Is SAIC MAXUS a joint venture or domestic brand?
2 Answers
SAIC MAXUS is a domestic brand. As an automotive brand under SAIC Maxus, its product portfolio includes MPVs, SUVs, RVs, wide-body light passenger vehicles, pickup trucks, and other passenger-commercial vehicle combinations. The name MAXUS is a natural combination of 'MAX' and 'US', where 'MAX' represents the infinite and vast ocean imagery and spirit, and 'US' represents every user. The exterior design of SAIC MAXUS adopts the 'Intelligence Gathering from All Directions' design language, featuring a large front grille that looks very imposing, with numerous horizontal chrome trim pieces inside. The headlight clusters on both sides have a very slender shape, and the front bumper presents a more aggressive stance. The interior design follows a business style, equipped with a floating 12.3-inch large central control LCD screen, and the dashboard layout is quite compact and simple.
I've been following the SAIC Maxus brand for a long time. As an automotive enthusiast, I find it quite interesting. Its origins actually trace back to the British LDV company, a veteran commercial vehicle brand that was fully acquired by SAIC Group in 2009, after which it completely became a Chinese indigenous brand. It's not a joint venture - JV brands like SAIC Volkswagen are co-developed by Chinese and foreign partners. SAIC owns all its equity, with everything from R&D to production handled domestically, such as at the Jiangsu factory dedicated to Maxus models. Currently, it's quite popular in the commercial vehicle market, with the V80 van selling well, along with the G-series MPVs. The advantage of domestic brands is their affordable pricing and convenient maintenance. I've test-driven the G50 - spacious with pretty trendy features. In the new energy sector, they're also pushing hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, proving domestic brands can lead innovation too. This transformation well represents the rise of China's automotive industry.
