SAIC and Lockton Expand International Risk Management

SAIC Motor has formalised a strategic partnership with international insurance broker Lockton, alongside its wholly owned captive insurer, SAIC Motor Insurance Co., Ltd., to enhance risk governance across its expanding overseas operations. The collaboration is designed to provide structured insurance solutions and cross-border risk advisory services, tailored to SAIC’s manufacturing, distribution, and after-sales activities abroad.

As one of China’s largest automotive manufacturers, SAIC has been accelerating its global footprint in Europe, South-East Asia, and other emerging markets. This international expansion has introduced a complex array of operational, regulatory, and technological exposures. Variations in compliance regimes, supply-chain volatility, evolving product liability standards, and the integration of advanced automotive technologies have collectively heightened enterprise risk.

The tripartite partnership aims to establish an integrated risk management framework capable of addressing operational, financial, and technological risks in a coordinated manner. Lockton will provide international placement expertise, programme design, and cross-border claims coordination, while SAIC Motor Insurance will retain and structure selected risks through its captive platform. This hybrid approach enables more efficient capital allocation and premium optimisation.

Bespoke insurance programmes will be jointly developed for overseas production facilities, global distribution networks, and after-sales service operations. Expected coverage lines include property damage, business interruption, product liability, product recall, directors’ and officers’ liability, and specialised protections for emerging automotive technologies.

A key focus is the management of technology-driven exposures. SAIC is deploying intelligent connectivity systems, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and over-the-air software update capabilities across its international markets. These innovations introduce heightened cyber security, data protection, and jurisdiction-specific compliance risks. The partnership will implement specialised underwriting frameworks and integrated claims management protocols to address these exposures effectively.

The principal areas of collaboration are summarised below:

Industry analysts highlight that the use of a captive insurance structure provides SAIC with enhanced control over risk retention, premium flows, and reinsurance strategy. Captives are increasingly adopted by multinational manufacturers seeking balance-sheet resilience and more predictable loss outcomes. Lockton’s global brokerage network is expected to harmonise programmes across jurisdictions, optimise policy wording, and ensure efficient claims handling.

By combining captive risk financing with international brokerage expertise, SAIC and Lockton reflect a growing trend among global industrial groups toward predictive risk engineering, structured retention strategies, and data-driven resilience. In an increasingly digitalised and interconnected automotive ecosystem, this alliance represents a forward-looking model of international risk governance, underpinning sustainable and compliant global growth.