(Yicai) Jan. 16 -- GAC Group is pushing ahead with its market-driven changes by opening up recruitment for middle management positions to external candidates, a source at the Chinese carmaker told Yicai, as part of efforts to hit ambitious sales goals for its self-owned brands.

The heads of newly established departments such as production, procurement, finance, and brand marketing, which includes GAC’s Trumpchi, Aion, and Hyper marques, will all be hired through this competitive process, the insider said.

The state-owned automotive giant will soon publicly announce the specific job titles and detailed requirements for these roles to attract outside candidates, the person added.

Mid-level managers will also face regular performance evaluations based on the business targets of the departments they head, the person added.

The Chinese government has been encouraging state-owned enterprises to adopt market-driven practices to enhance efficiency and their global competitiveness. Open recruitment of managers is the latest step in GAC’s wide-ranging transformation.

It aims to deepen institutional reforms, introduce a system where management positions are subject to performance-based advancement or demotion, and improve overall operational efficiency and profitability.

Since 2018, the Guangzhou-based company has been using a tenure and contractual management system, with Chairman Zeng Qinghong stating that "management personnel who fail to achieve business goals must resign.”

GAC aims to sell 2 million of its own branded vehicles annually by 2027, accounting for more 60 percent of its total sales, per the firm’s mid-term business plan. Its joint ventures with foreign carmakers such as Toyota Motor and Honda Motor used to make up the bulk of its sales.

GAC sold just over 2 million vehicles last year, with its own marques accounting for just 415,000 units, it said earlier this month.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev