Seres Auto (formerly SF Motors)[1] is an electric vehicle company of Chinese automotive manufacturer Seres Group (formerly Chongqing Sokon Industry Group[2][3]). Several of the group's subsidiaries are also named "Seres". "Seres" is the Koine Greek word commonly used to refer to Chinese polities in classical times.
Seres Auto Co., Ltd. (formerly Chongqing Jinkang New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd.[4])[5] is a R&D and manufacturing subsidiary based in China.[5]
SF Motors Inc. was founded in Santa Clara, California in January 2016 as a company focused on producing electric vehicles. In early 2017, SF Motors' parent company, Sokon Industry Group, was granted production permits from the Chinese government to produce electric vehicles.[15]
The company has established seven R&D facilities in four countries, including the U.S., China, and Germany, with Japan coming online soon. Along with establishing an R&D center in the Ann Arbor area in Michigan; Seres is also partnering with the University of Michigan's Mcity innovation center, which is dedicated to leading the transformation to connected and automated vehicles.[16] SF Motors hosted its first University of Michigan-Sokon Autonomous Driving Seminar in August 2017.
In 2017, SF Motors completed the acquisition of the AM General Commercial Assembly Plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, making it the only electric vehicle company at the time to have manufacturing facilities in both the U.S. and China.[17] It will be the first manufacturing plant in the U.S. that is wholly owned by SF Motors. The acquisition includes retaining about 430 employees at the facility who previously helped build vehicles for both Mercedes-Benz and Hummer.[17]
Seres is a brand of electric vehicles marketed by Seres Group. Since 2023, Seres brand has shifted to export-focus brand, while AITO and Landian became a domestic-only brand.[23]
AITO is a brand Seres Auto collaborates with Huawei for smart electric vehicle. Huawei is leads in the design of AITO models while Seres conducts in production. It is only operated in Chinese market.
The AITO brand was owned by Seres, but was sold to Huawei in June 2023.[26] Huawei transferred the ownership of the brand back to Seres in July 2024.[27]
