SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited (commonly known as SAIC-GM; ) is a joint venture between General Motors Company and SAIC Motor. The company was founded in 1997 as Shanghai General Motors Company Ltd or Shanghai GM (). Headquartered in Shanghai, the company manufactures and sells Chevrolet, Buick, and Cadillac brand automobiles in mainland China, and exports its cars to several overseas markets.
History
SAIC-GM was founded on June 12, 1997, with 50% investment each from each partner. SAIC-GM began assembling the venture's first vehicle, the Buick Regal, in Shanghai, China in April 1999. This later followed with the Chinese-built Buick GL8 minivan which was a Chinese-exclusive vehicle and was not offered in the United States and Canada.
By 2003, China became the second largest single market for General Motors, selling 201,188 vehicles, an 81.6% percent increase over the previous year. In that year SAIC-GM achieved a 13% market share in mainland China, second only to Volkswagen Group China among foreign carmakers. Sales dropped in 2004 when the company retired the Buick Sail and the release of its replacement, the Chevrolet Sail, was delayed to February 2005, knocking General Motors Shanghai to seventh place in mainland China market share. SAIC-GM market share climbed back to nearly 9.8 percent, placing SAIC-GM among the top three passenger car manufacturers in mainland China.
In June 2004, the Cadillac brand was introduced to China followed by Chevrolet in January 2005.
In May 2005 SAIC-GM completed construction of a new assembly plant, the South Plant, at its facility in eastern Shanghai's Pudong district, more than doubling its annual production capacity to 320,000 vehicles.
SAIC-GM was the top passenger vehicle producer in China in 2006, with sales of 413,400 vehicles. In 2011, SAIC-GM sold 1,200,355 vehicles in the Chinese market. SAIC-GM is the largest joint venture GM has in China.
With the growth of China's electric vehicle industry, SAIC-GM's sales have dropped rapidly. From 2020 to 2024, its sales dropped from 1.4 million to 435,000 vehicles.
In mid-2025, reports emerged that SAIC-GM was removing the Chevrolet brand from the Chinese market. SAIC-GM general manager Lu Xiao stated that “rumors that the Chevrolet brand will withdraw from China are false news”, and “we will not give up Chevrolet”. While the brand remains in China as of 2026, three models planned for the market have been cancelled: the Equinox (ICE), Equinox EV, and a next-generation Blazer.
Exports
In September 2006, General Motors launched the Chevrolet Corsa Plus in Chile built by SAIC-GM, an export version of the first-generation Chevrolet Sail which in turn is a version of the 4-door Opel Corsa with a 1.6-liter engine. It is the first export market to receive a vehicle manufactured by SAIC-GM.
In 2010, SAIC-GM started exporting the second-generation Chevrolet Sail to Latin American markets, starting with Chile. The third-generation Sail or Aveo, also built by SAIC-GM, was exported to Mexico and the Caribbean since 2017 until 2023, when SAIC-GM-Wuling took over the development and production of the Sail/Aveo.
In 2016, General Motors started importing the Buick Envision into the US from China. The Envision is built by SAIC-GM at its Dongyue Motors plant. Buick expected to sell 40,000 to 50,000 units of the Envision annually in North America.
Since 2020, SAIC-GM also exports the Chevrolet Equinox to Uzbekistan. SAIC-GM also assisted UzAuto Motors, the largest Uzbek automaker formerly known as GM Uzbekistan to produce Chevrolet vehicles such as the Onix.
Facilities
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
!Name
!City
!Opened
! class="unsortable" |Description
! class="unsortable" |Current products
|-
|SAIC-GM
|Jinqiao, Pudong district, Shanghai
|1998
|Occupies an area of . There are 3 vehicle production plants (North, South, & East). North was the original plant built in 1998. South began production in 2005. The East or Cadillac plant began production in 2016.
|
- Cadillac CT5
- Cadillac CT6
- Cadillac XT4
- Cadillac XT5
- Cadillac XT6
- Chevrolet Malibu XL
- Buick GL8 ES/Avenir (Mk III)
- Buick GL8 Century (Mk IV)
- Buick LaCrosse
- Buick Regal (E2XX)
- Engines
- Engine components
- Transmissions
- Ultium batteries
|-
|SAIC-GM Dongyue Motors Co., Ltd.
|Yantai, Shandong
|2001
|Originally founded in 2001 as Yantai Bodyshop Corp. which built Daewoo vehicles (Daewoo Lanos) under license from Daewoo Motor Co. SAIC-GM took over the plant in 2002. There are two vehicle production plants, North and South. SAIC-GM Dongyue Motors joint venture is owned 50% by SAIC-GM, 25% by GM China, & 25% by SAIC.
|
- Buick Envision
|-
|SAIC-GM Dongyue Powertrain Co., Ltd.
|Yantai, Shandong
|1999
|Originally founded in 1999 as Shandong Daewoo Automotive Engine Co., Ltd., a 50/50 joint venture between Daewoo Motors and Chinese partners owned by the Shandong provincial government. SAIC-GM took over the plant in 2005. The joint venture is owned 50% by SAIC-GM, 25% by GM China, & 25% by SAIC.
|
- Engines
- Transmissions including: 6T30/6T40/6T45/6T50, CVT
- Past Engines: Family I, Gen 3 engine
|-
|SAIC-GM Wuhan Branch
|Wuhan, Hubei
|2015
|Past models: Chevrolet Cavalier
|
- Chevrolet Equinox
- Chevrolet Monza
- Chevrolet Menlo
- Buick Verano Pro
- Buick Velite 6
- Buick Electra E5
- Buick Electra E7
- Buick Electra L7
- Cadillac Optiq
- Engines
|}
Former facilities
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%"
!Name
!City
!Opened
!Closed
! class="unsortable" |Description
! class="unsortable" |Former products
|-
|SAIC-GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co., Ltd.
|Shenyang, Liaoning
|1992
|2025
|Originally founded in 1992 as Jinbei GM Automotive Co. Ltd., a 30/70 joint venture between GM & Shenyang Jinbei Automotive. Restructured into a 50/50 joint venture between GM & Jinbei in 1998. SAIC-GM took over the joint venture in 2004, buying out Jinbei. The new SAIC-GM Norsom Motors joint venture is owned 50% by SAIC-GM, 25% by GM China, & 25% by SAIC. It has three phases of buildings.
|
- Chevrolet Tracker
- Buick GL8 Legacy (Mk II)
- Engines
|}
Related businesses
SAIC and GM also operated other joint ventures, including:
- Zhuang Jingxiong (2023–2024)
- Lu Xiao (2024–present)
Current models
Buick
- Century
- Electra E5
- Electra L7
- Electra E7
- Electra Encasa
- Envision Plus
- Envision S
- GL8
- LaCrosse
- Regal
- Regal GS
- Velite 6
- Verano
<gallery heights=90>
File:BUICK GL8 CENTURY (BUICK GL8 FOURTH GENENRATION) China.jpg|Buick Century
file:BUICK ELECTRA E5 China (3).jpg|Buick Electra E5
file:Buick Electra E7 (至境E7) 01 China 2026-03-26.jpg|Buick Electra E7
file:Buick L7 For Guangzhou Auto Show 2025.jpg|Buick Electra L7
File:BUICK ELECTRA ENCASA (BUICK GL8 ENCASA) China.jpg|Buick Electra Encasa
file:Buick Envision S facelift 005.jpg|Buick Envision S
file:BUICK ENVISION PLUS China (10).jpg|Buick Envision Plus
File:BUICK GL8 ES PHEV (2).jpg|Buick GL8 Lu Zun PHEV
File:BUICK GL8 ES (FACELIFT) (3).jpg|Buick GL8 ES Lu Zun
File:BUICK GL8 LS (5).jpg|Buick GL8 Lu Shang
File:2023 Buick GL8 Land Business Edition (third facelift, front).jpg|Buick GL8 Onshore Business facelift
File:BUICK LACROSSE FOURTH GENERATION China.jpg|Buick LaCrosse IV
File:BUICK REGAL SIXTH GENERATION (OPEL INSIGNIA B) China (13).jpg|Buick Regal (China, III 2023 facelift)
File:BUICK REGAL GS China (6).jpg|Buick Regal GS (China, III facelift)
File:Buick Velite 6 EV 003.jpg|Buick Velite 6 EV
File:Buick Verano III Pro Sanming 01 2022-07-07.jpg|Buick Verano
</gallery>
Cadillac
- CT5
- CT6
- Vistiq
- XT4
- XT5
- XT6
<gallery heights=90>
file:Cadillac CT5 facelift 001.jpg|Cadillac CT5
file:Cadillac CT6 II 006.jpg|Cadillac CT6
file:Cadillac Vistiq 001.jpg|Cadillac Vistiq
file:Cadillac XT4 facelift 001.jpg|Cadillac XT4
file:Cadillac XT5 II 005.jpg|Cadillac XT5
file:Cadillac XT6 IMG001.jpg|Cadillac XT6
</gallery>
Chevrolet
- Blazer
- Equinox
- Equinox Plus
- Malibu XL
- Menlo
- Monza
- Seeker
- Tracker
<gallery heights=90>
File:Chevrolet Blazer (China) 001.jpg|Chevrolet Blazer
File:Chevrolet Equinox III facelift IMG001 (cropped).jpg|Chevrolet Equinox
File:Chevrolet Equinox Plus (探界者Plus) RS 01 China 2025-03-28.jpg|Chevrolet Equinox Plus
File:Chevrolet Malibu XL facelift.jpg|Chevrolet Malibu XL
File:Chevrolet Menlo EV 002.jpg|Chevrolet Menlo EV
File:2023 SAIC-GM-Chevrolet Monza (facelift, front).jpg|Chevrolet Monza
File:Chevrolet Seeker 006.jpg|Chevrolet Seeker
File:2019 SAIC-GM-Chevrolet Tracker.jpg|Chevrolet Tracker
</gallery>
Former models
Buick
- Electra E4
- Enclave
- Encore
- Encore GX
- Encore Plus
- Envista
- Envision
- Excelle
- Excelle XT
- Excelle GT
- Excelle GX
- GL6
- New Century
- Park Avenue
- Roadmaster
- Royaum
- Velite 5
- Velite 7
- Verano Hatch/GS
<gallery heights=90>
file:BUICK ELECTRA E4 China (6).jpg|Buick Electra E4
file:Buick Enclave facelift 01 China 2015-04-06.jpg|Buick Enclave (facelift)
file:BUICK ENCLAVE China (9).jpg|Buick Enclave II
File:Buick Encore facelift 4 China 2017-04-06.jpg|Buick Encore I
file:Buick Encore II 20210327.jpg|Buick Encore II
file:Buick Encore GX IMG002.jpg|Buick Encore GX
file:BUICK ENCORE PLUS (BUICK ENCORE GX FACELIFT).jpg|Buick Encore Plus
file:Buick Envista 001 (cropped).jpg|Buick Envista
file:2020 SAIC-GM Buick Envision (facelift, front).jpg|Buick Envision
file:Buick Excelle XT 01 China 2012-04-22.JPG|Buick Excelle XT
File:2018 Buick Excelle GT.jpg|Buick Excelle GT II
File:2018 Buick Excelle GX 1.3T front 8.14.18.jpg|Buick Excelle GX
File:Buick Excelle II 002.jpg|Buick Excelle
file:2018 SAIC-GM Buick GL6.jpg|Buick GL6
File:Buick "New Century" GL China 2015-04-13.jpg|Buick New Century GL
File:Buick Park Avenue China 2016-04-16.jpg|Buick Park Avenue
File:Buick Roadmaster VIII 01 China 2016-04-08.jpg|Buick Roadmaster
File:Buick Royaum China 2012-05-20.JPG|Buick Royaum
File:Buick Velite 5 front.jpg|Buick Velite 5
File:Buick Velite 6 PHEV.jpg|Buick Velite 6 PHEV
File:Buick Velite 7 IMG004.jpg|Buick Velite 7
file:Buick Verano II hatch China 2016-04-07.jpg|Buick Verano hatch
file:BUICK VERANO HATCHBACK China.jpg|Buick Verano hatch GS
</gallery>
Cadillac
- ATS
- ATS-L
- CT4
- CTS
- Escalade
- Fleetwood Brougham
- Fleetwood
- GT4
- Lyriq
- Optiq
- SLS
- SRX
- XLR
- XTS
<gallery heights=90>
File:Cadillac ATS China 2015-04-06.jpg|Cadillac ATS
file:Cadillac ATS-L 3 China 2016-04-04.jpg|Cadillac ATS-L
file:CADILLAC CT4 China (2).jpg|Cadillac CT4
File:Cadillac CTS China 2016-04-07.jpg|Cadillac CTS I
file:Cadillac CTS 2.0 Turbo Luxury (III) – Frontansicht, 5. September 2015, Düsseldorf.jpg|Cadillac CTS III
File:Cadillac Escalade III China 2015-04-08.jpg|Cadillac Escalade III
File:Cadillac Escalade IV 01 China 2015-04-14.jpg|Cadillac Escalade IV
File:Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham China 2017-04-01.jpg|Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
File:1993-1996 Cadillac Fleetwood 2.jpg|Cadillac Fleetwood
file:CADILLAC GT4 China (5).jpg|Cadillac GT4
file:CADILLAC_LYRIQ_China_(2).jpg|Cadillac Lyriq
file:Cadillac Optiq 005.jpg|Cadillac Optiq
File:Cadillac SRX China 2015-04-08.jpg|Cadillac SRX I
File:Cadillac SRX II 01 China 2012-06-02.JPG|Cadillac SRX II
File:Cadillac SLS 01 China 2016-03-28.jpg|Cadillac SLS
File:Cadillac XLR.JPG|Cadillac XLR
File:Cadillac XTS China 2016-04-16.jpg|Cadillac XTS I
File:Cadillac XTS facelift 01 China 2018-03-28.jpg|Cadillac XTS II
</gallery>
Chevrolet
- Aveo
- Camaro RS
- Caprice Classic
- Captiva
- Cavalier
- Corsica
- Corvette (C4)
- Corvette (C6)
- Corvette (C7)
- Cruze
- Colorado
- Epica
- Epica II
- Lova
- Lova RV
- Lumina APV
- Malibu
- Onix
- Orlando
- Sail
- Spark
- Silverado
- Trax
- Trailblazer
<gallery heights=90>
File:Chevrolet Aveo T300 hatch CN facelift China 2016-04-19.jpg|Chevrolet Aveo
File:CHEVROLET CAMARO SIXTH GENERATION China (6).jpg|Chevrolet Camaro VI
File:Chevrolet Caprice Classic facelift 01 China 2016-04-14.jpg|Chevrolet Caprice
File:Chevrolet Captiva China 2012-05-04.JPG|Chevrolet Captiva I
file:Chevrolet Captiva facelift China 2012-06-07.JPG|Chevrolet Captiva II
File:2018 SAIC-GM-Chevrolet Cavalier, front 8.8.18.jpg|Chevrolet Cavalier
File:Chevrolet Corsica 01 China 2016-04-13.jpg|Chevrolet Corsica
File:Mrx86-ZR1-Corvette.jpg|Chevrolet Corvette C4
File:Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 -- 2011 DC.jpg|Chevrolet Corvette C6
File:CIAS (1 of 1)-13 (47096760131).jpg|Chevrolet Corvette C7
File:Chevrolet Cruze J300 sedan China 2012-04-14.jpg|Chevrolet Cruze I
File:Chevrolet Cruze J400 CN 01 China 2015-04-06.jpg|Chevrolet Cruze II
file:Chevrolet Epica V200 China 2012-05-12.JPG|Chevrolet Epica V200
File:Chevrolet Epica V250 CN 01 China 2012-04-08.jpg|Chevrolet Epica V250
File:Chevrolet Lova 01 China 2012-04-28.JPG|Chevrolet Lova
file:CHEVROLET LOVA RV China.jpg|Chevrolet Lova RV
File:Chevrolet-Lumina-APV.jpg|Chevrolet Lumina APV
File:Chevrolet Malibu VIII 0001 China 2012-06-02.jpg|Chevrolet Malibu pre-facelift
File:Chevrolet Malibu VIII China 2014-04-30.jpg|Chevrolet Malibu first facelift
file:Chevrolet Malibu VIII CN facelift China 2016-04-04.jpg|Chevrolet Malibu second facelift
File:Chevrolet Orlando II 005.jpg|Chevrolet Orlando
file:2019 SAIC-GM Chevrolet Onix (front).jpg|Chevrolet Onix
File:Chevrolet Sail China 2012-04-14.JPG|Chevrolet Sail I
File:2012 Chevrolet Sail sedan front 8.2.18.jpg|Chevrolet Sail II
file:Chevrolet Sail 3 001 China 2016-04-13.jpg|Chevrolet Sail III
File:Chevrolet Spark M300 China 2016-04-03.jpg|Chevrolet Spark
File:CHEVROLET TRAX China (4).jpg|Chevrolet Trax (facelift)
File:CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER (VSS-S) China.jpg|Chevrolet TrailBlazer
</gallery>
Sales
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Calendar year
! Total sales
! Ref.
|-
| 1999
| 19,790
|
|-
| 2000
| 30,543
|
|-
| 2006
| 413,367
|
|-
| 2007
| 500,308
|
|-
| 2017
| 2,000,187
|
|-
| 2018
| 1,970,117
|
|-
| 2019
| 1,600,102
|
|-
| 2020
| 1,467,470
|
|-
| 2021
| 1,331,567
|
|-
| 2022
| 1,170,107
|
|-
| 2023
| 1,001,017
|
|-
|2024
|673,007
|
|-
|2025
|562,185
|
|}
See also
- SAIC-GM-Wuling