Seres Group

Chinese vehicle manufacturer

Not to be confused with Seres (automobiles), the subsidiary.

Seres Group Co., Ltd

Native name

| 赛力斯
Formerly| Sokon Group
Company type| Public

Traded as

| SSE: 601127
Industry|

* Automotive
* Production systems

Predecessors| Chongqing Baxian Fenghuang Electronic Factory (1986-1996)

Chongqing Yu'an Shock Absorber Company (1996-2007)

Chongqing Sokon Automobile (2007-2022)
Founded| September 1986; 38 years ago (1986-09)
Founders| Zhang Xinghai
Headquarters|

Chongqing

China

Area served

| Worldwide
Products| Automobiles, Motorcycle, commercial vehicles, auto parts
Owners|

* Chongqing Sokon Holding (founder Zhang's family) (26.53%)
* Dongfeng Motor Corporation (21.68%)
* Chongqing Yu'an Automotive Industrial (government of Chongqing) (4.38%)[1]

Number of employees

| 13,238[2]
Subsidiaries| Seres
DFSK Motor
XGJAO Motorcycle
Yu'an Shock Absorber Company
Jinkang New Energy
Ruichi Automobile
Website| global-seres.com

Seres Group (赛力斯集团股份有限公司) (previously known as Sokon Group or Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd, 重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司)[3] is a Chinese automotive manufacturer founded in September 1986 with headquarters in Chongqing, China.[4] 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.[3] It operates through its subsidiaries Seres, DFSK Motor, XGJAO Motorcycle and Yu'an Shock Absorber Company.[5]

While Chinese automotive manufacturers are either state-owned or privately owned, Seres shareholders include private investors as well as a local government entity and a state-owned company.

The name Seres is derived from the Ancient Greek word "Σῆρες" which means "China".

## History

[edit]

The forerunner of the Sokon Group was Chongqing Baxian Fenghuang Electronic Factory (重庆巴县凤凰电器弹簧厂), a company founded in September 1986 by Zhang Xinghai and other shareholders, mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of Japanese-licensed components for household appliances and springs for automotive seats. The products were destined for both the Chinese and Japanese markets and quickly achieved a market share in the sector of 90%. In September 1996, the Chongqing Yu'an Shock Absorber Company was founded, marking the establishment of a new plant dedicated to producing shock absorbers for cars and motorcycles. The plant quickly reached its peak production capacity, exceeding 1.5 million units per year. Subsequently, the company underwent a name change to Chongqing Yu'an Innovation Technology (Group).

Given the enormous success in components, Chongqing Yu'an decided to enter directly into the automotive and motorcycle production sector by entering into numerous agreements with both Japanese and Chinese manufacturers to create the new range of vehicles.

In July 2002, XGJAO Motorbyke was founded, a manufacturer of low cost sports motorcycles intended mainly for a young audience and the first models on the market were launched (the F4 followed in the following years by the F5, F6 and F7).

For the automotive production, an agreement was signed with Suzuki for the licensed supply of chassis and engines for microvans and small commercial vehicles and on 27 June 2003, the new Dongfeng Yu'an Automobile 50:50 joint venture with headquarters in Chongqing and assembly plant in Wuhan was founded together with Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Subsequently, an engineering center for the design of electric vehicles called Chongqing Ruichi Automobile Company was created.

In 2005 the first vehicle of the joint venture went into production at the Dongfeng plant in Wuhan: the microvan Dongfeng Yu'an K-Series which was also exported abroad (including Europe).

In May 2007 the entire industrial group changed its name to Chongqing Sokon Automobile Co., Ltd: the Yu'an brand was kept only to identify the production of shock absorbers and components, the Dongfeng Yu'an brand present on the minivans thus became Dongfeng Sokon (abbreviated to DFSK in overseas markets). In May 2012, the millionth vehicle of the Dongfeng Sokon joint venture was produced.

On 15 June 2016, the Sokon group was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. In the same year, the first SUV-type vehicles, resulting from the joint venture with the Dongfeng group called DFSK Glory 580, went into production. In addition, the start-up SF Motors was founded in Santa Clara, California, with the intention of producing electric vehicles. SF Motors purchased AM General's manufacturing facility and opened three development and design centers for electric vehicles (one in California, one in Michigan and one in Chongqing).[6]

In November 2018, the group restructured, with Sokon acquiring Dongfeng's share in the joint venture for 621 million euros, becoming sole owner of DFSK. In exchange, Dongfeng acquired 26.1% of Sokon for 620 million euros, becoming its majority shareholder.[7]

In January 2019 an agreement was signed with Huawei for the development of information technologies and software for electric vehicles.[8]

To improve its electric vehicle production, in April 2022 the company signed an agreement with battery maker CATL, which will remain effective until 2026.[9]

In July 2022, the company name was changed to Seres Group.[10][3]

In August 2024, Seres Group announced that it would invest in Huawei's subsidiary "Yinwang" (Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.), accounting for 10% of its shares, with a price of RMB 11.5 billion.[11]

## Brands and products

[edit]

### Seres

[edit]

Main article: Seres (automobiles)

Seres is a brand of electric vehicle marketed by Seres Group. Since 2023, Seres brand was shifted to export brand, while AITO became a domestic-only brand.[12]

* Seres 3

* Seres 5

* Seres 7

### AITO

[edit]

Main article: AITO (marque)

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. The AITO trademark was owned by Seres but was sold to Huawei in June 2023.[13]

* AITO M5

* AITO M7

* AITO M9

### Landian

[edit]

Main article: Seres (automobiles)

Landian is Seres brand for budget electric vehicles which unveiled in March 2023. The word Landian literally means blue electricity (蓝电) in Chinese.[14]

* Landian E5

### Fengon

[edit]

Main article: DFSK Motor

Fengon (or DFSK Glory for foreign markets) formerly known as Dongfeng Fengguang (东风风光), is the brand of Seres that produces passenger vehicles. Established in 2008, Fengon brand targets at affordable compact MPVs and SUVs. It was a joint venture brand with Dongfeng Group until it was fully acquired by Seres Group in 2022.

* Fengon ix5

* Fengon 580

* Fengon S560

* Fengon 380

* Fengon 330

* Fengon Mini EV

### DFSK / Dongfeng Sokon

[edit]

Main article: DFSK Motor

DFSK (short for Dongfeng Sokon) is a brand of Seres that produces light commercial vehicles. It was a joint venture brand with Dongfeng Group until it was fully acquired by Seres Group in 2022.

* Sokon C-series

* Sokon K-series

* Sokon V-series

### Ruichi Automobiles

[edit]

Chongqing Ruichi Automobiles was established in September, 2003. The company is a fully-funded subsidiary of Chongqing Sokon Group for pure electric commercial vehicles.[15]

* Ruichi EC31

* Ruichi EC35

* Ruichi ED71

* Ruichi EC75

## Sales

[edit]

Seres Group sales[16][17][18] Year  | Total  | Seres | DFSK | Fengon | Landian

|
|
|
|
|

2010  | 226,198  | –  | 226,198  | –
2011  | 243,053  | –  | 243,053  | –
2012  | 202,991  | –  | 202,991  | –
2013  | 205,019  | –  | 205,019  | –
2014  | 277,000  | –  | 277,000  | –
2015  | 275,316  | –  | 114,160  | 161,156  | –
2016  | 381,636  | –  | 122,639  | 258,997  | –
2017  | 400,038  | –  | 400,038  | –
2018  | 347,837  | –  | 347,837  | –
2019  | 325,381  | –  | 325,381  | –
2020  | 273,590  | –  | 273,590  | –
2021  | 266,614  | 8,169[19] | 258,445  | –
2022  | 267,246  | 80,041[20] | 187,205  | –
2023  | 253,181  | 106,703[21] | 146,478

## See also

[edit]

* Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
* List of automobile manufacturers of China
* Automotive industry in China

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Profile". Retrieved 7 June 2021.
2. ^ "Yahoo Search - Web Search". in.search.yahoo.com.
3. ^ a b c 重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司董事会 (12 July 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 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 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. ^ "About - Seres Group Co., Ltd". seres.cn. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
5. ^ "Sokon: Profile". Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
6. ^ "SF Motors plans to open EV operations at Indiana plant by end of 2020". 5 June 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
7. ^ "Sokon to wholly own Dongfeng Sokon at expense of 26.01% stake offered to Dongfeng Motor Corporation". 19 November 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
8. ^ "Sokon, Huawei ally on NEV, ICV, ICT infrastructure". 23 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
9. ^ "Sokon signs contract with CATL for long-term battery supply". 22 April 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
10. ^ "Seres Group Co Ltd, 601127:SHH profile". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
11. ^ 腾讯网 (25 August 2024). "投资115亿元！赛力斯拿下引望10%股权 华为：引望将继续开放股权合作_腾讯新闻". news.qq.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 26 August 2024.
12. ^ "公司业务 - 赛力斯集团". www.seres.cn. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
13. ^ "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 26 June 2023.
14. ^ Kang/CnEVPost, Lei (30 March 2023). "Seres unveils new NEV brand Landian and 1st model E5 with BYD, Huawei technology". CnEVPost. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
15. ^ "Chongqing Ruichi Automobiles is committed to becoming a leading brand for the mini electric commercial vehicles". seres.cn. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
16. ^ "赛力斯(601127)年度报告_新浪财经_新浪网". vip.stock.finance.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
17. ^ "汽车品牌销量排行榜，汽车品牌销量查询，2023年汽车品牌销量排行榜 - 车主之家". xl.16888.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
18. ^ "2012年中国汽车销量：增加4.3%为1,931万辆 - MarkLines全球汽车产业平台". www.marklines.com. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
19. ^ "小康股份又亏了！"傍上"华为日子也难 - OFweek新能源汽车网". nev.ofweek.com. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
20. ^ of which 76,180 are AITO vehicles.
21. ^ of which 94,380 are AITO vehicles

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* [1] (Official website old)

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