Huawei and SAIC announce joint electric car brand Shangjie

Tech giant Huawei has officially unveiled yet another automotive brand, Shangjie. This venture is a partnership with SAIC Motor, a major Chinese automaker, and the two companies signed a formal agreement two months prior.

Richard Yu, a top executive at Huawei, introduced the Shangjie brand at an event showcasing Huawei's HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) business. He announced that the first electric vehicle under the Shangjie name is expected to debut this fall. Shangjie becomes the fifth vehicle brand operating under the HIMA umbrella. The other brands include Aito from Seres Group, Luxeed from Chery, Stelato from BAIC Group, and Maextro from JAC.

SAIC's president, Jia Jianxu, revealed that Shangjie will have an initial investment of RMB 6 billion, which translates to approximately $820 million, and a dedicated team of over 5,000 people will work on this new brand. Mr. Jia also stated that Shangjie will use SAIC's most advanced production lines and will eventually have its own exclusive factory.

According to Mr. Jia, Shangjie will focus on stylish design, advanced technology, and a high-quality driving experience for its customers. SAIC and Huawei initially signed an in-depth cooperation agreement on February 21 in Shanghai, where SAIC is headquartered. Their collaboration will span various aspects of the car-making process, including how the vehicles are designed and manufactured, how the parts are sourced, and how the cars are sold and serviced.

Neither of the companies has released specific details about the first Shangjie model, but earlier reports from local news outlets suggest that it will be aimed at younger buyers. These reports also indicated that the starting price for the first model would be around RMB 150,000 ($20,400), making it the most affordable electric car under the HIMA umbrella.

According to local sources, all Shangjie models will be sold through HIMA's existing sales channels. The same reports claim the first Shangjie EV will be based on SAIC's Roewe new vehicle, internally known as the "ES39."

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