ136, later as the BJ1030/1040/1050 series). In 1988, a new plant for these trucks was built with aid from the Japanese, and petrol and diesel light truck engines were also produced.[28] BLAC went bankrupt in 2002.[27]
A BLAC truck
Joint ventures
Like many other peers, BAIC has several joint ventures with foreign automakers—including two with Daimler AG.[29]
Beijing Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd. is an automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Beijing, China, and is a 50:50 joint-venture between BAIC Motor and Hyundai Motor Company.
Weiwang is a brand under Beiqi Yinxiang Automobile, a joint venture between Beijing Auto (Beiqi) and the Yinxiang Group from Chongqing.
Weiwang 205
Weiwang M50F
Weiwang M60
Former joint ventures
Beijing Jeep
Beijing Jeep Corporation became China's first Sino-western automotive joint venture when it was established in 1984 with American Motors Corporation. Beijing Jeep subsequently became Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co Ltd and then Beijing Benz Automotive Co Ltd.
In July 2019, BAIC Group purchased a 5% stake in Daimler, which is a reciprocal shareholder in BAIC's Hong Kong listed subsidiary.[31]
In December 2021, Mercedes-Benz Group revealed in its announcement that BAIC Group has increased its stake of Daimler to 9.98%. According to an agreement between both parties, BAIC has confirmed to not further raise its stake in Daimler.[32]
^2011年前十家乘用车生产企业销量排名. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 2012-01-20. Archived from the original on 2012-08-20.
^"2012年12月分车型前十家生产企业销量排名". China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 14 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
^"Big hurdle for a small brand --- Beijing Auto attempts to grow out of its niche with Saab-based models and new factories." Norihiko Shirouzu. The Wall Street Journal Asia. Hong Kong: 13 Oct 2010. pg. 19
^"CHINA: BAIC's Senova D series sedan goes on sale". just - auto global news. Bromsgrove.14 May 2013.
^ ab"浴火重生BJ130综述稿" [A brief History of the BJ130]. Made in China (in Chinese). NetEase Inc. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
^"Beijing LAC Китай" [Beijing LAC (China)]. Книги и Каталоги (Books and Catalogues) (in Russian). За рулем. Archived from the original on 2011-08-19.