SAIC-GM-Wuling

While Wuling microvans have been manufactured since 1982,[10] in 1986 Wuling's predecessor company, Liuzhou Automotive Industry Corporation, reached an agreement with Mitsubishi Motors to assemble the L100 type Mitsubishi Minicab.[11] Originally, 90% of parts were imported, but gradually local parts content increased. This small van was sold as the Liuzhou Wuling LZ 110.

In 2002, the joint venture SAIC-GM-Wuling was formed, with SAIC taking 50.1% of the shares, GM 34%, and Wuling Group 15.9%.[12] Wuling transferred the production of microvans and small trucks to the new company. Since at least 2008, GM sought to increase its ownership achieving this aim c. 2011.[13] Its stake rose to 44%[14]—leaving Wuling with 5.9%.[15]

In 2010, SGMW created a passenger car brand to compete against indigenous products, Baojun.[16] The company sold a passenger vehicle, the Chevy Spark / Daewoo Matiz M150, as the Baojun Lechi from 2007 to 2012, however.[8]

In late 2012, ten years after the formation of the joint-venture, SGMW opened a new factory for the production of Baojun passenger cars in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, ready to produce 400,000 units per year.[17] A factory with capacity for the same number of power trains is also being built.[17]

Etsong acquisition

Best known for its tiny offerings, in 2005 SGMW acquired diminutive Etsong Vehicle Manufacturing, a small-scale manufacturing concern based in Qingdao, China. The factory was originally set up in 1997 by a Chinese tobacco company and was then briefly owned by the First Automobile Works (FAW Jiefang) before the SAIC group took over the factory. Since 2000, a number of Austin Maestro/Montego amalgams had been produced under the Etsong Lubao and Etsong Lande nameplates, but SGMW did not recommence production of these aged models after the takeover. Instead, the factory is used to augment SGMW mini-vehicle capacity.[18]

Baojun

Perhaps the culmination of GM's dream to build a "farmer's car",[19] the Baojun brand was established in 2010 and aims to sell to consumers in third and fourth tier Chinese cities.[20] Such large- and medium-sized Chinese cities are not counted among the top four in terms of population and contribution to GDP.[21]

Baojun currently competes for consumers with indigenous brands like Chery and Geely.[16] Its two offerings include, as of 2012, the 630, a small four-door sedan, and the Lechi minicar.[16] The latter is an updated version of the first generation Daewoo Matiz and was previously sold under the Chevrolet brand name. During the transition between brands, the Lechi was offered as both a Chevrolet and a Baojun.[22]

The company has a number of production bases in China. These include a facility in Liuzhou, Guangxi,[16] and a plant in Qingdao, which it had purchased c. 2007.[8]

• SAIC-GM

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• Official website
• Introduction from GM China homepage