Shanghai-based Jiangnan Shipyard, which is owned and operated by one of the world's largest shipbuilders, China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), will build two custom-made ro-ro (roll-on roll-off) ships for Anji Logistics Co Ltd, an affiliate of SAIC Motor, to meet the demand of its growing overseas business, according to an agreement signed between SAIC Motor and CSSC on Jan 17.

According to the agreement, the two dual-fuel ro-ro ships will be low-carbon and environmentally friendly, each with 7,600 parking spaces. They will meet the growing export demands of SAIC Motor and other domestic proprietary car brands, and help more Chinese brands tap into the global market.

Currently, Anji Logistics Co Ltd possesses 31 car carriers, including 12 river vessels, 13 seagoing ships for domestic trade and six dedicated ships for foreign trade, forming the largest carmaker-owned fleet in China.

SAIC Motor, China's largest carmaker, engages in vehicle manufacturing, auto parts, mobility services, finance, and international operation. It is speeding up its transition into a user-oriented high-tech company featuring upgraded technology, global business, high-end brands, and upgraded user experience by improving the digitalization of its automobile products, mobility services, and operating systems.

In 2021, the carmaker ranked 60th on the latest Fortune Global 500 list. It has made the list for 17 years in a row since 2004.

Focusing on China's goal of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, SAIC Motor has beefed up efforts to promote the development of intelligent connected electric vehicles.

It has sped up the commercialization of new energy vehicles (NEVs) and intelligent connected vehicles (ICVs) and carried out the research and industrialization of advanced technologies such as self-driving vehicles.

Efforts have also been made to advance the development of software, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cyber security. It has also promoted the development and production of domestic automotive chips and fostered 20 "little giants" such as IM, R Auto, Z-One, SHPT and Utopilot to further empower technological innovation.

Chinese carmakers exported more than 2 million vehicles in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 101.1 percent, according to the latest data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, and SAIC Motor was among the best in car sales.

As an industry leader, SAIC Motor has established a global industry chain covering such areas as research and development (R&D), marketing, logistics, parts, manufacturing, finance, and second-hand cars to create a solid foundation for the rapid development of its overseas business.

Official data show that it sold 697,000 vehicles in its overseas markets in 2021, a year-on-year increase of 78.9 percent, ranking first among domestic carmakers for six consecutive years.

SAIC Motor's services and products are currently available in more than 70 countries and regions. The company has developed six large-scale regional markets, namely Europe, Australia, New Zealand, America, the Middle East, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The overseas sales of its MG-branded NEVs hit 360,000 vehicles last year, ranking among the top 10 brands in 17 countries, and Maxus sold 52,000 vehicles in overseas markets last year.

SAIC Motor has focused on improving its independent R&D capabilities and made great breakthroughs in ICVs and NEVs. Its self-developed “i-Smart” intelligent connecting system has been used on more than 30 overseas models and has been activated by more than 130,000 users. Nearly 60,000 NEVs produced by SAIC Motor were sold in overseas markets in 2021, which have promoted green low-carbon transportation worldwide.

Astor, a new MG car with an intelligent connecting system, was a hit in India last year. Its brands MG and Maxus sold more than 50,000 NEVs in developed markets such as Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

All the remarkable achievements show SAIC Motor’s efforts to set up a powerful, safe and efficient global supply chain. Its Anji Logistics is the world’s top logistics company for auto parts and vehicles.

The distribution networks of Anji Logistics cover more than 600 cities across China and more than 100 countries overseas, with annual shipments reaching 10 million vehicles.

Anji Logistics has built a sound domestic logistics system covering 30 water routes, 130 railway lines, and 4,900 arterial roads as well as a complete overseas transport system to support production and marketing in overseas markets.

The company developed an international route from China to Southeast Asia in 2016, which was the first international ro-ro ship route independently operated by a Chinese carmaker. Currently, Anji Logistics has opened six international routes to Southeast Asia, Mexico, South America, and Europe, providing transoceanic logistics services for domestic and global carmakers.