The car, code-named BC301, was displayed in April at the Shanghai auto show. It is 3,997 mm long, 1,720 mm wide and 1,500 mm tall.

It is powered by a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter Mitsubishi 4A9 gasoline engine with a five-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The compact sedan targets customers in their 20s, the state-owned company said in a statement.

BAIC also expects to complete development this year of a mid-sized sedan based on an old Saab 9-5 architecture it bought in 2009 from Saab Automobile AB.

BAIC paid $200 million for the assets, which also included some technology from the current Saab 9-3.

BAIC, of Beijing, has joint ventures with Hyundai Motor Co. and Daimler AG.