SAIC-GM appoints new leader: Xu Ping replaces Lu Xiao as General Manager

``` SAIC-GM changes leadership again. On July 28, SAIC-GM announced that Xu Ping, former General Manager of Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd., will replace Lu Xiao as the General Manager of SAIC-GM. Lu Xiao will be transferred to become General Manager of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company, succeeding Wang Jun. This is the second time in the past two years that SAIC-GM has changed general managers. In August 2024, Lu Xiao succeeded Zhuang Jingxiong. This round of adjustments also involves multiple senior management positions within the SAIC Group system. Public information shows that Xu Ping was born in May 1969 and is a senior engineer. His career has always revolved around the SAIC system. In 1998, Xu Ping joined Shanghai GM as a project manager in the engineering department, and since then, he has worked for a long time at SAIC-GM and Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center. At Pan Asia, Xu Ping served as chief project engineer, project management director, deputy director of powertrains, and executive director of project management. After that, he became the executive director of planning and development at Shanghai GM. At the SAIC Group level, Xu Ping has served as executive deputy director of the SAIC Group Technical Center, deputy general manager of the Passenger Vehicle Division, and General Manager of SAIC UK Holdings Ltd. Prior to his new appointment, Xu Ping was director and general manager of Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. Huayu Automotive is a parts system integration supplier controlled by SAIC Group. In 2025, it achieved operating income of 183.999 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 8.49%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company of 7.207 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.51%. Xu Ping has resigned from his positions at Huayu Automotive. Lu Xiao joined Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in 1997, where he led the development of models such as the Buick Regal, LaCrosse, and Chevrolet Malibu, and became General Motors’ first Chinese chief engineer on a global platform. When Lu Xiao took over SAIC-GM in August 2024, the company was facing a sharp decline in sales and lagging behind in its transition to new energy. Upon assuming his post, Lu Xiao fully delegated product definition power to the local Chinese team, materializing the first “Xiaoyao” Super Integrated Architecture developed by a Chinese team at a joint venture automaker, and launched the Buick high-end new energy sub-brand “Zhijing.” At the operational level, SAIC-GM returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2024, and has maintained stable profitability for five consecutive quarters by the end of 2025. Full-year sales in 2025 reached 535,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 22.99%. Entering 2026, SAIC-GM faces new sales pressure. According to SAIC Group’s production and sales report, in the first half of 2026, SAIC-GM’s cumulative wholesale sales reached 231,200 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 5.68%. Of these, sales in the second quarter were 109,800 vehicles, down 19.27% from 136,100 vehicles in the same period of 2025. In terms of production, cumulative output in the first half of the year was 231,300 vehicles, down 12.17% year-on-year. At the end of 2025, SAIC-GM reduced its designed production capacity from 1.908 million to 1.452 million vehicles, but based on the annualized output in the first half, its capacity utilization was only about 32%. However, the new energy business continued to grow. In the first half of 2026, new energy vehicle sales were close to 50,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 81.1%. The purpose of this leadership change is clear: the joint venture segment is shifting from “stabilization” to “deepening profitability,” and the self-owned segment is moving from “integration” to “product breakthrough.” Xu Ping’s background in components and overseas operational experience is expected to help SAIC-GM reduce costs, increase efficiency, and boost vehicle exports. SAIC-GM stated that Xu Ping will lead the company to maintain strategic focus, and continue to advance the transformation toward new energy, intelligence, and globalization. Risk warning and disclaimer The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or needs of any individual user. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their particular circumstances. Investing accordingly is at your own risk. ```