- Seres has partnered with ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok.
- ByteDance’s Volcano Engine will run the new car’s AI cockpit and brain.
- The new Saidou brand will replace the slow-selling Landian nameplate.
Seres may not be a household name in the West, but it was actually founded in Silicon Valley a decade ago as SF Motors, before being rebranded and establishing itself in China. Now it’s in the middle of a dramatic revitalization, backed by a new ownership structure and a partnership with ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to develop a new car.
Now, before you jump to the conclusion that you may soon be able to buy a car with TikTok branding and screens pre-loaded with the app to feed your doomscrolling obsession, the partnership is a little different. Seres will work with ByteDance’s cloud and AI platform, known as Volcano Engine, to create a car to be sold as an EV with a range extender.
Read: Seres Patented An In-Car Toilet That Slides Out And Disappears When You’re Done
The car arrives through Saidou Technology, a new group formed by Seres to replace the old Landian brand, according to industry insiders speaking to Lanjing Auto. The entity has pulled in close to $1 billion in investment. Some of that comes from the Chongqing Shapingba District government’s fund, which now holds a 34.5 percent stake. The rest of the cap table reads like a who’s who of Chinese suppliers: CATL subsidiary Wending Investment, Bojun Technology, and Xingyuu Shares.
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This new model will reportedly take the form of a sleek crossover and focus on delivering AI-powered experiences for buyers. Whereas cars from Aito, also owned by Seres Group, rely on Huawei technologies, it’s understood that cars from Saidou will use Volcano Engine’s AI cockpit and large language model capabilities, serving as the brain for all of the vehicle’s interactive features. The ByteDance-owned firm will also provide cloud and infrastructure support.
Also: Seres 5 Crushes Tesla Model Y In Comfort But Loses The Battle Where It Counts
CarNewsChina believes the new car will target a younger demographic of buyers. Ditching the Landian brand isn’t much of a surprise, as its budget-friendly models haven’t been selling particularly well, with sales topping out at roughly 29,000 units in 2024.
Seres isn’t the only Chinese firm to use ByteDance’s AI division. Last month, it was revealed that the Roewe brand, owned by SAIC, has also partnered with Volcano Engine to develop AI-native automotive technical architectures, showcased with the five-seater Jia Yue 07.
