Shanghai General Motors Co$.$Ltd$.($Shanghai GM$)$ was established in June $1997.$It is a joint venture between Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation $($SAIC$)$ and General Motors. GM had permission to establish its own distribution and sales network in China and could reproduce a supply chain that was similar to the one in the United States. Considered the largest and most innovative automobile complex in China, Shanghai GM has three major manufacturing bases as well as four vehicle and two powertrain plants. With its customer$-$oriented and market$-$driven philosophy, Shanghai GM satisfies the ever$-$growing market demand by offering rich product lines and superior services. Today, Shanghai GM is a multi$-$brand company with over $20$ product lines including the world$-$renowned Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac brands, covering the luxury, compact sedan, MPV$,$ and SUV segments, as well as hybrid and electric vehicles.

$(1).$ What benefits does this joint venture bring to GM and to SAIC? $(1$ point; word limit: $100$ words$)$

$(2).$ For GM$,$ what are the benefits of having direct control over their distribution channels in China? $(1$ point; word