On August 30th, Beijing Automobile Works officially released a new brand – Risheng Automobile in Chengdu, and its mid – large MPV – Risheng M8 also made its debut simultaneously. BAIC Manufacturing stated that Risheng has been independently spun off from a model to become a subsidiary brand under its umbrella, and it focuses on the MPV category, being the world’s first brand that only produces MPVs.Based on the product, the Risheng M8 is a new MPV following the Risheng Wangpai M7. Positioned as a mid – large MPV, it offers seven – seat and nine – seat layouts, and the power system can be selected from fuel, CNG (compressed natural gas), pure electric, and range – extended power.
First, let’s take a look at the new car. The overall style of the Risheng M8 is quite grand and tough. The front face continues to use a large – sized vertical – bar chrome – plated front grille, with rectangular – shaped front headlights on both sides, and quite exaggerated heat – dissipation port styles on both sides of the front bumper. On the side of the body, the shape of the Risheng M8 is simple and unadorned. It adopts a side – sliding door and an overall upward – opening tailgate (an electric side – sliding door can be optionally installed). The rear part is a through – type light group, and the through – type taillights are combined with chrome – plated decorative strips, with the BAM brand logo integrated into it. In terms of dimensions, according to the declaration information of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Risheng M8 has a length, width, and height of 5317/1870/1955mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 3200mm, providing two seat layouts of seven – seat and nine – seat. Compared with the Risheng Wangpai M7, the length and height have increased slightly, while the width and wheelbase are the same, and it can be regarded as the long – wheelbase version of the current Risheng Wangpai M7 series.
In terms of the interior, the overall design of the Risheng M8 is relatively simple, using an orange – black two – color combination. It is equipped with a two – spoke steering wheel, a combination of a liquid – crystal instrument and a floating central control screen. Due to the adoption of a column – shift design, the car provides a mobile phone wireless charging pad and a hollow – out storage space in the sub – instrument panel area. The new car offers two seat layouts of seven – seat and nine – seat. Judging from the seat layout, the main uses of the new car are more focused on family use or simple business receptions.
In terms of power, the fuel – powered model of the Risheng M8 is equipped with a 2.0 – liter engine (optional gasoline and CNG + gasoline), with a maximum power of 90 kilowatts; the pure – electric model is equipped with a single motor, with a maximum power of 170 kilowatts, and is matched with a lithium iron phosphate battery; the range – extended version is equipped with a 1.5T range – extender, matched with a rear – mounted single motor, the maximum power of the range – extender is 112 kilowatts, the maximum power of the motor is 170 kilowatts, and it is matched with a ternary lithium battery provided by Hubei Yiwei Power.
After looking at the new car, let’s talk about the brand. Beijing Automobile Works (abbreviated as “BAIC Manufacturing”) is not the well – known Beijing Automobile, BAIC Group, or BAIC Motor, but another automobile manufacturing company, although it has historical connections with BAIC Group.
According to the data, Beijing Automobile Works was established in 1951. It is the second – largest large – scale automobile production enterprise built after the Changchun First Automobile Works, and the factory name was personally inscribed by Marshal Zhu De, the first marshal of the People’s Republic of China. In 1983, Beijing Automobile Works reached a joint – venture operation agreement to form the first Sino – foreign joint – venture enterprise in the history of China’s automotive industry – Beijing Jeep Automobile Co., Ltd. In 2001, after restructuring, BAIC Manufacturing became a subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Holding Group. In 2010, Beijing Automotive Holding used assets including 51% of the equity of BAIC Manufacturing to establish Beijing Automotive Co., Ltd., and BAIC Manufacturing thus became a subsidiary of BAIC Motor. In 2012, BAIC Group separated BAIC Manufacturing from BAIC Motor and managed it directly at the group level, making it a first – level holding subsidiary of BAIC Group. Later, due to poor performance of BAIC Manufacturing, BAIC Group transferred 51% of the equity of BAIC Manufacturing for 117 million yuan, announcing that BAIC Manufacturing was officially decoupled from BAIC Group and changed from a state – owned enterprise to a private enterprise, and the acquirer was Fulu Group, which is quite famous in the low – speed electric vehicle field. In 2023, BAIC Manufacturing was acquired by Weiqiao Venture Group and produced the Jishi 01 for Jishi Automobile as an OEM.
According to the official website of BAIC Manufacturing, the currently sold MPV model is the Risheng Wangpai M7, with an official guiding price of 61,800 – 153,800 yuan. In the view of Risheng Automobile, the current MPV market is highly fragmented. High – end MPVs have high prices, and low – end MPVs have poor product experience. Risheng Automobile believes that there is a lack of MPV products that deeply understand consumers in the price range of 120,000 – 250,000 yuan. After independence, Risheng Automobile will focus on the MPV market and have more autonomy in product planning, R & D, marketing, and channel operation. Using independent operation as a lever, it will accelerate the construction of a “full – scene coverage, full – price – band penetration” moat to achieve the transformation from a “product series” to a “professional MPV brand”.
How much chance of success does Risheng Automobile have by focusing on the MPV market? Retail data shows that from January to July 2025, the best – selling model in China was the Denza D9, with 60,590 units sold, the Sienna ranked second, with 52,885 units sold, and the Lantu Dreamer was 44,319 units sold. If calculated according to the price range of 150,000 – 250,000 yuan, the best – selling model was the Buick GL8, with 36,518 units sold, and the Trumpchi M8 was 31,228 units sold. Compared with the above – mentioned models, Risheng Automobile has a serious lack of brand awareness and it is difficult to compete with mainstream brands. Its competitive advantage lies in providing a variety of power options.
Based on the market, the Risheng M8 is expected to be positioned above the current Risheng Wangpai M7, and its fuel – powered models have potential competitors such as the SAIC Maxus G10 and the JAC Refine RF8. From January to July 2025, the cumulative sales of the Risheng Wangpai M7 were 9,469 units, ranking 18th in the domestic MPV market. How will Risheng Automobile perform after independence and how will the first model, the Risheng M8, perform? Let’s wait and see.
