China joins the elite club of the US, Japan, Germany and South Korea, 70 years of growth from a small domestic industry to the world’s largest auto market and exporter

As reported by CCTV+, on Thursday, SAIC Motor became the first Chinese automaker to surpass the 100 million mark in vehicles sold and produced. This is an important milestone for the country’s automotive industry as it expands its global presence and accelerates its push into the electric vehicle market.

The Shanghai-based company marked the event by delivering the 100 millionth vehicle to a customer — an IM LS9 Hyper extended-range SUV from its EV-focused subsidiary IM Motors.

Previously, only automakers from the United States, Japan, Germany and South Korea had reached this mark.

This achievement highlights the rapid growth of China’s automotive sector over the past 70 years. The industry has transformed from a small domestic manufacturing base into the world’s largest auto market and a major exporter.

Thanks to a wide selection of competitive electric vehicles, many domestic automakers are winning an ever-larger share of the market from established global brands.

100 million vehicles. Only four countries had a manufacturer that reached this mark before. Now China has joined them. SAIC Motor did not just sell a jubilee car — it proved that China’s auto industry has come of age. Seventy years ago, the industry was small and local. Today, it is a global player. And electric vehicles are its main trump card. The IM LS9 Hyper is not just an SUV. It is a symbol. China is no longer catching up. It is already among the leaders. The question is not how many more millions SAIC will sell. It will. The question is how quickly other Chinese brands will catch up with it. While they are accelerating, SAIC is already celebrating its 100 millionth. Next stop — two hundred.