About the History of Cars in China
Today in Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot (CCBTTF™): Shanghai Wanfeng Auto. This company existed from 2000 to 2006. It made several series of pick-up trucks and SUVs. To write these articles a bit faster, I have decided to go for a new format. First, I will tell a short history of the brand. Secondly, Continue reading "Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot: Shanghai Wanfeng Auto" The post Chinese…
Today in Crazy Car Production Days of Guangdong (CCPDoG™): the first-generation Toyota Avalon, produced by Jiulong Auto. CCCPDoG was a creative late-1990s scheme to dodge China’s high import tariffs. Near-finished foreign cars were shipped to China and minimally assembled under a local manufacturer’s license, magically turning an imported car into a China-made one. The Jiulong Continue reading…
If you drive through Switzerland today, you will come across Chinese car brands more and more often. BYD, Xpeng, MG, or Nio are no longer exotic. While Chinese new cars are increasingly dominating the streetscape, there is one type of vehicle that you practically never see: Chinese classic cars. This is hardly surprising, because according Continue reading "A Hongqi CA773 in Switzerland tells the…
Renault was established in France in 1899. After the First World War (1914-1918), Renault started car export. Renaults were introduced in China in the 1920s. We show you the activities of Renault in China, over a hundred years, from then till now. Early years. These two pictures were made in the early 1920s, showing several Continue reading "Renault and China, a story of 100 years." The post…
In the early 2000s, automaker SAIC Motor and several Shanghai-based research institutions and companies developed a series of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCHVs) based on the Volkswagen Santana 2000 and Volkswagen Santana 3000. At the time, the Chinese central and local governments actively supported research into New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), a broad category that included Continue reading "Early…
Mono volumes are automobiles where the engine compartment, the passenger compartment and the luggage compärtment are all in the same space. This unlike a standard three volume vehicle, like a sedan. In this article I will introduce several small mono volumes from the 1990s. The Jiangnan JNJ7050A. Made by the State Operated Jiangnan Machinery Works, Continue reading "Small mono volumes of the…
In 2016, the Changhe-Suzuki joint venture had serious plans to produce the third-generation Suzuki Jimny off-road mini SUV in China. Sadly, in the end, it didn t happen. Here s why. About Changhe Suzuki This Changhe-Suzuki joint venture existed from 1995 until 2018, albeit with many ups and downs. The Chinese name of the joint venture was Continue reading "The Suzuki Jimny Was Almost Produced In…
Guangzhou-Peugeot was the third automobile joint-venture in the 1980s, after Shanghai-Volkswagen and Beijing Jeep. The full name of the company was Guangzhou Peugeot Automobile Corporation. GPAC started at the facilities of the Guangzhou Automobile Works in Huangpu, a bus factory. Negotiations between the bus company and Peugeot took place from 1980. SKD (semi-knocked down assembly) Continue…
Years before Chinese carmakers focused on EVs and PHEVs, they also experimented with FCEVs, CNG, and even diesel powertrains. One of those carmakers was Dongfeng. In the early 2000s, it created a series of FCEVs, one of which was based on the Citroen C-Elysee. But first, let s talk about politics. The National 863 Plan Major Continue reading "Early Dongfeng FCEV Projects In China" The post Early…
The Jiangsu Yueda Group began producing cars in 1979. The first vehicle was a copy of the Beijing BJ130 light 2-ton truck, the Jiangsu JS130, with a 55 kW engine. The factory was called Yancheng Auto Works. In 1988, it made the original BJ130 as a single (JS130) and as a double cab pickup (JS130A), Continue reading "The cars Yueda made before the Kia Pride" The post The cars Yueda made before the…