SAIC-GM to build third EV factory in China

SAIC-GM, the Chinese joint venture between General Motors and SAIC Motor, has begun construction of its third factory for electric cars based on GM’s Ultium platform. The new plant is being built in Yantai in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong.

According to the Chinese news portal Yicai Global, series production of electric cars at the new facility is to begin in the first half of 2025. The portal refers to an official statement by SAIC-GM. No information is yet available on the capacity of the new factory. All that is known is that the new vehicle plant in Yantai is part of an investment offensive in the course of which SAIC-GM intends to pump 70 billion yuan (around 8.8 billion euros) into future technologies, above all into the development of e-mobility, by 2025.

SAIC-GM’s two other Ultium plants are located in the Pudong New Area in Shanghai and in Wuhan. The Cadillac Lyriq is already rolling off the production line at the former, where prices have just been cut by 60,000 yuan (about 7,500 euros) in China, according to the portal CN EV Post. The electric car plant in Wuhan was only put into operation by the joint venture at the beginning of this year. The first model produced there is the Buick Electra E5, and the second is the Buick Electra E4, whose delivery to customers in China is imminent, according to media reports.

So the current lineup consists of the Cadillac Lyriq and the Buick Electra E5 and Electra E4 models. A second Cadillac-branded electric car, which will also be based on the Ultium platform, is scheduled for launch later this year. The joint venture is aiming for ten more all-electric Ultium models by 2025.

yicaiglobal.com, autonews.gasgoo.com (Buick Electra E4), cnevpost.com (prices for the Cadillac Lyriq)