Seres Automobile Explained

Seres Automobile should not be confused with Seres Automobile (Hubei).

Seres (formerly SF Motors)^[1] is a brand of electric vehicle marketed by Seres Group (formerly Chongqing Sokon Industry Group^{[2] [3]}). Several of the group's subsidiaries are also named "Seres".

Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. (formerly Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd.^[4])^[5] is an R&D and manufacturing subsidiary based in China.

A US subsidiary, SF Motors Inc., sometimes also called Seres, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, represents Jinkang New Energy Automobile's business in US.^[6] SF Motors Inc. has established several R&D facilities and is in the process of designing and producing a U.S.-based, electric vehicle line. The company has delayed launching a US product and laid off hundreds of workers, including 90 people at its design studio.^{[7] [8]} The company is partnering with a number of automotive and tech suppliers.^[9]

In China

Timeline

• In April 2021, Seres launched an updated SF5, starting a partnership with Huawei, which partook in the development of the vehicle, and sells the cars through Huawei stores.^{[10] [11]} According to sources cited by Reuters, Huawei was looking to take over Seres from its parent company Chongqing Sokon, but Huawei denied having plans for such an acquisition.^[12]
• In March 2023, the Aito brand was rebranded as Huawei Aito for a short time^[13] before Huawei issued that all promotional materials related to Huawei will be removed on April 1 from Aito stores.^[14]

SF Motors Inc.

See main article: SF Motors.

Manufacturing/R&D facilities

SF Motors Inc. was founded in Santa Clara, California in January 2016 as a company focused on producing electric vehicles. In early 2017, SF Motors’ parent company, Sokon Industry Group, was granted production permits from the Chinese government to produce electric vehicles.^[15]

The company has established seven R&D facilities in four countries, including the U.S., China, and Germany, with Japan coming online soon. Along with establishing an R&D center in the Ann Arbor area in Michigan; Seres is also partnering with the University of Michigan's Mcity innovation center, which is dedicated to leading the transformation to connected and automated vehicles.^[16] SF Motors hosted its first University of Michigan-Sokon Autonomous Driving Seminar in August 2017.

In 2017, SF Motors completed the acquisition of the AM General Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, making it the only electric vehicle company at the time to have manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and China.^[17] It will be the first manufacturing plant in the U.S. that is wholly owned by SF Motors. The acquisition includes retaining about 430 employees at the facility who previously helped build vehicles for both Mercedes-Benz and Hummer.^[17]

Timeline

• January 28, 2016 - SF Motors was founded in Silicon Valley, California
• September 2016 - Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard joined SF Motors as Strategic Advisor
• January 2017 - Parent company of SF Motors (Sokon Industry Group) granted production permit from Chinese Government to produce electric vehicles
• March 2017 - SF Motors opens headquarters in Silicon Valley. The building has a garage with EV charging stations
• April 2017 - Parent company of SF Motors, Sokon Motors, and University of Michigan announce plans to establish Michigan-Sokon Research Center
• June 2017 - SF Motors announces plans to acquire commercial automotive assembly plant in Mishawaka, Indiana from AM General where Hummer H2 SUVs were formerly built.^[18]
• July 2017 - SF Motors hosts first Global Partnership Meeting at its headquarters in Silicon Valley
• July 2017 - SF Motors establishes intelligent driving research center in Beijing
• August 2017 - SF Motors hosts first University of Michigan-Sokon Autonomous Driving Seminar
• September 2017 - SF Motors’ parent company granted permission by Chinese Government to issue convertible bond worth up to 1.5 Billion RMB for SF Motors
• October 2017 - SF Motors announced the acquisition of InEVit Inc., an electric vehicle battery modularization startup headed by Martin Eberhard, industry leader and co-founder of Tesla, who joined the company as Chief Scientist and Vice Chairman of SF Motors’ Board.^[19]
• March 2018 - SF Motors unveils its cars, two all-electric sport utility vehicles, the compact SF5 and the mid-size SF7.^[20]
• July 2019 - Plans to assemble the company's first vehicle, an SUV called the SF5, have been halted for the U.S. market. Plans to assemble and sell SF5 in China continue unchanged. Layoffs have been announced at the company's California headquarters.^[21]
• That same month, Autocar reported that the company was in search of British partners to manufacture electric vehicles for SF Motors. SF Motors will serve as a supplier and would provide electric motors, and battery packs to any potential partners.^[22]

Leadership

• John Zhang - CEO
• Yifan Tang - CTO

Products

Seres

Seres is a brand of electric vehicles marketed by Seres Group. Since 2023, Seres brand has shifted to export-focus brand, while AITO and Landian became a domestic-only brand.^[23]

• Seres 7/M7 (2024–present), mid-size SUV, rebadged AITO M7
• Seres M5 (2024–present), compact SUV, rebadged AITO M5
• Seres SF5/A5/5 (2019–present), compact SUV
• Seres 3/E3 (2020–present), compact SUV, rebadged Fengon E3^{[24] [25]}
• Seres E1 (2023–present), city car, rebadged Fengon Mini EV

AITO

See main article: AITO (marque).

AITO is a brand Seres Automobile collaborates with Huawei for smart electric vehicle. Huawei is leads in the design of AITO models while Seres conducts in production. It is only operated in Chinese market.

The AITO brand was owned by Seres, but was sold to Huawei in June 2023.^[26] Huawei transferred the ownership of the brand back to Seres in July 2024.^[27]

Concept

• Seres SF6 Concept (2018)
• Seres SF7 Concept (2018)

See also

• Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
• List of automobile manufacturers of China

External links

• Official website: Seres

Notes and References

1. Web site: Hyatt . Kyle . 2019-04-14 . SF Motors is back as Seres, debuting the electric SF5 SUV in Shanghai . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220525014056/https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/sf-motors-now-seres-sf5-suv-electric-shanghai/ . 2022-05-25 . 2023-03-13 . . en.
2. Web site: Seres Group Co Ltd, 601127:SHH profile . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313035644/https://markets.ft.com/data/equities/tearsheet/profile?s=601127:SHH . 2023-03-13 . 2023-03-13 . . en.
3. Web site: https://static.sse.com.cn/disclosure/listedinfo/announcement/c/new/2022-07-12/601127_20220712_4_o7C7Bz9u.pdf . 2022-07-12 . 2023-03-13 . . 重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司董事会 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313145405/https://static.sse.com.cn/disclosure/listedinfo/announcement/c/new/2022-07-12/601127_20220712_4_o7C7Bz9u.pdf . 2023-03-13 . live . Sokon . zh . zh:重庆小康工业集团股份有限公司 关于拟变更公司名称、证券简称的公告 . Chongqing Sokon Industrial Group Co., Ltd name change and stock symbol change . 601127 2022-070. (listed under 赛力斯 (601127) 公告)
   • new name: / Seres Group Co., Ltd.
   • current name: / Chongqing Sokon Industrial Group Co., Ltd.
4. translation of the company name: Web site: Plant Visit: Liangjiang Intelligent Plant of Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd 重庆金康新能源汽车有限公司两江智能工厂参观 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313142230/https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/upcoming-events/15918/Plant_Visit_Liangjiang_Intelligent_Plant_of_Chongqing_Jinkang_New_Energy_Vehicle_Co._Ltd_ . 2023-03-13 . 2023-03-13 . . en.
5. Web site: https://www.seres.cn/uploads/soft/20220822/1661138044.pdf . 2022-08-19 . 2023-03-13 . Seres Group (Sokon) . https://web.archive.org/web/20230313074716/https://www.seres.cn/uploads/soft/20220822/1661138044.pdf . 2023-03-13 . live . 4, 17 . zh . zh:赛力斯集团股份有限公司 2022年半年度报告 . Seres Group Co., Ltd. 2022 half-year financial report. (listed under Seres Group financial report page)
   • p4: formerly
   • p4: SF Motors Inc.
   • p17,p145: As of August 2022, SF Motors Inc. is still called "SF Motors Inc."
6. Web site: zh:发展历程 - 赛力斯集团 . History – Seres Group . https://www.seres.cn/cms/timeline.html . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230310082033/https://www.seres.cn/cms/timeline.html . 2023-03-10 . 2023-03-13 . Seres Group (Sokon) . zh.
   • 2018三月29: "集团旗下SF MOTORS（后更名为SERES公司）"
   • 2017六月22: "公司旗下金康新能源汽车在美国的业务实施主体SF Motors"
7. Web site: Seres puts electric car launch in the US on hold, lays off a bunch of staff. July 12, 2019.
8. Web site: EV Startup SERES Hires Auto Industry Veteran to Lead its U.S. Operations.
9. Web site: SF Motors Acquires Automotive Assembly Plant. SF Motors . 2017-01-11.
10. Web site: Updated Seres SF5 Debuts As The First Car Sold By Huawei. 2021-08-25. Motor1.com. en.
11. Web site: Huawei Starts to Sell New SERES SF5 Car in its China Flagship Stores. 2021-08-25. consumer.huawei.com.
12. Web site: 2021-04-29. EXCLUSIVE Huawei deepens dive into EVs, seeks control of small automaker -sources. 2021-08-25. Reuters. en.
13. Web site: Huawei asserts more influence over auto arm with new Huawei Aito branding . 2023-03-25 . ArenaEV.com . en-US.
14. Web site: 问界门店员工：已接到通知，不让叫华为问界了 . news.sina.com.cn . zh . 1 April 2023 . 5 April 2023.
15. Web site: F Motors Hosts Global Partner Meeting in Silicon Valley . https://web.archive.org/web/20171023193742/http://www.sfmotors.com/global-partnership-silicon-valley/ . dead . 2017-10-23 . SF Motors . 2017-01-11.
16. Web site: Michigan's Mcity innovation center . University of Michigan . 2017-01-11.
17. News: AM General Sells Indiana Plant to China-Backed SF Motors. Stoll. John D.. 2017-06-22. Wall Street Journal. 2017-11-02. en-US. 0099-9660.
18. Web site: Hummer factory gets second life making electric cars. Gallucci. Maria. Mashable. June 23, 2017. en. 2019-08-10.
19. News: For Tesla, The Road Into China Still Looks Like A Blind Alley. Dunne. Michael J.. Forbes. 2017-11-02. en.
20. News: Startup SF Motors Unveils Two Electric Cars, Aims for 2019 Launch . Stephen Edelstein . 30 March 2018 . TheDrive.com .
21. Web site: Chinese-owned company halts plan to produce electric vehicles in Mishawaka. Tribune. Caleb Bauer and Ted Booker South Bend. South Bend Tribune. en. 2019-08-10.
22. Web site: Rendell . Julian . Chinese start-up Seres searching for UK battery partner . www.autocar.co.uk . Autocar . 17 November 2020.
23. Web site: 公司业务 - 赛力斯集团 . 2023-12-11 . www.seres.cn.
24. Web site: 24 December 2020. Elektrische Seres 3 is in Nederland en heeft een prijskaartje: €37.995. Electric Seres 3 is in the Netherlands and has a price tag: € 37,995.
25. Web site: autotimesnews. 2020-12-10. Another brand of electric vehicles appeared in Germany. 2021-01-30. en-GB.
26. Web site: 重磅！"问界"商标已转让给华为-开源基础软件社区-51CTO.COM . 2023-06-26 . ost.51cto.com.
27. Web site: Kang . Lei . 2024-07-03 . Huawei to transfer Aito trademarks and patents it holds to Seres for $340 million . 2024-07-12 . CnEVPost . en-US.