BAIC Group at the South African Festival of Motoring

On August 21 local time, the annual South African Festival of Motoring was opened at Johannesburg. As the largest and most influential auto show in South Africa, it has an important opportunity for major auto makers to explore the South African and the entire African market. This year, BAIC Group showcased its main products in the local market and released brand new products developed for the local market, which strengthened the brand’s communication with local consumers and demonstrated its international image. Known as the Rainbow Nation, South Africa is the second largest economy in Africa, the locomotive of Africa’s industrialization, the bridgehead of Africa’s economy and culture, and a key area in BAIC Group’s overseas markets. Ye Zhengmao, Deputy General Manager of BAIC, said at the event that “BAIC Global” is a dream the group pursues unswervingly. The rapid development of BAIC South Africa (BAIC SA) is the fruit of joint efforts by Chinese and South African people and symbolizes the commitment BAIC Group has made to South Africa is raised to a new level. BAIC Group is honest, affectionate, powerful and innovative. It will make unremitting efforts for joint development of China and South Africa and mutual benefits and win-win in trade cooperation with the most open attitude and the most pragmatic cooperation. 

Debut of BJ40 Plus RHD, A Localized Product

BJ40 PLUS, an RHD customized for South African consumers, debuted at the South African Festival of Motoring. Over 20 mainstream media and more than 30 journalists in South Africa witnessed the amazing moment. As a star product of BAIC Group’s off-roader lineup, BJ40 PLUS intensifies the product value of “high-performance professional SUV”. For South African off-roader enthusiasts, expertise, all purpose and dynamics are major indicators of an SUV’s performance. BJ40 PLUS features 2.3T engine that secures strong power and coil spring front suspension that allows free refitting. BAIC Group also exhibited D20 and X25, which have been introduced to South Africa. X25 and D20 combine fashionable appearance and excellent handling configuration, and satisfy local consumers with “high performance and low fuel consumption”. Unlike common auto shows, the South African Festival of Motoring is held at Kyalami Racing Circuit with professional tracks so that visitors can not only see BAIC products but also test-drive the products to experience each model’s driving performance. Several main products of BAIC roaring on the tracks drew crowds and test drives.

BAIC South Africa Setting up a Model of Overall “Going Global” Solution

In addition to products, BAIC Group is vigorously promoting an all-round “going global” of products, brands, technologies, management and services. BAIC South Africa sets up a model of overall “going global” solution for BAIC. In recent years, the base has been growing rapidly. In December 2015, in the presence of leaders of both countries, BAIC Group and South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation signed a cooperative auto plant project in South Africa; in August 2016, the cornerstone of the plant was laid; on July 24, 2018, leaders of both countries witnessed the first locally assembled car rolling off the assembly line in South Africa; less than a year later, in June 28 this year, the BAIC SA plant’s SKD production line was completed with continuous mass production capacity, and finished model certification, staff training and market expansion. In the future, BAIC SA will produce passenger cars, SUV, off-roaders, light commercial vehicles and pickups, and other auto products suitable for the South African market. Moreover, it will produce both LHD and RHD products. The BAIC SA industrial base will be built into a comprehensive industrial base that integrates auto R&D, auto making, auto finance, auto services, car rental, used cars and new energy business, and a model of China-South Africa cooperation that serves South Africa and radiates throughout Africa.

BAIC Global, BAIC Group Firmly Promotes Internationalization

BAIC Group is a key auto group of China and a globally influential and competitive international auto company. In 2018, it reported RMB480.7 billion of revenue and 2.4 million cars sold around the world; in 2019, it ranked the 129th on the Fortune Global 500 list. With over 60 years’ development, BAIC Group has become a large-scale auto group with businesses covering vehicle R&D and manufacturing, general aviation, manufacturing of auto parts, trade of auto services, investment and financing. “BAIC Global” is a dream BAIC Group pursues unswervingly. In recent years, by deepening and expanding international cooperation, it has set up several professional R&D branches in main developed countries and built KD plants in more than 30 countries and regions, expanding its sales channels around the world.

In the first half this year, BAIC International made new breakthroughs in key markets including South Africa, Southeast Asia and Mexico, and Foton remained No.1 in China’s export of commercial vehicles. In terms of joint venture cooperation, BAIC Group’s investment in Daimler further deepened strategic cooperation between the parties and strengthened their synergy and support from strategic and management levels to technological and business fields; BAIC Group reinforced cooperation with Hyundai, paid more attention to the demands of Chinese consumers in terms of introducing new energy products and developing new technologies, promoted multi-dimensional innovation of Beijing Hyundai in sales, brand, cost and organization, and made it rooted in China more deeply; BAIC Group and Magna jointly built a high-level NEV innovation center and intelligent plant in Zhenjiang, which produced high-profile NEV brand ARCFOX, provides electric vehicle R&D and manufacturing services to third parties, and creates a new pattern for high-end Chinese NEV brand to go global.

With increasing strategic opportunities created by the Belt and Road Initiative, high-quality development of BAIC Group and enhancement of its international level, BAIC Group will have an enlarging friend circle around the world and a widening “go global” road. In globalization, BAIC Group will help Made in China exert more power.