东南Soueast

Who owns Soueast? The ownership chain, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.'s stake and the 2024 deal

Facts checked

Soueast is Chinese. The Fujian marque began as a joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors of Japan and China Motor Corporation of Taiwan; it is now listed as a Chery Automobile brand and is used mainly for exports. The date and terms on which Chery took control were not verified for this record.

Chery acquired Soueast outright in March 2024, reported as 100%.

The short answer

Controlled by Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.
Stake100%
SinceMarch 2024
Kindbrand
OriginCN
Name in Chinese 东南 Dōngnán “dong-NAHN”
Top of the chainWuhu municipal government (Wuhu SASAC)
Is it Chinese? Yes

The chain, step by step

  1. Wuhu municipal government (Wuhu SASAC) holds a stake in Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. at 21.17% since January 2025.

    The Wuhu city government holds its Chery shares through Wuhu Investment Holding Co., Ltd., which is 95.59% owned by the city's state-asset commission. It became a direct holder of 21.17% of Chery Automobile in January 2025 and was diluted by the September 2025 share issue; the largest holder is shown at about 19.9% in later data. Chery told the Hong Kong exchange that no single party is able to control the company.

  2. Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. owns Soueast at 100% since March 2024.

    Chery acquired Soueast outright in March 2024, reported as 100%.

Former owners

Holdings that have ended. They are here because the story needs them and are never part of the current tree.

  1. Fujian Motor Industry Group Co., Ltd. formerly held Soueast at 50% from November 1995 until March 2024.

    Fujian Motor Industry Group, a provincial state company, was Soueast's founding majority shareholder with 50% until Chery bought the company.

  2. China Motor Corporation formerly held Soueast at 25% from November 1995 until March 2024.

    China Motor Corporation of Taiwan held 25% from the founding. Who held the remaining quarter before Mitsubishi took it in 2006 was not established here.

  3. Mitsubishi Motors Corporation formerly held Soueast at 25% from 2006 until May 2021.

    Mitsubishi Motors held 25% of Soueast from 2006 and the venture built Mitsubishi-badged cars for the Chinese market. Mitsubishi withdrew in May 2021, three years before Chery bought the company.

Every holding above this entity, with the stake and the date it began.
Holder Holds Kind Stake Since
Wuhu municipal government (Wuhu SASAC) Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. holds a stake in 21.17% January 2025
Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. Soueast owns 100% March 2024

Soueast: questions people ask

Who owns Soueast?
Chery. It bought the company outright in March 2024. Before that Soueast was a Fujian state joint venture that also had Mitsubishi Motors as a 25% partner from 2006 until 2021.
Is Soueast the same as Mitsubishi?
No, though it built Mitsubishi-badged cars for the Chinese market while Mitsubishi held a quarter of it. Mitsubishi left in May 2021 and Chery bought the company in 2024.
What does Soueast mean?
It is simply south-east. The Chinese name 东南 (Dōngnán) refers to Fujian province on China's south-east coast, where the company was founded and still builds cars.
Is Soueast sold in the United States?
No. The relaunched brand is aimed at the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Related

Sources for Soueast

  1. Wikipedia, Soueast. Read . Finding aid for the 1995 founding and shareholding, the Mitsubishi period, the 2024 Chery acquisition, the S-series range and the export claims.
  2. Wikipedia, Chery. Read . Finding aid: Chery fully acquired Soueast in March 2024 and uses the plant for Jetour production.
  3. Wikipedia, List of automobile manufacturers of China. Read . Soueast listed among Chery Automobile's brands.
  4. 中国基金报 (China Fund News), 奇瑞IPO迷局 (Chery's IPO puzzle). Read . Published 2 March 2025.