| Type | State-owned enterprise |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958[1] |
| Area served | China |
| Products | commercial and passenger vehicles |
| Website | Beijing Automotive Group |
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co Ltd (Chinese: 北京汽车工业控股有限责任公司; pinyin: Běijīng qìchēgōngyè jìnchūkǒu gōngsī) is a state-owned enterprise and holding company of several Chinese automobile and machine manufacturers, such as Beijing Automobile Works Co Ltd, etc.[2] Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co Ltd (BAIC)'s state-run parents may include Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group) (Chinese: 北京汽车集团), and The Beijing State-owned Assets Management Co (Chinese: 北京市国有资产经营有限公司).[3] This can explain why BAIC companies are sometimes referred to collectively as the Beijing Automotive Group.
Commonly known by the name Beiqi or the acronym BAIC, it is thought of as the fifth-largest domestic Chinese automaker.[4]
Located in Beijing, Beiqi makes Hyundai and Mercedes-branded autos for sale on the Chinese market.
Beiqi 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.[5] It reached fifth place by selling nearly 1.5 millions units garnering a market share of more than 8%.[6]
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Founded in 1958, Beiqi companies build with Daimler-Benz and Hyundai.[7]
Today the company has a wide product line that includes more than the buses that are its traditional manufacture.[8] Beiqi products encompass many kinds of commercial vehicles, including: agricultural machinery, construction machinery, light trucks, and military vehicles, etc.[9] As of 2010 commercial vehicle production capacity is estimated to be around 700,000 units per year.[1] Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
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, Beiqi fulfilled its aim of obtaining valuable Western equity 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) for sale in China.[11]
The intellectual property bought by Beiqi 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 based on Saab technology should go on sale in 2012 with the 9-3 being reborn as the Beijing Auto T60. [13][14]
Beiqi aims to expand in Southern China, and will purchase Guangzhou Baolong (SSE: 600988) for this purpose gaining a Southern production base[15] and planning construction of two more.[16]
A trial production run of 30 electric vehicles using Saab and self-developed platforms occurred in late 2010.[17] China subsidies oil (an incentive for the State to encourage use and manufacture of electric cars), and Chinese automakers see opportunities in less mature electric vehicles because Western companies have yet to develop much of a lead in the technology.[18]
Beiqi has several joint ventures with foreign automakers. The following is an incomplete list.
A joint venture with Korean Hyundai Motors, Beijing Hyundai Motor products sold well in 2009 and 2010.[19] New models designed for the Chinese market are due to appear.[20]
Daimler AG makes Mercedes-Benz cars and trucks with Beiqi and has two joint ventures with the company.[21]
Beijing Foton Daimler Automobile Co Ltd, a joint venture between Daimler-Benz and Beiqi subsidiary, Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd, makes commercial trucks.[22]
As of 2010 Beijing Benz, a Beiqi joint venture with German automaker Daimler AG, makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class models for sale in China and seeks to make more of the models it sells in China locally.[21]
The brand name "Beijing" has been selected for Beiqi own-brand autos, which will go on sale in 2011 although 2010 was the initial launch target.[23] Based on purchased Saab technology, these vehicles will be the first passenger cars the company has produced aside from those made by its Chinese-foreign joint ventures.[1]
The company has also built BAIC-branded military and civilian light trucks.[24] The Beijing Light Automobile Company (BLAC), which until 1988 had been known as the Beijing Automobile factory No. 2, built trucks since the late 1960s when production of the independently developed BJ130 began. Its introduction was slowed down considerably by the upheavals of the Cultural revolution.[25] In 1984 assembly of the Isuzu Elf/NHR began (originally as the BJ136, later as the BJ1030/1040/1050 series). In 1988 a new plant for these trucks was built with aid from the Japanese, where petrol and diesel light truck engines were also produced.[26] BLAC went bankrupt in 2002.[25]
Along with several other production bases, four of which are in eastern China, Beiqi controls the former Guangzhou Baolong base in Southern China (most probably in Zengcheng city, Guangzhou, Guangdong province).[27] Plans exist to build two more southern production bases–one in Guangzhou, Guangdong province by 2012, and another in Chongqing.[28]
A planned production base will produce own-brand autos using Saab technology. It may be located in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, or at Sanxiang town, Zhongshan city, Guangdong province, and could become operational in June 2011.[29]
The company claims production bases in at least 26 Chinese cities.[30] This count most likely includes component manufacturers as well.