Big test as SAIC seeks to regain its crown

Shangjie NEV brand hopes to turn around company's fortunes with Huawei tech

SAIC Motor is undergoing a profound transformation, as the once-unchallenged giant in China's auto industry struggles to explore a future in the vehicle market.

It has embraced Huawei in a partnership and is set to launch a new EV brand called Shangjie, with the first model expected to hit the market in late 2025, reported Yicai, a Shanghai-based business news outlet.

This brand, with the first model priced between 150,000-250,000 yuan ($20,600-34,400), will focus on affordability while integrating Huawei's smart driving systems, including its HarmonyOS cockpit and Qiankun intelligent driving technology.