Seres and ByteDance’s AI division are teaming up on a new vehicle brand aimed at younger tech-savvy buyers.
Seres Group is preparing to launch a new automotive brand under a newly formed company called Saidou Technology, formerly known as Chongqing Landian Technology. The brand, already nicknamed the “TikTok car” by Chinese media, is the result of a partnership between Seres and Volcano Engine, the cloud computing and AI platform operated by TikTok parent company ByteDance.
The move follows a major financial restructuring of the former Landian business. On May 29, Chongqing Landian Technology officially changed its name to Chongqing Saidou Technology. As part of the restructuring, a consortium of investors—including Chongqing’s state-backed Shazhi Zhiyuan fund, CATL subsidiary Wending Investment, Bojun Technology, and Xingyu Shares—invested 6.67 billion yuan, or approximately $930 million.
Following the transaction, Seres lost its controlling stake in the company. Its ownership was reduced to roughly 32.96%, while the state-backed Shapingba District platform became the largest shareholder with a 34.5% stake. The restructuring is intended to streamline Seres’ asset portfolio and remove a loss-making business from its consolidated financial statements.
According to industry sources, Saidou Technology plans to unveil its first vehicle before the end of 2026. The model is expected to be a crossover positioned between a traditional SUV and a sedan. Both fully electric and extended-range hybrid powertrains are reportedly under consideration. Production is expected to take place at Seres’ Phoenix manufacturing facility, which is currently undergoing upgrades.
The new brand is expected to differentiate itself through a strong focus on AI-powered user experiences. Unlike Aito vehicles, which rely on Huawei’s Qiankun intelligent driving platform, Saidou is expected to leverage Volcano Engine’s advanced smart-cabin technologies and large language models.
While Volcano Engine will provide the digital infrastructure and AI capabilities behind the vehicle’s interactive features, company representatives have emphasized that they do not plan to enter the autonomous-driving market directly. Instead, the focus will remain on cloud services, computing infrastructure, and in-car intelligence.
Saidou is being positioned to attract younger, more digitally connected consumers. The company plans to establish dedicated sales channels for both domestic and international markets.
The launch marks a significant shift from the original Landian brand, which struggled to gain traction in China's highly competitive budget segment, where vehicles typically sell for between $14,000 and $21,000.
Saidou will not be alone in expanding its portfolio. Several other Chinese automakers, including Leapmotor and Xiaomi, are also expected to introduce new sub-brands this year as competition intensifies.
In May 2026, Seres reported sales of 33,476 new-energy vehicles. Total deliveries from January through May reached 145,108 units, representing a year-over-year increase of 15.14%.