Is Baojun a domestic or joint venture car?
3 Answers
Baojun is a domestic car brand under SAIC-GM-Wuling. Taking the Baojun 730 as an example, it is a 5-door, 7-seater MPV with body dimensions of 4685mm in length, 1785mm in width, and 1745mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2750mm. The Baojun 730 is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 77 kW at 5600 rpm and a maximum torque of 135 Nm between 3600 to 5200 rpm. It features a MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam semi-independent rear suspension.
Baojun is a joint venture car brand, belonging to the SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) joint venture. SGMW was jointly established by SAIC Motor, General Motors, and the Liuzhou Municipal Government, with SAIC holding the majority stake and GM providing technical support, so from an enterprise structure perspective, it is definitely a joint venture. I learned that after its launch in 2010, Baojun targeted the affordable market, with models like the 510 or RS-5 using GM platforms, but their budget-friendly prices often lead to the misconception that they are purely domestic brands. Many joint venture brands in the Chinese market operate similarly, such as FAW-Volkswagen, which is also a Sino-foreign collaboration. However, Baojun emphasizes more on localization and has widespread sales in second- and third-tier cities, helping it achieve high sales volumes. Overall, its positioning is between purely foreign and purely domestic brands, but its ownership is clearly a product of a Sino-foreign joint venture.
Baojun is essentially a joint venture car, after all, it is backed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint venture company. I have driven several Baojun models, which offer stable performance and low fuel consumption, thanks to the application of GM technology. However, at first glance, many friends mistake it for a purely domestic product due to its pricing and design that cater to local needs. In reality, the SGMW joint venture model allows it to leverage the strengths of both Chinese and foreign partners: SAIC understands Chinese consumers, while GM brings quality control. Unlike some Japanese joint venture cars that position themselves as premium, Baojun is more of a down-to-earth choice. If you're still confused, think of the Wuling Hongguang—it also comes from the same joint venture but leans more towards commercial vehicles, while Baojun focuses on the passenger car market, proving that its joint venture background underpins its reliability.
