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.
Continue reading “Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot: Shanghai Wanfeng Auto”
Crazy Car Production Days of Guangdong: The Jiulong Auto Toyota Avalon
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.
Continue reading “Crazy Car Production Days of Guangdong: The Jiulong Auto Toyota Avalon”
A Hongqi CA773 in Switzerland tells the story of China’s automotive industry
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 to current knowledge, there is only one specimen in Switzerland – a Hongqi (“Red Flag”) CA773 from 1975.
Continue reading “A Hongqi CA773 in Switzerland tells the story of China’s automotive industry”
Renault and China, a story of 100 years.
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 Volkswagen Santana Hydrogen Prototypes In China
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 hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Continue reading “Early Volkswagen Santana Hydrogen Prototypes In China”
Small mono volumes of the 1990s.
The Suzuki Jimny Was Almost Produced In China
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.
Continue reading “The Suzuki Jimny Was Almost Produced In China”
The rise and fall of Guangzhou-Peugeot.
Early Dongfeng FCEV Projects In China
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 cars Yueda made before the Kia Pride
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.