SAIC’s overseas sales rose by more than 50% year-on-year from January to July
Following record-breaking overseas sales in June, SAIC Motor delivered another impressive performance in July. The company sold 142,000 vehicles in overseas markets—a year-on-year surge of 72.5%—bringing its total sales for the first seven months of the year to 876,000 units (up 52.1% year-on-year) and firmly cementing its position in the top tier of Chinese automakers expanding globally.
This sustained momentum in overseas sales reflects SAIC’s strategic shift from merely exporting products to exporting a comprehensive operational system. Recently, SAIC has launched multiple models across Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America while simultaneously hosting technical conferences, establishing direct sales subsidiaries, and deepening localized production. These moves have continuously strengthened its global capabilities in R&D, manufacturing, service, and brand operations.
New Model Launches Spark Enthusiastic Overseas Response
SAIC brands such as MG and Wuling have recently launched a wave of new models overseas. On June 17, MG unveiled the all-new pure electric hatchback, the MG4 Urban, in Bangkok, Thailand. Available in Standard, Long-Range, and Flagship configurations, the model is also produced locally in Thailand. On July 16, the vehicle debuted in Brazil, accompanied by a full ecosystem of sales channels and after-sales support. As a “global car,” the MG4 Urban has launched in markets including the UK, Germany, Australia, and Singapore this year, meeting global consumer needs with advanced smart-electric technology and robust product performance.
Beyond pure electric vehicles, SAIC MG’s hybrid (HEV) models have also performed impressively, with monthly overseas sales nearing 27,000 units—doubling year-on-year. On July 29, the MG ZS Hybrid+ was officially launched at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS). It quickly garnered praise from Indonesian consumers for its excellent fuel economy, smooth and responsive handling, and comprehensive after-sales service.
Also launched at the Indonesian auto show was the Wuling Air EV. Sharing the same lineage as the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV, this compact and agile “global car” is perfectly suited to local driving conditions in Indonesia, such as narrow streets, tight parking spaces, and the need to accommodate larger groups of passengers. Locally manufactured at the Cikarang plant in Indonesia, this model leverages the company’s established manufacturing, distribution, and customer base in the country to set a new benchmark for urban electric commuting, while deepening its commitment to the local market.
The impact of new model launches is becoming increasingly evident across regional markets. In Europe, the MG brand sold a total of 218,000 vehicles from January to July—a year-on-year increase of 22.8%—retaining its title as the best-selling Chinese brand in the region. In Italy, the brand’s cumulative customer base surpassed 150,000, making it the second market in Europe—after the UK—to reach this milestone. SAIC-GM-Wuling also delivered impressive results; its overseas exports exceeded 30,000 units for four consecutive months, with total overseas sales surpassing 200,000 units between January and July, demonstrating strong growth momentum.
Strengthening Systems and Deepening Roots: Steady Progress in Global Strategy
While the rapid succession of new model launches serves as the vanguard of SAIC’s global market presence, deeper breakthroughs are being achieved through comprehensive advancements in technology, standards, and operational systems—sharing cutting-edge technology, integrating into local markets, embedding itself in local industrial ecosystems, and serving local customers.
On July 8, MG held a technology conference in London, bringing its latest intelligent electric vehicle technologies back to the brand’s birthplace. The event showcased MG’s robust technical capabilities to a global audience, highlighting innovations such as the MG Plug-in Hybrid+ system, SolidCore semi-solid-state batteries, and the MG Parking smart cockpit and driver-assistance system. The following day, MG presented two concept vehicles—the MG Go! electric hatchback and the MG Cyber electric coupe-SUV—at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Both models drew design inspiration from the brand’s classic heritage; the MG Go! offers a compact, sporty option for personalized electric mobility, while the MG Cyber, positioned as an electric flagship coupe-SUV, embodies the brand’s future design language and upward-looking vision.
Regarding sales channels, MG established direct sales subsidiaries in Belgium and Luxembourg in July, assuming full responsibility for distribution, sales, and channel operations in these markets. This shift toward a direct-sales model marks MG’s transition from simply “selling cars” to “managing the business,” enabling the brand to better understand customer needs, optimize sales pacing, enhance service capabilities, and respond agilely to market dynamics. Forward-looking product design, cutting-edge core technologies, and a deeply integrated operational system have created a new landscape for the MG brand’s step-by-step global expansion. SAIC’s “Glocal” strategy is rapidly taking shape, shifting the focus from simply leading in sales volume to deeply cultivating local markets and building long-term relationships with users.
Active Expansion in Commercial Vehicles and Steady Market Growth
While achieving breakthroughs in overseas passenger vehicle markets, SAIC’s commercial vehicle division has also delivered impressive results abroad. In July, SAIC Maxus sold 14,000 units overseas—a year-on-year increase of 69%—with products selling well across more than 100 countries and regions. A first-batch order of 200 Maxus T60 pickup trucks from Venezuela’s state oil company, combined with the steady fulfillment of bulk orders for mining operations in Chile, has solidified the recognition of Maxus’s high-end pickups among overseas corporate clients for their commercial value. In the Greek light commercial vehicle market, the SAIC Maxus brand has maintained the top market share among Chinese brands for six consecutive months, accelerating its penetration into the European market.
In the heavy-duty truck and bus sectors, SAIC Hongyan recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with a major port operator in Thailand for 1,000 new-energy heavy-duty trucks, setting a record for the largest single export of such vehicles from China to Southeast Asia. These trucks have been localized to handle the region’s hot, rainy, and heavy-load operating conditions, supported by a comprehensive ecosystem for charging, maintenance, and spare parts; the first batch has already been shipped to Thailand. Meanwhile, Sunwin Bus showcased its iEV12 pure-electric city bus—tailor-made for the Oceania market—at the Australian Bus & Coach Expo in July. Designed to meet requirements for right-hand drive, extended range, and superior handling, the vehicle offers high reliability and scalability, effectively addressing Australian market needs through advanced products and services.
From light commercial vehicles and pickups to heavy-duty trucks and buses, SAIC’s commercial vehicle division is pursuing a global strategy that goes beyond a diverse product portfolio to actively explore deep local operations. As it moves from securing orders to building a strong reputation, SAIC is leveraging its systemic strengths to deepen its footprint in the global commercial vehicle market and continuously expand opportunities for growth. From MG’s technical conferences and direct-sales network in Europe to Wuling’s localized production in Southeast Asia, and the commercial vehicle division’s deep inroads into diverse product categories and regional markets, SAIC’s global operations are continuously deepening. The logic behind Chinese automakers going global is being reshaped—shifting from merely “going out” to truly “integrating in.” The synergy between excellent products and robust operational systems will ensure that the brand image of “Smart Manufacturing from China” shines ever brighter on the global stage.