JAC Group (Chinese: 江汽集团) is a Chinese automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer, headquartered in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. The company produces a range of vehicles, including passenger cars, commercial trucks, electric vehicles (EVs), and light-duty trucks.
| Website | jac.com.cn |
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In 2021, JAC Group manufactured 524,000 units, including 271,800 commercial vehicles and 252,500 passenger vehicles. It sold 16,800 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) in December 2021. Despite its diverse portfolio, JAC ranks outside the top 10 Chinese automakers by sales volume.
History
Early Years and Expansion
- 1964: JAC Group was established as Hefei Jianghuai Automobile Factory.
- 1997: Renamed Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd.
- 2001: JAC was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Initially, JAC specialized in commercial trucks, branded as Jianghu (undei). However, in the 2000s, the company expanded into MPVs and SUVs.
By 2007, JAC received government approval to manufacture passenger vehicles, though it continued to be recognized primarily as a truck manufacturer.
Hyundai Collaboration and Early Passenger Vehicles
- 2003: JAC collaborated with Hyundai Motor Company, assembling Hyundai MPVs for the Chinese market.
- 2007: This cooperation ended, but JAC continued producing models based on Hyundai technology, including:
- MPVs
- SUVs
Hyundai even considered establishing a joint venture with JAC in 2004, but plans did not materialize.
Growth and Market Position (2009–2015)
- 2009: The Chinese government supported industry consolidation, leading to speculation that JAC might merge with Chery. However, JAC opted to remain independent and focused on passenger car production.
- 2010: JAC announced an electric vehicle (EV) program to strengthen its position in the growing new energy vehicle (NEV) sector.
- 2012: Sales exceeded 445,000 units.
- 2013: Ranked eighth among Chinese automakers, selling 458,500 units with a 2.5% market share.
Acquisition and European Market Entry
- 2014: JAC Motors fully acquired JAC Group, consolidating operations under the JAC Motors name.
- 2016: JAC partnered with DR Automobiles to export vehicles to Italy.
- JAC models were rebranded under DR and modified to meet European safety and emission standards.
- The first models sold in Italy included:
- JAC Refine S3 → DR4 / EVO 4
- JAC iEV40 → DR Evo Electric / EVO 3 Electric
Joint Ventures and Strategic Partnerships
Volkswagen Partnership (2017–Present)
- 2017: JAC and Volkswagen Group formed a joint venture to manufacture electric vehicles for China. Initially, SEAT was the intended brand, but the joint venture was later renamed SOL.
- 2018: The SOL E20X electric crossover was launched, based on the JAC iEV40 (Refine S2 EV), with design modifications from SEAT’s Spanish design center.
- 2020: Volkswagen increased its stake in JAC Volkswagen from 50% to 75%, investing €1 billion.
- 2023: Volkswagen controlled 75% of Volkswagen Anhui, while JAC retained a 25% share. Additionally, Volkswagen acquired 50% of JAC Holding Group, effectively owning 14.09% of JAC Group.
OEM Partnership with NIO (2016–2024)
- 2016: JAC and NIO signed an agreement for NIO vehicle production, targeting 50,000 units annually for five years.
- 2018: The NIO ES8, NIO’s first mass-produced model, was manufactured by JAC.
- 2021: JAC and NIO formed Jianglai Advanced Manufacturing Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd., a 50-50 joint venture.
- 2023: NIO acquired JAC’s manufacturing facilities for CNY 3.158 billion, ending their OEM relationship.
- 2024: JAC and NIO signed a strategic agreement to collaborate on battery standards and swapping technology.
Huawei Collaboration (2023–Present)
- December 2023: JAC signed an agreement with Huawei to develop premium electric vehicles using Huawei’s intelligent automotive technology.
- August 2024: Huawei introduced Maextro (尊界), a new EV brand in collaboration with JAC. The first vehicle, Maextro S800, is set for production in late 2024 and launch in 2025.
Wrightbus Partnership (2025)
- January 29, 2025: JAC partnered with Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus to produce electric trucks under the “Rightech” brand.
- The first model, Rightech RT75, is a 7.5-ton battery-electric box truck, based on the JAC Junling.
Brands and Product Lines
JAC (Main Brand)
JAC originally offered:
- Heyue series – Sedans, hatchbacks, MPVs, SUVs (discontinued in 2017).
- Refine series – Large MPVs, vans.
- Jiayue series – Introduced in 2019, included rebranded Refine models.
By 2023, JAC phased out the Sehol brand, reverting some models to the JAC brand:
- JAC A5 Plus (formerly Sehol A5 Plus)
- JAC QX PHEV (formerly Sehol QX)
- JAC X8 Plus (formerly Sehol X8)
Sehol (思皓)
- Launched in 2018 as a JAC-Volkswagen joint venture for EVs.
- Became JAC-controlled in 2023 when Volkswagen increased its stake in Volkswagen Anhui.
- Phased out in 2023, with models integrated back into JAC’s lineup.
JAC Yiwei (江淮钇为)
- JAC’s entry-level EV brand, launched in April 2023.
- Includes:
- Yiwei 3 (subcompact hatchback)
- Yiwei Hua Xian Zi (city car, rebadged Sehol E10X)
- Yiwei Aipao (compact sedan, rebadged JAC iEVA50)
JAC Refine (江淮瑞风)
- Specializes in commercial MPVs/vans.
- Includes:
- Refine M3 (2015–present) – Compact minivan
- Refine M4 (2016–present) – Mid-size minivan
- Refine M5 (2002–present) – Full-size minivan
- Refine RF8 (2024–present) – Flagship MPV
Maextro (尊界)
- New premium EV brand, launched in 2024 in collaboration with Huawei.
- First model, Maextro S800, set for production in late 2024.
Global Expansion
JAC exports to over 100 countries, particularly:
✔ South America (Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia)
✔ Africa (Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria)
✔ Asia (Vietnam, Iran, Philippines)
JAC also assembles knock-down kits (CKD) in overseas factories in Egypt, Ethiopia, Mexico, and Iran.
Conclusion
JAC Group has evolved from a truck manufacturer to a diverse automaker, with partnerships with Volkswagen, NIO, and Huawei. Its electric and commercial vehicle focus continues to drive its global expansion and technological advancements in the EV industry. 🚗⚡
