BAIC Group (officially Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese state-owned enterprise and holding company of several automobile and machine manufacturers located in Beijing, China. Its principal subsidiaries include the passenger car maker BAIC Motor; a military vehicle and SUV maker, BAW; and a truck, bus, and agricultural equipment maker, Foton Motor. BAIC also makes Hyundai and Mercedes-branded cars for sale on the Chinese market through the Beijing Hyundai and Beijing Benz joint ventures.

BAIC is a major automobile manufacturer in China established in 1958 and headquartered in Beijing. Till today, BAIC has established the entire industrial chain that covers R&D and manufacturing of vehicles and parts & components, auto service trade, comprehensive travel service, finance and investment, etc., thus making strategic stretch into general aviation and other industries and becoming a large state-owned automotive group that has the most diverse China-made auto product lines

As a backbone enterprise of the domestic auto industry and a leading enterprise of the modern manufacturing industry in Beijing, we have been adhering to the BAIC’s spirit of “working hard, working in unity, surmounting difficulties and being determined to win” in recent years to innovate and develop our business under the guidance of the Group’s strategy. We have made great strides in our undertakings and been listed among Fortune 500 companies for many years.

History

BAIC Group has created many of the first cars in the history of China’s automobile industry since Beijing Automobile Factory produced its first self-developed car, the ‘Jinggangshan’ brand car in 1958. In 1966, BAIC Group independently developed and produced the first generation of light SUV BJ212 and the first generation of light truck BJ130 in 1984, Beijing Jeep Automobile Co., Ltd, the first vehicle manufacturing joint venture in China’s automobile industry was founded in 2002, Beijing Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd. was set up by BAIC Group and Korea Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd. in an all-round strategic cooperation, which became the first vehicle manufacturing joint venture since China joined the WTO; Beijing Mercedes-Benz Automobile Co., Ltd. was established on August 8, 2005, setting an example of deepening strategic joint venture cooperation in an all-round way.

BAIC established the first new energy passenger car company in China to operate alone and obtain the qualification for new energy vehicle production. BAIC BJEV Vehicle Co., Ltd. (Hereinafter referred to as ‘BAIC BJEV’), and BAIC BJEV officially entered the A-share market through ‘backdoor’ and became ‘China’s first new energy vehicle’ on September 27. In addition, BAIC led the construction of the first national new energy vehicle technology innovation center and actively built a world-class new energy vehicle technology innovation highland.

Looking at China’s auto industry, the development of BAIC represents a microcosm of China’s auto industry from the trying period to current gradually stepping into the center of the world stage. In the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China’s automobile industry has experienced from following imitation to independent innovation, from self-reliance to joint venture cooperation and compatible mergers and acquisitions. China’s automobile industry has gradually become a fledgling one in each transformation and upgrading. Xu Haidong, assistant secretary general of the China Association of Automobile Manufactures, said, “In the past 40 years, Chinese cars have grown from almost nothing to an auto society and have become the world’s largest auto production and marketing country for nine consecutive years. In this process, our design capability, production and manufacturing capability, quality control capability, supply chain management capability and marketing capability have been established and a large number of automobile talents have been trained. China’s independent automobile industry already has certain conditions and capabilities, and has already started or gradually become an important force in the world’s automobile industry. Moreover, China has become a global manufacturing base for the automobile industry. The whole supply chain system is sound, mature and low cost, which other countries in the world cannot replace currently”. At present, China’s automobile industry has become an important pillar industry of the national economy and is strongly supporting the development of many areas of the national economy. The automobile products themselves have also profoundly changed people’s way of life. It can be said that China is building an auto society and is moving towards a powerful auto manufacturing country.

In addition, the development and actions of BAIC in the past 60 years have contributed to the development and growth of China’s auto industry. Xu Haidong believes that “BAIC Group, including BJ 212 and earlier models, has led the times in China. It should be said that BAIC’s automobile industry has developed to the present, including its joint venture with Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, and its independence has formed a relatively important force in China’s automobile industry. Recently, BAIC has shown a trend towards new energy and high-end development, indicating that BAIC has gained insight into the increasingly fierce competition in the whole Chinese automobile market and is adapting to the market situation and making strategic adjustments. It should be said that this idea is correct. Of course, whether it can succeed or not will ultimately be tested by the market”.

Li Qingwen, president of the Automobile Evaluation Research Institute, believes that BAIC has made great efforts for China’s industrialization and automobile power in the past 60 years. Especially in terms of opening up and new energy vehicles, BAIC has made outstanding and irreplaceable contributions. He said that “BAIC Group established Beijing Jeep, the first Sino-foreign joint venture in China’s automobile industry, broke through many restricted areas, and is a creative pioneer, explorer and practitioner. In December 1978, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee just proposed such a major policy as reform and opening up. They proposed to set up joint ventures to attract multinational auto companies to cooperate in 1979. At that time, this was a great contribution”. Li Qingwen believes that BAIC has also played a positive role in new energy vehicles in the new century. He said, “BYD in the south and BAIC in the north are the two most important enterprises in China’s electric vehicles.  Beiqi’s new energy sources are the best in the North’s auto companies. Although there are problems of one kind or another, it is important to see that the strategic direction is right. In terms of new energy sources, BAIC is also an explorer. It has no foundation in the past, but it has made bold decisions and practices and started new energy vehicles from scratch. Currently, sales volume, ownership and talent team have been formed and brands have been established. BAIC Group has contributed to the opening up and has also made outstanding contributions to new energy vehicles”.

After 60 years of hard development, BAIC Group has grown from childish to mature, from weak to strong. Today’s BAIC Group owns well-known enterprises and research and development institutions such as Beijing Motor, Changhe Automobile, BAIC BJEV, BAIC Foton, Beijing Hyundai, Beijing Benz, General Aviation and Beijing Automotive Technology Center. We have set up nine independent brand passenger vehicle bases, eight independent brand commercial vehicle bases, three new energy vehicle bases, eight joint venture brand passenger car bases and two general aviation industry bases in ten cities of nine provinces. Our research and development system is distributed in five countries and seven places in the world, and we have set up vehicle and KD factories in more than 30 countries and regions, with markets all over the world.

We get great achievements in 60 years. BAIC Group sold 2.51 million vehicles with revenue of RMB 470.3 billion in 2017, ranking the 124th in the Fortune 500 in 2018, and the sales of pure electric vehicle of its BAIC BJEV ranked No. 1 in the country for 5 consecutive years. ‘Beijing’ Brand SUV firmly topped the sales of high-end SUVs of domestic independent brands, and Beijing Mercedes won the annual sales champion of China’s luxury automobile brands.

“Develop in a healthy way to reach far around the world.” Standing at a new starting point of 60 years, BAIC will continue to forge ahead with the times and realize self-iteration and leap forward.

 

History / Milestones

1958/1966

BAIC first car. In 1958, the first independently developed sedan ‘Jinggangshan’ (based on the Volkswagen Beetle). BAIC vehicle production in Beijing was thus formally unveiled.

BJ130 sample car successfully passed the trial production. On April 28, 1966, Beijing Second Automobile Repair Plant trial-manufactured two BJ130 light-duty truck samples. BJ212 was finalized and put into production. On May 5, 1966, BJ212 off-road vehicle, independently researched and developed by Beijing Automobile Works, was finalized in design and formally put into production.

 

1973

Beijing Automobile Industry Company was founded.

On July 30, 1973, Beijing Automobile Industry Company, the predecessor of BAIC Group, was officially found

 

1983

Beijing Jeep Corporation joint venture

On May 5, 1983, Beijing Automobile Works and American Motors Corporation (AMC) signed the general contract of the Beijing Jeep Corporation joint venture, the first Sino-foreign joint venture in complete vehicle manufacturing in the Chinese automobile industry.

 

1994 / 1996

Beijing Wagon Co., Ltd.  public shares officially issued

From March 27 to March 29, 1994, the public shares of the Beijing Wagon Co., Ltd., the first listed company among the complete vehicle manufacturing enterprises in the Chinese automobile industry, were officially issued to the public.</div>

Foton Motor Co., Ltd. was established.

On August 28, 1996, Beijing BAM Company launched 100 enterprises to establish the Foton Motor Co., Ltd. Currently, its production and sales continuously exceeded those of Europe, the U.S. and Japan and ranks global No.1 in terms of sales of commercial vehicle.

 

2002 / 2003

BAIC Group strategic agreement with Hyundai Motor Company

On April 29, 2002, BAIC Group signed an overall strategic corporation agreement with the South Korean Hyundai Motor Company in Beijing, and Beijing Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd. became the first complete vehicle manufacturing joint venture after China&#039;s accession to the WTO.

BAIC Group agreement for strategic cooperation with DaimlerChrysler AG

On September 8, 2003, BAIC Group signed a framework agreement for strategic cooperation with DaimlerChrysler AG in Beijing.

 

2007 / 2006

Beijing Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.

On August 26, 2007, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. and Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co., Ltd. jointly incorporated the Beijing Automotive Parts Co., Ltd. (later renamed as the Beijing Hainachuan Automotive Parts Co., Ltd.).

BAIC Group exceeded one million vehicles

On November 11, 2009, BAIC Group held a ceremony to celebrate &quot;the annual production and sales of BAIC Group exceeding one million vehicles for the first time in 2009 and the annual sales revenue exceeded 100 billion yuan.

BAIC BJEV was established

On November 14, 2009, BAIC BJEV, BAIC BJEV Scientific and Technological Industry Park, and Beijing Pride New Energy Battery Technology Co., Ltd. were established in Beijing Caiyu Economic Development Zone, Daxing District.

BAIC Group acquired SAAB intellectual property rights

On December 14, 2009, BAIC Group announced that BAIC Group and Sweden’s SAAB Automobile Company had finished the acquisition of the relevant intellectual property rights. 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. On December 31, 2010, the first 2.3T gasoline engine of the self-owned brand of BAIC Group, through digestion and absorption of SAAB turbocharging technology, passed trials.

 

2010 / 2011

BAIC ROCAR Automobile Service and Trading Co., Ltd. was established.

On January 20, 2010, BAIC ROCAR Automobile Service and Trade Co., Ltd., a BAIC automobile service and trade platform, was established.

BAIC Motor Corporation Ltd. was established

On September 28, 2010, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. officially changed its name to Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. and BAIC Motor Corporation Ltd. was officially established.

Hainachuan successfully acquired 100% of Inalfa stock

On July 29, 2011, the equity delivery ceremony between Beijing Hainachuan Automobile Parts Co., Ltd. and Inalfa was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, with Hainachuan acquiring 100% of Inalfa stock.

 

2013

BAIC INTL was established

On June 22, 2013, BAIC INTL was established, becoming a cooperation platform for the overseas business strategy of BAIC Group.

Senova car enters into market

On May 11, 2013, Senova, a self-owned brand intermediate class car of BAIC Group officially came into market.

BAIC Group was listed among the Fortune 500

On July 8, 2013, the 2013 ranking of Fortune 500 enterprises was published in the U.S.A. Fortune magazine showed that BAIC Group ranked in the 336th place among the Fortune 500, and in the 18th place in global automobile enterprises.

BAIC Group regrouped Changhe Auto

On November 25, 2013, Jiangxi Government and BAIC Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement. BAIC Group and Jiangxi Corporate State-owned Assets Management Co., Ltd. respectively held 70% and 30% of the equity of Changhe Auto, to jointly promote the building of the self-owned brand of Changhe Auto and the joint-venture brand of Changhe Suzuki.

 

2014

BAIC Group Fortune Global 500

On July 10, 2014, BAIC Group rose to the 248th on the 2014 Fortune Global 500. It improved by 88 places compared to the year before. BAIC Group’s revenue totaled $43,323.9 million.

BAIC Group Enters the Field of General Aviation

On November 20, 2014, BAIC acquired a portion of the shares of Pacific Aerospace Limited (PAL) and set up a joint venture with the company, namely, Beijing Pan Pacific Co., Ltd.

BAIC Group Listed on the Stock Market 

On December 19, 2014, Beijing Automobile Co., Ltd. (“BAIC Group”) was officially listed on the main board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited, a historic step of BAIC Group in the capital markets.

 

2015 / 2016

BAIC Group Conducts Business in Africa

On December 2, 2015, BAIC and South Africa Industrial Development Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on joint venture and cooperation on the South African Factory Project, involving an investment of 5 billion RMB and a planned production capacity of 100,000 units per year.

BAIC Group acquires 35% stake in Fujian Benz

On March 14, 2016, Beijing Automobile Co., Ltd. (“BAIC Group”) and Fujian Motor Industry Group Co. signed a framework agreement for BAIC to acquire 35% of the shares held by Fujian Benz, holding each side 50% of the shares in Fujian Benz.

BAIC Group Ranks 160th among the Fortune Global 500 

On July 20, 2016, Beijing Automobile Co., Ltd. (“BAIC Group”) ranked 160th among the Fortune Global 500 with sales revenues of 54.9 billion U.S. dollars. It ranked 15th in the global automotive industry.

 

2017

BAIC Group and Daimler AG to Produce Electric Vehicles

On July 5, 2017, Beijing Automobile Co., Ltd. (“BAIC Group”) and Daimler AG signed the agreement. The two sides would jointly invest 5 billion yuan to establish in Beijing a cutting edge electric car production base to introduce the electric vehicles of Mercedes-Benz.

Beijing-Hyundai Auto is Officially Established

On July 19, 2017, Chongqing factory of Beijing-Hyundai Auto was formally established and became an important layout for BAIC to respond to the national “Belt and Road” construction and the development strategy of the Yangtze River economic zone.

BAIC Group Ranks 137th among the Fortune Global 500 

On July 20, 2017, Beijing Automobile Co., Ltd. (“BAIC Group”) ranked 137th among the Fortune Global 500 with sales revenues of 61.13 billion US dollars. This was the fifth consecutive year that BAIC enters the list. Compared with the ranking in 2016, BAIC achieved a strong rise by moving up 23 places.

 

2018

BAIC Group on Ranked the 124th of World Top 500

Fortune officially announced the ‘2018 Top 500 Companies’ ranking on July 19, 2018, at 19: 30, Beijing time. BAIC ranked the 124th in the world’s top 500 with its operating income of US $ 69.5,991 billion, up 13 places from 2017. This is the sixth year in a row that BAIC has been shortlisted for the ‘op 500 enterprises in the world’ and has kept its ranking increasing year after year. This latest ranking shows the strong momentum of reform and transformation and high-quality development of BAIC.

BAIC Group and Daimler AG Plan Luxury Car Production

On February 26, the BAIC Group and Daimler AG jointly announced that both sides plan to invest more than RMB 11.9 billion in upgrading the factory of BAIC Motor Corporation Limited’s Beijing Branch (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Beijing Branch’) in Shunxi District of Beijing City so as to build the new luxury car production base of Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as ‘Beijing Benz’). Such a move is not just an important measure of the BAIC Group for keeping abreast of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry’s development tendencies and deploying business in the new energy luxury brand market through Beijing Benz, but also an active response to the Beijing Municipal Government’s call for the development of high-end, precise and sophisticated industries. It is also a vital action taken by the BAIC Group for the implementation of its comprehensive new energy strategy. As BAIC Group Party Committee Secretary and Chairman Xu Heyi noted, being located in Beijing, the capital of China, the BAIC Group must pursue development towards high-end, precise and sophisticated industries. It is through Beijing Benz’s capacity upgrading that the BAIC Group realized structural adjustment featuring an emphasis on core competitiveness, thereby laying a firm foundation for the value appreciation of state-owned assets.