BAIC Group

Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC) 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); military vehicle and light truck maker BAW; and truck, bus, and agricultural equipment maker, Foton Motor.[3] A large proportion of sales BAIC's sales is in agricultural, commercial, and military vehicles.
== History[edit] ==
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[edit] ===
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]
== Subsidiaries[edit] ==
=== BAIC Motor Corporation Co., Ltd.[edit] ===
Main article: BAIC Motor
BAIC Motor (北京汽车) is the main subsidiary of BAIC Group, it is co-owned by BAIC Group and Beijing Municipal Government.[16] It currently operate the Beijing brand
=== BAIC BluePark New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.[edit] ===
Main article: BAIC BluePark
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.[17]
=== BAIC Group Off-road Vehicle Co., Ltd.[edit] ===
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 Motor Co., Ltd[edit] ===
Main article: Foton Motor
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 .
== Brands[edit] ==
BAIC has a wide product line that includes passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, military vehicles and agricultural machinery and construction machinery.
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.
* Arcfox and Beijing brand electric cars and SUVs are currently operated by BAIC BluePark.
* Beijing brand ICE cars, SUVs are operated by BAIC Motor.
* Beijing brand off-road SUV are marketed as Beijing Off-road, operated by BAIC Group Off-road Vehicle Co., Ltd., The Beijing Off-road models are badged as Chinese characters "北京"(Beijing).
Category:Bus manufacturers of China
Category:Car manufacturers of China
Category:Chinese brands
Category:Multinational companies headquartered in China
Category:1958 establishments in China