China's largest carmaker SAIC Motor Corporation is planning to sell at least 100,000 new energy vehicles a year in Europe by 2025, as part of its goal to deliver 1 million vehicles in overseas markets in the same year.

SAIC, partner of General Motors and Volkswagen, unveiled the plan while it launched its first self-operated shipping route to Europe last week, with a roll-on roll-off, or ro-ro, ship loaded with some 1,800 electric cars on its maiden voyage now en route to Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Yu De, managing director of SAIC Motor International Business Department, said the carmaker, which sold over 6 million vehicles in China last year, established its international business unit in 2011.

Now its business is present in over 60 countries and regions, with the overseas sales network comprising over 750 dealerships, and has seven to eight markets where the annual sales can reach 10,000 vehicles.

In the first nine months of the year, the carmaker sold 221,000 vehicles in overseas markets, accounting for one third of the total overseas sales of Chinese automakers.

Yu said the company started to explore the European market in late 2019 as the continent is promoting new energy vehicles.

The coronavirus pandemic hit hard the demand, but its sales there soared nevertheless, thanks to the carmaker's competitive edge in battery safety, life span and mileage.

Its MG EZS EV was the first small-sized electric SUV to get a five-star rating in Euro New Car Assessment Programme.

"We made it into the list of top-five best-sellers in NEV-friendly countries including the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway, and this shows they like our products," Yu said.

Statistics show SAIC delivered almost 12,000 MG and Maxus-branded new energy vehicles in Europe in the first three quarters of this year.

Considering its models' increasing popularity, SAIC launched its own shipping service last week to ensure quality and time-efficient deliveries, which Yu said is also a symbol of the carmaker's strength.

"Usually, Chinese carmakers do not have a complete presence along the industry chain in overseas markets. SAIC is an exception," Yu said.

"We have covered car production, spare parts, logistics and even financial service. We will bring into full play our advantage to better serve our customers."

In Europe, SAIC's MG and MAXUS brands are present in more than 10 countries, including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

The carmaker said the number of sales and after-sales stores in the continent will exceed 200 within the year.

Zhao Aimin, executive vice-president of SAIC Motor international, said the company will launch five to six models in Europe in three years, and all of them are new energy vehicles.

"European carmakers have done a terrific job in terms of gasoline vehicles, but we are leading in terms of new energy vehicles. That's why we are confident in our goal, although we are the visiting team," Zhao said.

Yu said this is part of SAIC's guiding strategy of offering different things. For example, in developed markets like Europe, new energy vehicles serve as an entry point, while in emerging markets, the carmaker highlights its intelligent connected vehicles.

Another thing Yu said SAIC has followed is to be part of the markets where it is present, which he believes is crucial to any company's overseas operations.

"When we enter a market, we want to join the local community and undertake social responsibility," he said.

Yu said SAIC sponsors concerts, soccer games, and does things for the public good during the COVID-19 pandemic, and over 70 percent of its local teams are local people.

"We are not a small company, and we don't come and go. We live and work there together with them, and love things they love," he said.