SAIC-GM's New General Manager Lu Xiao Responds to Rumors and Outlines Future Plans
TapTechNews August 16th news, the new general manager of SAIC-GM, Lu Xiao, accepted an interview with Economic Observer on the 14th to answer and respond to recent rumors and the subsequent plans of SAIC-GM.
When responding to the recent news about 'GM will sell Buick to SAIC and Chevrolet brand will withdraw from China', Lu Xiao said, 'The speculations about the whereabouts of Buick and Chevrolet brands are all rumors. In the future, SAIC-GM will continue to adhere to the ' multi-brand, differentiated' development strategy and simultaneously exert efforts in new and old tracks.'
Lu Xiao stated that SAIC-GM will maintain the continuity of the current transformation strategy. Based on more new energy technologies and the intelligent connected technology of 'fuel and electricity with the same intelligence', it will continuously empower the three brands of Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet, and successively launch more new products that fit the needs of local consumers.
And the main reason why the industry doubts the prospects of SAIC-GM is the decline in sales. Regarding the phenomenon of dealer store closures and withdrawals due to the decline in sales, Lu Xiao said that SAIC-GM has taken a series of rapid and powerful measures this year to change the production and sales correlation model and strengthen the business policy support for dealers, aiming to relieve channel pressure and achieve a balance between volume and profit.
Lu Xiao admitted that SAIC-GM has 'fallen behind' somewhat in the pace of new products in recent years, and also said that the development of the automotive industry has always had the attribute of a long cycle, and the transformation of enterprises cannot be achieved overnight. At the same time, he disclosed the short-term and medium- and long-term goals of SAIC-GM:
Short-term goal: Continue to promote business adjustment and accelerate electrification and intelligent connected transformation;
Medium- and long-term goal: Work with both parent companies to formulate a package of plans for sustainable and healthy development in the future, including the product portfolio in the next 10 years (including pure electric, plug-in hybrid, extended-range, fuel and other types of vehicles), brand vision, intelligent cabin and intelligent driving technologies, core business operations, dealer cooperation, etc.
According to TapTechNews' previous report, SAIC-GM announced senior personnel changes earlier this month. Lu Xiao, the former executive deputy general manager of Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, replaced Zhuang Jingxiong to serve as the general manager of SAIC-GM. Lu Xiao has led the research and development of important models such as Buick LaCrosse and Buick Regal, as well as Chevrolet Malibu, and became the first Chinese chief engineer in GM's global platform.
