SAIC's new unit

SAIC Motor Corp, China's largest auto maker, Monday announced the set-up of its commercial vehicle unit to sell its own-brand autos.

The SAIC Motor Commercial Vehicle Co will debut its first product MAXUS Datong wide-body van at the Auto Shanghai show in April. The model will be produced at the SAIC plant in Wuxi with an annual capacity of 200,000 units.

SAIC developed the MAXUS Datong models after it bought the intellectual property rights and technology platforms of MAXUS from UK's LDV Group in 2009.

Under SAIC's plan, 20 percent of its annual investment would be on commercial vehicles.