JAC Group (Chinese: 江汽集团; officially Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp., Ltd.)[2] is a Chinese automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer.[3] The company is based in Hefei, Anhui Province, China.

Anhui Jianghuai Automobile
Group Corp., Ltd.
JAC Motors
FormerlyHefei Jianghuai Automobile
Company typeState-owned Public
SSE: 600418
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1964; 60 years ago (1964) (as Hefei Jianghuai Automobile)
Headquarters,
China
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Xiang Xingchu (项兴初, Chairman and President)[1]
ProductsPassenger cars
Trucks
Buses
Automotive components
OwnerJAG
SubsidiariesJAC-Navistar Diesel (50%)
Volkswagen Anhui (25%)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese安徽江淮汽車集團股份有限公司
Simplified Chinese安徽江淮汽车集团股份有限公司
Transcriptions
Websitejac.com.cn

The company produced about 524,000 units in 2021, including 271,800 commercial vehicles and 252,500 passenger vehicles. It also sold 16,800 BEVs in December 2021.[4] It is considered a relatively small carmaker, ranking outside of the top 10 Chinese automakers in terms of cars sold.

History

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Established in 1964 as Hefei Jianghuai Automobile Factory, its name was changed to Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. in 1997.[5] The company made an IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2001.[2]

JAC has historically only produced commercial trucks under the brand name Jianghu(undei), but MPVs and SUVs appeared in the 2000s. By 2007, the company had gained government approval for passenger car production but, nonetheless, continued to be referred to as a truck maker.[6] Prior to the 2007 acquisition of a passenger car license, JAC cooperated with Hyundai Motor Company in the early 2000s in an attempt to expand its product line.[citation needed] Beginning in 2003,[7] it assembled Hyundai MPVs although this stopped sometime prior to 2007.[8] At least two models based on Hyundai technology continued to be made by JAC after the cooperation was cancelled–a MPV[9] and a SUV.[10] Hyundai explored setting up a joint venture with the company in 2004.[7]

In 2009, the Chinese government indicated that it supported consolidation in the Chinese auto industry, leading analysts to predict the possibility of JAC joining with Chery since they are both located in Anhui province.[11] On the surface such a merger would make sense: Chery mainly built passenger cars, and JAC was almost entirely focused on trucks at the time. Since then, however, JAC has made it clear that it is not interested in consolidation under the aegis of the larger Chery.[12] JAC has begun to concentrate more on passenger cars, and a 2010 announcement of a new electric vehicle program may—at least partially—have been an effort to stave off the rumored merger.[12]

Sales reached more than 445,000 units in 2012.[13]

In 2013 it was one of the top ten most-productive vehicle manufacturers in China selling 458,500 units for 2.5% market share and reaching eighth place.[14] JAC dropped one spot to ninth in 2011 making nearly 500,000 vehicles, and in 2012 a fall in units produced to about 445,000 precipitated the company's moving down one more rung to tenth place.[15] Estimated production capacity is over 500,000 units/year as of 2009.[2]

In 2014, JAC Motors announced its full acquisition of JAC Group, the new company would be trade as JAC Motors in the stock market but operated in the name of JAC Group.[16]

In 2016 JAC entered into an agreement with DR Automobiles to export its vehicles to Italy. JAC models made in China will be re-approved according to European safety and anti-pollution regulations by DR and sold with the DR badge. The first cars imported into Italy are the JAC Refine S3 renamed DR4 (or EVO 4) and the JAC iEV40 sold as the DR Evo Electric (or EVO 3 Electric).

Cooperation with Volkswagen

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In 2017 JAC and Volkswagen Group announced a joint venture to produce electric cars for the Chinese market with the SEAT brand, in April 2018 the JAC-Volkswagen joint venture was officially born, which however operates through the new Sol brand, and no longer SEAT. The first product is the SOL E20X vehicle, an electric crossover resulting from a badge engineering of the JAC iEV40 (also called JAC Refine S2 EV) with a front redesigned by the SEAT style center in Spain.

In 2020, Volkswagen Group signs letters of intent between Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. Ltd. and the Government of Anhui Province, for the increase of the Volkswagen Group's stake in the JAC Volkswagen joint venture, from the current 50% to 75%. A transition that also requires investment in JAG (JAC Holding Group), the parent company of JAC and owned by the Anhui Government. The agreement between the parties, subject to the usual regulatory approvals, provides for the investment of an amount equal to one billion euros and should be concluded by the end of the year. Volkswagen would also acquire 50% of JAG (the parent company of JAC).[17]

Volkswagen Group holds a 75% share of Volkswagen Anhui while JAC Group holds a 25% share. Volkswagen Group also owned 50% of JAC Holding Group (JAG), the parent company of JAC Group, which means Volkswagen Group also owns a 14.09% stake of JAC Group. As a result, the ownership percentage held by Volkswagen Group in Volkswagen Anhui actually reaches 78.52%.

 
The structure of JAC Group in 2023

OEM for NIO

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In April 2016, NIO and JAC Group signed a manufacturing cooperation agreement, preliminarily confirming a production and sales target of 50,000 vehicles per year for a duration of 5 years.[18]

In 2018, NIO's first mass-produced model, the NIO ES8, manufactured by JAC, was officially launched.

In March 2021, NIO and JAC Group established Jianglai Advanced Manufacturing Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd., with each party holding a 50% stake in the joint venture. In the same month, both company agree to extend the contract of manufacturing to May 2024. As part of the agreement renewal, NIO paid JAC CNY 1.2 billion for the extension of contract manufacturing services.

In December 2023, NIO has announced the acquisition of JAC factories manufacturing NIO vehicles at the price of CNY 3.158 billion, which marks the end of OEM for NIO.[19]

Since the commencement of OEM partnership, NIO has paid JAC the amount of CNY 223 million, CNY 441 million, CNY 532 million, CNY 715 million, and CNY 1.127 billion in the years 2018 to 2022 respectively. Over the five-year period, the total amount paid for contract manufacturing services reached a substantial sum of CNY 3.038 billion.[18]

On January 11, 2024, JAC has signed strategic cooperation framework agreements with Nio to establish cooperation in battery standards, battery swapping technology, the construction of battery swapping service networks, and operation.[20]

Partnership with Huawei

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In December 2023, JAC announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Huawei. The two parties will collaborate in manufacturing, sales, and services to develop premium EV based on Huawei's intelligent automotive solutions.[21]

In August 2024, at the Stelato S9 launch conference, Huawei officially announced the fourth brand of HIMA collaborated with JAC, the Maextro (Chinese: 尊界). The first vehicle, Maextro S800 is scheduled to roll off the production line by the end of 2024 and would be launched in the first half of 2025.[22]

Brands

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JAC as the main brand, has gone through multiple transition during last decades. Originally, JAC has several products line. The Heyue for sedans, hatchbacks, MPVs, and SUVs, the Refine for large MPVs/minivans and vans.

In 2017, the Heyue series was discontinued and the final models were replaced by electric variants.[23]

In 2019, a new series, Jiayue, was introduced. Multiple Refine vehicles have been facelifted and moved to this series.

In 2020, JAC started to rebadge JAC Jiayue series models to Sehol brand, resulted in the Sehol A5, Sehol X4, Sehol X7. The rebadge is in fact a move to move all sedans and SUV under the Sehol brand.

In 2023, JAC revealed that they decided to phase out the Sehol brand in the future, several Sehol models, like QX, A5 and X8, were rebadged back to JAC brand.[24]

Sehol

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Sehol (思皓) was established in 2018 as a joint venture between JAC and Volkswagen, originally positioned as a brand for pure electric vehicles. In 2020, the Volkswagen Group increased its stake in the joint venture, JAC Volkswagen, to 75% and officially renamed Volkswagen Anhui. The Sehol brand has been licensed for use by JAC, essentially making it no longer a joint venture brand.[25]

In 2023, JAC revealed that they decided to phase out the Sehol brand in the future.[24]

JAC Yiwei

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JAC Yiwei (江淮钇为) is JAC's brand for entry-level passenger EV, launched in April 2023.[26]

JAC Refine

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JAC Refine (江淮瑞风) was a brand of JAC for commercial MPV/Van. In 2020, JAC Refine was lifted as an independent brand from the MPV product line of JAC.[28]

Maextro

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Maextro (Chinese: 尊界; pinyin: Zūnjiè) brand used for Huawei's collaboration with JAC Group.

Former models

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Sedan

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Van/MPV

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Light trucks, pickups, and vans

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  • Sunray (2.5 and 2.8 litre) (星锐)
  • JAC Ruiling/ JAC Reni/ JAC K5
  • V7
  • Hunter (悍途)
  • Shuailing (帅铃)
  • Junling (骏铃)
    • Junling E series
    • Junling V series
    • Junling G series
  • Kangling/ HY(康铃)
    • K series
    • H series
    • X series
    • G series
  • Lanmao (蓝猫), electric logistics

Logo evolution

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Operations

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A 40,000 unit/year medium-to-heavy truck production base should become operation in 2012[29] and is probably located in Hefei.[note 1]

Research and development

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An R&D facility in Hefei, capital of the Anhui province, is complemented by three overseas R&D centres in Turin, Tokyo and Seoul.[2]

Joint ventures

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JAC-Navistar Diesel Engine Company (JND)

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JAC announced a pair of joint ventures with Navistar International Corporation, NC2 Global (itself a Navistar/Caterpillar joint venture).[30] The NC2 joint venture will manufacture heavy duty trucks. The Navistar joint venture, called JAC-Navistar Diesel Engine Company (JND), will build medium to heavy diesel engines in China with parts and services provisioned by Navistar.[3] The new companies will both be located in Hefei where JAC is also based.[3] Cummins purchased Navistar's equity in the engine joint venture in 2018.[31]

JAC-Volkswagen (Sehol)

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Sehol (Chinese: 思皓; Sihao[32]) is a car brand launched on April 24, 2018, by SEAT and JAC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. joint venture.[33]

Sales

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JAC Motor sales data[34]
Year Sales
2010 442,547
2011 466,459
2012 448,813
2013 495,737
2014 446,802
2015 588,052
2016 643,342
2017 510,892
2018 462,477
2019 421,241
2020 456,125
2021 524,224
2022 500,401
2023 592,499

Sales outside China

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JAC began the export of vehicles to Bolivia in 1990, later expanding to over one hundred countries.[35] Light trucks are a popular export product.[36]

Some JAC exports are in the form of knock-down kits, which are assembled at overseas factories in countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Mexico and Iran.[37] As of 2010, a possible factory in Slovakia is under discussion.[38] Such factories are not necessarily owned by or affiliated with JAC. Knock-down exports are an easy way to gain access to developing markets without added after-sales service costs.

In 2009, JAC started a partnership with a distributor in Brazil, the SHC group. As of early 2011, it had more than 10,000 firm orders from its Brazilian partner.[39] JAC also had plans to build a production base in the country as of 2009.[40] This plan remained active until at least 2011, at which time the plant was to be located in Bahia state and built in cooperation with the SHC group, which was to provide 80% of the initial investment.[41]

In 2016, JAC entered the Philippines market through a local partner, selling heavy-duty trucks, and in 2018, passenger cars.[42][better source needed][43]

In 2017, JAC announced a joint venture in Mexico with Giant Motors (company owned by tycoon Carlos Slim). A factory has been built at Ciudad Sahagún, in the State of Hidalgo. With a surface of 65,000 square meters, has two lines of production with a capacity of over 25,000 units per year. Since early June 2017, two models are sold in Mexican market: SEI2 and SEI3, both SUVs are made in Mexico in this facility, the compact sedan J4 was added to the line-up in 2018.[44][45]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.

References

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  1. ^ "江淮汽车董事长项兴初:与华为合作车型预计年底下线". yicai.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Introduction: JAC Motors – Coordinate Balance and Pursue Excellence". JAC Motors. Archived from the original on 2009-02-13. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  3. ^ a b c U.S.-China Commercial Relations: Navistar Inc.-- JAC Truck and Engine Joint Ventures Archived 2011-02-03 at the Wayback Machine ustr.gov, January 2011
  4. ^ "JAC Group overfulfils 2021 annual sales target with BEV sales soaring 169.12% YoY".
  5. ^ For year established, see Introduction: JAC Motors-- Coordinate Balance and Pursue Excellence Archived 2009-02-13 at the Wayback Machine JAC Official Site
  6. ^ For historical production of trucks and 2000s introduction of MPVs and SUVs, see History Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine JAC Official Site
  7. ^ a b "Hyundai Motor sets up China truck JV". MarketWatch. Sep 8, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  8. ^ Ash (December 19, 2007). "Uhh oh! Two Korean Hyundai employees arrested for leaking info to JAC JAC MOTORS". chinacartimes.com. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  9. ^ "لوازم یدکی جک".
  10. ^ "JAC Eagle SUV gains Audi style grill for 2011 JAC MOTORS". chinacartimes.com. January 27, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  11. ^ Big China carmakers, on government cue, woo small rivals (page 2/2) reuters.com, Mon Mar 9, 2009 9:03am EDT
  12. ^ a b A Chinese Truck Maker's Electric Dreams blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime, August 10, 2010, 4:51 PM HKT
  13. ^ "JAC (Jianghuai) Teams up with Brazilian Dealer SHC". ChinaAutoWeb.com.
  14. ^ China Car Market 101: Who Makes All Those 18 Million Cars? thetruthaboutcars.com, January 19, 2011
  15. ^ For 2011 production figures, see 2011年1–11月前十家汽车生产企业销量排名. China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). 2011-12-16. Archived from the original on January 5, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  16. ^ "江淮汽车吸收合并江汽集团获无条件通过-新闻-上海证券报·中国证券网". m.cnstock.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  17. ^ "Volkswagen intensifies e-mobility activities in China". 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  18. ^ a b "江淮抱"大腿",合肥做"话事人"". auto.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  19. ^ "31亿!蔚来正式获得江淮工厂 - OFweek新能源汽车网". nev.ofweek.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  20. ^ "蔚来换电业务迎三项战略合作 | NIO". www.nio.cn. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  21. ^ Zhang/CnEVPost, Phate (2023-12-01). "JAC, Huawei sign deal to jointly make luxury EVs". CnEVPost. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  22. ^ "鸿蒙智行第四界正式定名尊界 首款车型将于明年上半年上市_新车上市_汽车_中金在线". auto.cnfol.com. Retrieved 2024-08-06.
  23. ^ "【图】2020广州车展:思皓X4正式亮相展台_汽车之家". www.autohome.com.cn.
  24. ^ a b "汽象对话丨夏顺礼:对江淮汽车来说,钇为的正式发布意味着什么?". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.[permanent dead link]
  25. ^ "第一视角07 | 江淮乘用车"去思皓化",新品牌钇为能否"后来居上"?". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ Chen, Dong Yi (2023-04-13). "JAC launched new EV with 9-in-1 powertrain under Yiwei new brand". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  27. ^ "JAC SOL (Sihao) E10X". 20 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "瑞风品牌独立,江淮重新聚焦商务车". www.sohu.com. Retrieved 2023-12-04.[permanent dead link]
  29. ^ China Jianghuai gets OK for $133 mln truck project reuters.com, Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:52am EST
  30. ^ "JAC Partners with NC2, Navistar". ChinaAutoWeb.com.
  31. ^ "Cummins and JAC Motors Form Joint Venture Partnership". Cummins Inc. 14 May 2018. Archived from the original on 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  32. ^ "Beijing, April 24, 2018. new brand, SIHAO". Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  33. ^ "SEAT heads to China with Volkswagen Group and JAC | SEAT".
  34. ^ "资讯 - 产销快报 - 江汽集团官方网站". www.jac.com.cn. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  35. ^ "Worldwide: Where there is a road, there is a JAC". JAC Motors. Archived from the original on 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  36. ^ Chery on top (Chinadaily) Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine Anhui province Official Site
  37. ^ For knock-down factory in Egypt, see The first JAC CKD SRV rolls off in Egypt Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine JAC Official Site
  38. ^ China's JAC eyes car assembly plant in Slovakia reuters.com, Tue May 4, 2010, 7:46am EDT
  39. ^ 46 JAC Brazil Outlets Opened at the Same Time, JAC Plans to Export More than 300,000 Units in 2015 Archived 2011-10-04 at the Wayback Machine JAC Official Site, 2011-3-23
  40. ^ China's JAC Motors to build vehicle plant in Brazil Archived 2012-03-23 at the Wayback Machine gasgoo.com, July 03, 2009
  41. ^ "China's JAC Motors to build plant in Brazil". Reuters. Oct 7, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
  42. ^ "JAC Corporate Profile | Jac Motors Philippines". Archived from the original on 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  43. ^ "JAC launches new vehicle lineup in PH market". www.topgear.com.ph.
  44. ^ La automotriz china JAC llega a México de la mano de Carlos Slim Archived 2017-03-16 at the Wayback Machine altonivel.com.mx, June 01, 2017
  45. ^ JAC invierte 4 mil 400 mdp en planta automotriz en Hidalgo milenio.com, January 02, 2017
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