Seres (automobiles)

Last updated
Seres
Company type Private
Industry
FoundedJanuary 2016 (2016-01)
FoundersXinghai Zhang
Headquarters
Santa Clara, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Parent Seres Group
Website www.global-seres.com

Logo used as SF Motors during 2016-2018 SFMotors.jpg
Logo used as SF Motors during 2016-2018

Seres (formerly SF Motors) [1] is a brand of electric vehicle marketed by Seres Group (formerly Chongqing Sokon Industry Group [2] [3] ). Several of their subsidiaries are also named "Seres".

Contents

Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. (Chinese :赛力斯汽车有限公司) (formerly Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. [4] ) [5] is an R&D and manufacturing subsidiary based in China. [5]

A US subsidiary, SF Motors Inc., [5] sometimes called Seres, [5] : 17  [6] headquartered in Santa Clara, California, represents Jinkang New Energy Automobile's business in US. [6] SF Motors Inc. has established several R&D facilities and is in the process of designing and producing a U.S.-based, electric vehicle line. The company has delayed launching a US product and laid off hundreds of workers, including 90 people at its design studio. [7] [8] The company is partnering with a number of automotive and tech suppliers. [9]

In China

Ma Ying-jeou visit Seres factory in China Ma Ying-jeou visit Seres factory-20230404.png
Ma Ying-jeou visit Seres factory in China

Timeline

SF Motors Inc.

Manufacturing/R&D facilities

SF Motors Inc. was founded in Santa Clara, California in January 2016 as a company focused on producing electric vehicles. In early 2017, SF Motors’ parent company, Sokon Industry Group, was granted production permits from the Chinese government to produce electric vehicles. [15]

The company has established[ when? ] seven R&D facilities in four countries, including the U.S., China, and Germany, with Japan coming online soon. Along with establishing an R&D center in the Ann Arbor area in Michigan; Seres is also partnering with the University of Michigan's Mcity innovation center, which is dedicated to leading the transformation to connected and automated vehicles. [16] SF Motors hosted its first University of Michigan-Sokon Autonomous Driving Seminar in August 2017.

In 2017, SF Motors completed the acquisition of the AM General Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, making it the only electric vehicle company at the time to have manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and China. [17] It will be the first manufacturing plant in the U.S. that is wholly owned by SF Motors. The acquisition includes retaining about 430 employees at the facility who previously helped build vehicles for both Mercedes-Benz and Hummer. [17]

Timeline

Chief Scientist Martin Eberhard. Martin Eberhard (cropped).jpg
Chief Scientist Martin Eberhard.

Leadership

Products

Seres

Seres is a brand of electric vehicle marketed by Seres Group . Since 2023, Seres brand has shifted to export-focus brand while AITO became a domestic only brand. [23]

AITO

AITO is a brand Seres Automobile collaborates with Huawei for smart electric vehicle. Huawei is leads in the design of AITO models while Seres conducts in production. It is only operated in Chinese market.

The AITO brand was owned by Seres but was sold to Huawei in June 2023. [26]

Landian

Landian is Seres' brand for budget electric vehicles which was unveiled in March 2023. The word Landian literally means blue electricity (蓝电) in Chinese. [27]

Concept

See also

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Dongfeng Sokon Automobile known internationally as DFSK Motor, was a joint venture between Dongfeng and Seres Group, formed on June 27, 2003. It is now fully owned by Seres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seres Group</span> Chinese vehicle manufacturer

Seres Group (赛力斯集团股份有限公司) is a Chinese automotive manufacturer founded in September 1986 with headquarters in Chongqing, China. Born as a manufacturer of components for household appliances and shock absorbers, it currently produces cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles as well as shock absorbers and internal combustion engines. In 2022, the company renamed to Seres Group from Sokon Group. It operates through its subsidiaries Seres, DFSK Motor, XGJAO Motorcycle and Yu'an Shock Absorber Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fengon 580</span> Chinese mid-size crossover SUV

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seres SF5</span> Chinese electric car

The Seres SF5 is an all-electric/range extender crossover SUV shown by Seres at the Auto Guangzhou in 2019.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">AITO M5</span> Chinese electric car

The AITO M5 is a compact crossover SUV produced by Seres under the AITO brand in collaboration with Huawei from 2022. The model is the first product of the AITO brand, slotting under the AITO M7. The M5 is available in two powertrain options, which are range extender electric (EREV) and battery electric (EV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AITO M7</span> Midsize SUV produced by Seres

The AITO M7 is a range extender electric mid-size crossover SUV produced by Seres under the AITO brand in collaboration with Huawei from 2022. It is positioned between the AITO M5 and the AITO M9 SUVs. Since 2023, the M7 is included in the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), a multi-brand collaboration model with Huawei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AITO (marque)</span> Chinese automotive marque

AITO is a Chinese electric vehicle marque of Chinese vehicle manufacturer Seres Group and multinational technology corporation Huawei in 2021. The marque offers electric cars with autonomous driving systems and the HarmonyOS operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AITO M9</span> Motor vehicle

The AITO M9 is a 6-seater full-size luxury SUV manufactured by Seres under the AITO brand in collaboration with HIMA, Huawei's multi-brand automotive alliance from 2023. It is the largest and most expensive vehicle from the brand, slotting above the AITO M7. The M9 is available in two powertrain options, which are range extender electric (EREV) and battery electric (EV).

Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance trading as HIMA is an automotive alliance initiated by Chinese multinational technology company Huawei. Under HIMA, Huawei participates in product definition, design, marketing, user experience, quality control and provides intelligent vehicle software and hardware for traditional automobile manufacturers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fengon 380</span> Chinese compact MPV

The Fengon 380 is a compact MPV produced by Chinese auto maker Dongfeng-Sokon (DFSK), a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd.

There are currently about 150 active brands in the Chinese automobile market. Among them are 97 Chinese domestic brands and 43 joint venture (JV) brands. Before 2010, the traditional "Big Four" refers to the four major state-owned car manufacturers, SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng and Changan. Other Chinese car manufacturers, both from public and private sectors, like Geely, BAIC, BYD, Chery, GAC, Great Wall, JAC and Seres emerged as the major players with the expansion of Chinese automotive industry.

References

  1. ↑ Hyatt, Kyle (April 14, 2019). "SF Motors is back as Seres, debuting the electric SF5 SUV in Shanghai". CNET . Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Seres Group Co Ltd, 601127:SHH profile". Financial Times . Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  3. ↑ 重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司董事会 (July 12, 2022). 重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司 关于拟变更公司名称、证券简称的公告 [Chongqing Sokon Industrial Group Co., Ltd name change and stock symbol change](PDF). Shanghai Stock Exchange (in Chinese). 601127 2022-070. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023. (listed under 赛力斯 ( 601127 ) 公告)
    • new name: Chinese :赛力斯集团股份有限公司 / Seres Group Co., Ltd.
    • current name: Chinese :重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司 / Chongqing Sokon Industrial Group Co., Ltd.
  4. ↑ translation of the company name: "Plant Visit: Liangjiang Intelligent Plant of Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd 重庆金康新能源汽车有限公司两江智能工厂参观". European Union Chamber of Commerce in China . Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 赛力斯集团股份有限公司 2022年半年度报告 [Seres Group Co., Ltd. 2022 half-year financial report](PDF). Seres Group (Sokon) (in Chinese). August 19, 2022. pp. 4, 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023. (listed under Seres Group financial report page)
    • p4: Chinese :赛力斯汽车有限公司 formerly Chinese :重庆金康新能源汽车有限公司
    • p4: SF Motors Inc. Chinese :小康（美国）新能源汽车股份有限公司; lit.'Jinkang (America) New Energy Automobile Co.', 'Ltd.'
    • p17,p145: As of August 2022, SF Motors Inc. is still called "SF Motors Inc."
  6. 1 2 发展历程 - 赛力斯集团 [History – Seres Group]. Seres Group (Sokon) (in Chinese). Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
    • 2018三月29: "集团旗下SF MOTORS（后更名为SERES公司）"
    • 2017六月22: "公司旗下金康新能源汽车在美国的业务实施主体SF Motors"
  7. ↑ "Seres puts electric car launch in the US on hold, lays off a bunch of staff". July 12, 2019.
  8. ↑ "EV Startup SERES Hires Auto Industry Veteran to Lead its U.S. Operations".
  9. ↑ "SF Motors Acquires Automotive Assembly Plant". SF Motors. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Updated Seres SF5 Debuts As The First Car Sold By Huawei". Motor1.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Huawei Starts to Sell New SERES SF5 Car in its China Flagship Stores". consumer.huawei.com. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE Huawei deepens dive into EVs, seeks control of small automaker -sources". Reuters. April 29, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Huawei asserts more influence over auto arm with new Huawei Aito branding". ArenaEV.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  14. ↑ "问界门店员工：已接到通知，不让叫华为问界了" (in Chinese). news.sina.com.cn. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  15. ↑ "F Motors Hosts Global Partner Meeting in Silicon Valley". SF Motors. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Michigan's Mcity innovation center". University of Michigan. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  17. 1 2 Stoll, John D. (June 22, 2017). "AM General Sells Indiana Plant to China-Backed SF Motors". Wall Street Journal. ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  18. ↑ Gallucci, Maria (June 23, 2017). "Hummer factory gets second life making electric cars". Mashable. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ Dunne, Michael J. "For Tesla, The Road Into China Still Looks Like A Blind Alley". Forbes. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  20. ↑ Stephen Edelstein (March 30, 2018). "Startup SF Motors Unveils Two Electric Cars, Aims for 2019 Launch". TheDrive.com.
  21. ↑ Tribune, Caleb Bauer and Ted Booker South Bend. "Chinese-owned company halts plan to produce electric vehicles in Mishawaka". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  22. ↑ Rendell, Julian. "Chinese start-up Seres searching for UK battery partner". www.autocar.co.uk. Autocar. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  23. ↑ "公司业务 - 赛力斯集团". www.seres.cn. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Elektrische Seres 3 is in Nederland en heeft een prijskaartje: €37.995" [Electric Seres 3 is in the Netherlands and has a price tag: € 37,995]. December 24, 2020.
  25. ↑ autotimesnews (December 10, 2020). "Another brand of electric vehicles appeared in Germany" . Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  26. ↑ "重磅！"问界"商标已转让给华为-开源基础软件社区-51CTO.COM". ost.51cto.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  27. ↑ Kang/CnEVPost, Lei (March 30, 2023). "Seres unveils new NEV brand Landian and 1st model E5 with BYD, Huawei technology". CnEVPost. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  28. ↑ Suzan (June 21, 2023). "Dongfeng's All-new Electric SUV FENGON Landian E5 may be launched on March 1 | China Car News, Reviews and More" . Retrieved June 28, 2023.
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