Seres Launches Saidou Brand with DeepRoute Smart Driving and Volcengine AI Integration

Seres Group is preparing to introduce a new automotive brand named Saidou, marking a significant step in its strategy to diversify beyond existing partnerships and establish an independent growth trajectory. The company is expected to officially unveil the new brand and logo during a launch event scheduled for June 9. Saidou is being developed through a collaboration involving ByteDance's Volcengine platform and is expected to leverage advanced artificial intelligence and smart driving technologies to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive intelligent vehicle market.

The new venture operates under Chongqing Saidou Technology Co Ltd, an entity that was previously known as Landian Technology Co Ltd. The company recently underwent a major restructuring of its ownership structure and completed a substantial capital expansion. Through a recent funding round and share issuance program, the company secured approximately 6.67 billion yuan, providing significant financial resources to support future vehicle development, production expansion, and technology integration initiatives.

Saidou Ownership Structure After Capital Expansion

The shareholding changes have altered the ownership balance of the business and introduced several strategic investors into the project.

Following the restructuring, Chongqing state-backed Shaci Zhiyuan emerged as the largest shareholder with an ownership stake of approximately 34.5%. Meanwhile, Seres' shareholding was reduced to roughly 32.9%, resulting in the business no longer being consolidated within the listed company's financial statements. The investment round also attracted participation from CATL, which acquired nearly 9.89% of the company, further reinforcing industry confidence in the new brand's future prospects.

First Vehicle Planned with Multiple Powertrain Options

Saidou's first production model is expected to arrive later this year. Industry reports indicate that the vehicle could combine characteristics of a sport utility vehicle and a sedan, creating a crossover-style offering designed to appeal to a broad customer base. The model is expected to be available with both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) powertrain configurations, allowing the brand to address different consumer preferences within the rapidly growing electrified mobility segment.

Manufacturing of the new model is expected to take place at Seres' Phoenix production facility. The plant is currently undergoing production line upgrades and modifications to accommodate the upcoming vehicle program. These preparations highlight the company's commitment to ensuring production readiness before the official market launch of the Saidou brand.

Volcengine to Power AI-Based Vehicle Experiences

The partnership with ByteDance's Volcengine is expected to play a central role in shaping the digital experience of Saidou vehicles. Volcengine will focus on developing intelligent cockpit capabilities, including large-model-based vehicle interaction systems designed to improve communication between drivers and vehicles. The integration of advanced AI technologies aims to enhance functionality, user convenience, and overall product competitiveness.

Volcengine has already established a growing presence in the automotive sector through its next-generation automotive AI solutions. According to available industry information, more than 7 million vehicles are currently equipped with its Doubao large-model technology. The experience gained through these deployments is expected to support the development of Saidou's intelligent vehicle ecosystem.

DeepRoute Selected for Smart Driving Technology

Unlike several other intelligent vehicle programs in China that rely on Huawei's Qiankun platform, Saidou is expected to adopt a smart driving solution supplied by DeepRoute. The Shenzhen-based autonomous driving technology company has established mass-production partnerships with multiple vehicle manufacturers and has already deployed its urban navigate-on-autopilot (NOA) solution across approximately 300,000 consumer vehicles.

DeepRoute has continued strengthening its technological capabilities through strategic investments and talent acquisition. The company recently welcomed former DeepSeek R&D leader Ruan Chong as chief scientist, a move expected to accelerate innovation in vision-language-action large-model technologies. These developments could further enhance the performance and competitiveness of Saidou's future intelligent driving functions.

Growing AI Collaboration Between Volcengine and DeepRoute

Volcengine and DeepRoute previously announced a comprehensive partnership focused on the development of AI-powered vehicles. Under this collaboration, Volcengine provides computing resources that support DeepRoute's algorithm training activities and help improve overall development efficiency. The partnership seeks to accelerate progress in autonomous driving and intelligent vehicle technologies through the combination of large-scale computing capabilities and advanced AI software expertise.

DeepRoute has also strengthened its market position within the third-party urban NOA segment, where it reportedly achieved a 24% market share in 2025. This growing adoption demonstrates increasing acceptance of the company's smart driving technologies among automotive manufacturers and consumers.

Strategic Importance of the Saidou Brand

The introduction of Saidou represents an important milestone in Seres' long-term business strategy. While the company has experienced substantial success through the Aito brand developed in collaboration with Huawei, management continues to pursue greater diversification across its automotive portfolio. Establishing an independent brand supported by new technology partners enables Seres to reduce dependence on a single business model while expanding opportunities in intelligent and electrified mobility markets.

By combining Volcengine's artificial intelligence capabilities, DeepRoute's autonomous driving expertise, strong financial backing, and flexible BEV and EREV product offerings, Saidou is positioned to become a significant new participant in China's evolving smart vehicle landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Saidou brand being launched by Seres?
Saidou is a new automotive brand being developed by Seres through a collaboration involving Volcengine and other strategic partners. The brand is expected to focus on intelligent and electrified vehicles equipped with advanced AI-powered cockpit systems and smart driving technologies. Its first model is anticipated to launch later this year with both battery electric vehicle and extended-range electric vehicle variants. The initiative supports Seres' broader objective of diversifying its business and reducing reliance on a single automotive brand partnership.

Which technologies will be used in Saidou vehicles?
Saidou vehicles are expected to integrate Volcengine's advanced artificial intelligence technologies and DeepRoute's smart driving solutions. Volcengine will contribute intelligent cockpit functions, including large-model-based vehicle interaction systems, while DeepRoute is expected to provide autonomous driving capabilities such as urban navigate-on-autopilot technology. Together, these technologies aim to deliver enhanced driving assistance, improved vehicle intelligence, and a more advanced user experience. The collaboration combines expertise in AI computing, software development, and intelligent mobility solutions.