The rumored "Tiktok" car is no more. Credit: Jiemian, Bytedance, Landian, Modified by CarNewsChina Understand China EV’s Market Real-time notifications when critical EV data is released All important data in one place 2,000,000+ data points Become a member ByteDance, parent of TikTok, denied plans to launch a car with Seres Group, the automaker behind AITO. The statement emphasised that neither ByteDance nor its Seedance AI sub-brands hold a controlling stake in Seres’ Saidou Technology. The company also said no new car or brand launches are planned. In its statement, the Chinese tech giant made four key points: ByteDance does not have plans for either a car launch or a brand launch. “Saidou” is not a car brand launched by ByteDance or Dola (Doubao) AI. ByteDance does not hold shares in Saidou. Dola (Doubao) and Volcano Engine focus on smart cockpit and AI technology for the automotive industry. Rumours of a new car launch surfaced after the restructuring of Chongqing Landian Technology, a Seres subsidiary, leading to the creation of a new brand, “Saidou Technology”. The move brought a 6.67 billion yuan (952.9 million USD) capital injection from several investors, notably Wending Investment, CATL‘s strategic investment arm. An announcement from Saidou intensified these rumours, as the Seres subsidiary prepares to launch a new car brand on June 9. Saidou and Seres state that the new entity will “explore the infinite possibilities of AI-defined vehicles”, hinting at significant integration of AI technology in its vehicles. With ByteDance’s denial, however, it is now expected that Saidou’s new cars will only incorporate Volcano Engine and Dola’s AI and smart cockpit capabilities. The tech giant has previously distanced itself from automotive manufacturing and autonomous driving products, focusing instead on interactive cabin technologies. More on Seres, Landian & Saidou Initially affiliated with Dongfeng Motor, Seres Group gained prominence in 2021 with the SF5, the first model in Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA). The tie-up made Seres a key player in Huawei’s auto push, and the two launched the AITO brand that year. The auto group previously made headlines for patenting designs for an in-car toilet. However, Landian’s fate was far less rosy. Seres’ budget brand focused on the entry-level SUV segment. It offered the E3 EV, the E5 PHEV, and the E5 Plus PHEV. Pricing for the brand’s vehicles started at 99,800 yuan (14,800 USD). The E5 Plus topped out at 168,800 yuan (25,000 USD). Landian’s domestic deliveries, May 2025 to April 2026. Source: China EV Datatracker While reasonably priced, Landian’s cars lacked brand recognition and failed to gain traction beyond rural Chinese markets. China EV Datatracker shows that the brand delivered only 472 units domestically in April 2026, with a minuscule 0.1% market share in its dying days. Landian’s rebirth into Saidou comes as Seres attempts to limit its losses and improve its financial statements. The rumours of ByteDance’s involvement aren’t unfounded, as even Saidou’s name can be viewed as a portmanteau of Seres (Sai Li Si) and ByteDance’s Dola AI (Dou Bao). Details about Saidou’s new brand are expected on June 9. ByteDance’s statement. Source: Weibo, Bytedance