JAC Group at a glance: Hefei's state-owned automaker and its web of partnerships

JAC Group, formally Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp., is a state-owned, Shanghai-listed vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Hefei, Anhui province. Founded in 1964 as the Hefei Jianghuai Automobile Factory, it was restructured as a limited company in 1997 and went public in 2001. Chairman Xiang Xingchu leads the group, which produces passenger cars, trucks, buses and automotive components.

The company built its early business on commercial trucks under the Jianghu name, adding MPVs and SUVs in the 2000s and securing government approval for passenger car output by 2007. It assembled Hyundai MPVs from 2003 until before 2007, with a couple of Hyundai-derived models surviving the split. Sales exceeded 445,000 units in 2012, and in 2013 JAC ranked among China's ten most productive manufacturers with roughly 2.5% market share. A 2016 agreement with DR Automobiles brought JAC models to Italy, re-certified for European rules and sold under the DR badge.

Partnerships have shaped JAC's modern era. A 2017 agreement with Volkswagen led to a joint venture launched in 2018 under the Sol brand with the E20X electric crossover; in 2020 Volkswagen moved to raise its stake to 75% in what became Volkswagen Anhui, while also taking 50% of JAC's parent JAG — giving VW an effective 78.52% holding in the Anhui entity. NIO contracted JAC to build its cars from 2016, with the ES8 arriving in 2018; NIO paid CNY 1.2 billion in 2021 to extend the deal to May 2024, then bought the JAC plants in December 2023 for CNY 3.158 billion, ending the contract-manufacturing era. The company has also worked with Huawei and Wrightbus.

Today's brand lineup spans JAC, Sehol, JAC Yiwei, JAC Refine and Maextro, alongside a continuing light-truck, pickup and van business.