A short Ricardo & SAIC story...

[m0sko]

As it has been really quiet in the SAIC section recently, I have decided to post some information about Ricardo and SAIC. This is a compilation of various Ricardo's press releases. Hope you find it interesting...

adam

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is one of China’s leading automakers, producing mainly GM-brand and VW-badged cars. As a major element of its forward strategy the company aspires to acquire the capability to develop world-class automotive products under its own brand. That's why, in 2004 SAIC purchased the intellectual property rights of the Rover 75 and 25 products, as well as the K series petrol and G series diesel engine families.

This purchase did not however include the provision of any manufacturing tooling or background expertise. In response to these requirements Ricardo2010 Consultants Ltd (Ricardo subsidiary), was formed both to assist SAIC Motor into production with products based on the acquired IPR and also to act as the nucleus for the development of SAIC’s in-house automotive R&D capability for future product development.

On formation of Ricardo2010, some of the most talented and highly skilled engineering staff of the former MG Rover organisation were recruited and the UK engineering team rapidly grew to approximately 150 staff, representing some of the best talent available from the former MG Rover and other automotive organisations, assisted by fellow engineers and resources as necessary from other Ricardo divisions.

In May 2005 Ricardo plc signed a contract with SAIC Motor Co. This was followed by the official opening of Ricardo's new suite of offices in Shanghai, in July 2005. The offices, formally opened by Mr Philip Mani, Deputy Consul General of the British Consulate General in Shanghai, are located in the prestigious Maxdo Centre in the Hongqaio area on the west of the city.

In 2006, SAIC Motor openned brand new £15M Baoshan engine manufacturing plant near Shanghai and, in December, started production of the KV6 petrol engine.

The new 140kW (188 hp) KV6 powers SAIC Motor’s first own-brand car, the Roewe 750 sedan, unveilled at November’s Beijing auto show.

The team from Ricardo 2010 supporting SAIC Motor on the manufacturing launch of the KV6, engine included key engineering staff whose role involved the detailed specification of the production equipment required for the new plant, as well as its installation and commissioning ready for pilot production. In parallel with this, a team of ten engineers were based in Shanghai for the purposes of localisation of component supply, including supplier selection and
development to internationally competitive standards. As a result of this work by the joint Ricardo2010 and SAIC Motor team, this powerful, Euro 4 compliant engine has been localised for almost total Chinese content and commissioned for manufacture in less than 14 months from the initial project specification.

“We congratulate SAIC on the commencement of manufacture of the KV6, its first ever in-house engine” said Mark Garrett, Ricardo director of gasoline engineering. “This has been a tremendous achievement both for SAIC Motor and for the Ricardo 2010 team which has assisted it on this highly significant
programme. The results demonstrate our capability to deliver very rapid Chinese localisation of supply without compromise to internationally recognised standards of quality, performance and emissions certification.”

In January 2007, following a highly successful twenty month period of development by Ricardo 2010 Consultants Ltd, SAIC started talks on taking ownership of this venture. It was intended from the beginning that if Ricardo 2010 was successful, it was would be transferred at a nominal sum of £1 to the Chinese group as a going concern after a period of time. Through its links with the wider Ricardo group it has enjoyed ready-made access to advanced automotive technology and state-of-the-art design, test and development facilities. The transferred business will continue both to be based at offices at the Ricardo Midlands Technical and have strong operational links with Ricardo UK Ltd.

In 2007 the Roewe KV6 engine was awarded ‘best engine’ by a panel of leading media representatives at the Shanghai auto show, the first time that this prize has been bestowed on a Chinese own-brand product.

SAIC Motor’s first product under its new Roewe own-brand, the KV6 powered Roewe 750 received over 7000 orders in the two months following its launch.

The first SAIC's KV6 engine:

[Pete]

Thanks for that. I had some info myself on the SAIC contract but rather embarrassingly I've lost it. It will turn up hopefully.