(Yicai Global) Feb. 20 -- Volkswagen's joint venture with China's SAIC Motor said it has appointed Jia Jianxu, general manager of SAIC unit Yanfeng Automotive Trim Systems, as its new GM.

As GM of SAIC Volkswagen Automotive, Jia will advance the carmaker’s development of intelligent electric vehicle technologies, the Shanghai-based JV announced today.

Born in 1978, Jia oversaw the European market of SAIC’s vehicle business and became Yanfeng’s GM in 2018, with the firm successfully producing intelligent cockpits during his tenure.

Electric and smart vehicles have shaken up the auto market in recent years, putting pressure on traditional automakers such as SAIC Volkswagen. It sold 1.32 million vehicles last year, up 6.3 percent from 2021, compared with declining sales among Chinese JV automakers. But the figure is still much lower than the company’s annual sales of more than 2 million units in its peak years.

SAIC Volkswagen’s former GM, Chen Xianzhang, will serve as deputy economic manager and deputy director of the technical committee at SAIC, the JV said.

Chen joined SAIC Volkswagen in 1988 and became its GM in August 2014. The firm sold over 2 million vehicles a year for four straight years through 2019 during his tenure and became China’s leading automaker.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Tom Litting