The illustrated guide of Chinese car brands - 2023

The illustrated guide of 2023

Chinese car brands

Startup high-tech brand founded in 2021 by Huawei and Seres. The brand’s first model, the M5, is based on the Seres SF5. https://aito.auto/

EV brand founded in 2017 by a Chinese exVolvo manager. It is a ‘German’ style Chinese startup with a strategic focus on export. https://www.ai-ways.com/

EV joint venture of BAIC and Magna. The new brand intially sold microcars, now it’s aiming high with Huawei technology.

Avatr

The Changan-Nio JV didn’t last, but it still gave birth to a new EV brand. Its current parents are Changan, Huawei and CATL.

https://www.avatr.com/

EV microcars are the new trend. So car maker Linktour changed strategy and name. Now part of Pocco.

https://www.hdqccn.com/

Mass-market brand by SAIC-GM-Wuling that sold a million cars per year at its peak. It even has a station wagon in its model range.

https://www.sgmw.com.cn/

Beijing Jeep

Brand that has can be traced back to the army jeep. Just like its American counterpart, the 4x4 evolved into a trendy lifestyle vehicle. http://www.gacne.com.cn/

Build Your Dreams

International EV powerhouse because of its battery manufacturing experience and star investor Warren Buffett.

One of the main Chinese state owned car manufacturers. It’s joint ventures are not as big, so it cultivated its own strong brand. http://www.changan.com.cn/

Changhe

What remains of a now finished Suzuki joint venture. It’s most eye catching product is a modernised electric (Suzuki) Wagon R. https://changheauto.com/

A smaller car maker that implemented a successful export strategy. It’s most famous products are the Tiggo SUVs. https://www.chery.cn/

The China High Tech Offroad Vehicle looks a lot like a Toyota Land Cruiser. It is made by Hengtian, part of the Sinomach group. http://www.chtcorv.com/

Dayun Motors is a large manufacturer of trucks and motorcycles. It now also sells electric vehicles.

Ambitious Tesla competitor developed by Changan. Its first model is a sedan directly competing with Tesla’s Model 3.

This brand is the outcome of a joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz. It is now fully controlled by BYD. https://www.tengshiauto.com/

A small manufacturer that took over assets of bankrupt Zotye and JMCG. So far, it has limited success. Bankrupt in 2022.

startup originally known as DearCC. Its new SUVs are designed by a guy who used to work for Porsche.

Premium SUV brand by Chery. It produced some impressive conceptcars, however the production cars are more ordinary.

Early Chinese EV startup that went trough many ups and downs. It first car is slated to enter production in 2023... Probably.

Previously known as R or Rising. The Marvel R model is exported to the EU under the MG brand.

SAIC’s Roewe

of 4x4s. XPeng needed a production license, so it simply bought Foday who already owned a license.

Also known as Fengxing. The brand’s first product was a rebadged Mitsubishi van. The brand changed its name and logo recently.

Part of BAIC that manufactures commercial vehicles. Its more recent pick-up trucks are clearly inspired by American competitors.

One of the first modern cars manufactured in China was the Dongfeng Citroën Fukang (ZX). Fukang is now a standalone EV brand.

http://nev.dpca.com.cn

New energy vehicle brand by Geely, aimed specifically at BYD. Its first model, the L7, is a plug-in hybrid SUV. http://geely.com/

China’s most famous and entrepreneurial car company. With some help from Volvo, Geely’s cars got more refined and attractive.

Geometry

Like many of its competitors, Geely has a separate green energy brand. Its current products are modified Geely models. https://geometry.geely.com/

A fallen star of the Chinese auto market. The company recently announced a collaboration with Toyota on hydrogen fuel cells. http://www.haima.com/

Brand inspired by Great Wall’s most succesful SUV model. It has an export strategy since the beginning, with worldswide success.

http://www.haval.com.cn/

EV startup founded by the virtually bankrupt Evergrande conglomerate. It dreams of 17 models, but so far fully developed only 1 car.

https://www.hengchiauto.com/

Small manufacturer of mini EV vehicles. Also known as Xiao Hu FEV. Its new models are called For-Two and For-Four.

http://www.henrey.cn/

EV startup who’s first car, a small MPV, will be manufactured by BAIC Ruixiang. A variant of the same car is made by Jiangnan.

https://www.eezi-tech.com/

Hongqi

The brand that manufactures the official state limousine. Since some years its model range includes modern sedans, SUVs and EVs.

https://hongqi.faw.cn/

One of the many manufacturers of EV microcars. It’s more recent model (VeLi) is no longer a copy and has its own style. http://www.hrddqc.com/

Surprising EV startup that made affordable cars from the start. Only recently, it added an impressive sedan to its lineup.

Joint

by the once famous Brilliance Group and a small EV manufacturer.

High-end EV brand by Human Horizons, a start-up that aims to reinvent mobility. Its first models are full of gimmicks.

Hycan

EV brand created for the failed joint venture of GAC and EV startup Nio. Its first models are a compact SUV and MPV https://www.hycan.com.cn/

The Chery QQ was one of the first bestselling cars in China. Chery now cleverly uses the QQ brand on trendy micro EVs. http://www.cheryev.cn/

Premium EV brand developed by SAIC and Alibaba. Also called Zhiji or IM, Intelligence in Motion. It just launched its first models. https://www.immotors.com/

捷途 Shortcut

The Jetour brand is Chery’s response to the succes of SUVs. Its vehicles were styled rather conservatively until it launched the Dasheng. https://www.jetour.com.cn/

Be victorious

The succes of the Volkswagen Jetta developed into a spinoff. It offers a low-cost alternative to Chinese mainstream brands.

Southbank

Historic brand of Zotye that used to produce the Suzuki Alto. Its new model looks like a cheap variant of the Vc by HOEN/EEZI. https://drimac.cn/

EV microcar brand that succesfully exports all over the world. It took over a factory from the discontinued Leopaard brand.

http://www.jiayuan-ev.com/

Startup by Baidu (the Chinese equivalent of Google) and Geely. Its first car is a high-tech EV with autonomous drive capability. https://www.jidu.cn/

This company made it fortune manufacturing the local Ford Transit. JMC was also famous for the ‘Landwind’ Evoque copy. https://www.jmc.com.cn/

EV brand of JMC origin wih Renault majority shareholder. Its newest model, Yi, is available in Europe under the Mobilize brand.

http://www.jmev.com/

Commercial vehicle brand of Changan. Most famous for the bestselling Chana Honor. Its pickup is sold by Peugeot in some markets.

http://www.changankc.com/

Reincarnation of the Chery Cowin brand. In 2018 the government of Yibin city took control of the company.

http://www.kaiyihome.com/

Kandi

Manufacturer of EV vehicles that exports to the USA. The company also has a EV joint venture with Geely (Maple).

http://en.kandivehicle.com/

EV revival of the bankrupt Fisker Karma by a Chinese conglomerate. Years went by and the company lost some of its credibility.

One of the many Chinese EV startups. Its first model was a small sportscar. The brand is growing fast thanks to its new models. https://www.leapmotor.com/

Ambitious manufacturer of EV microcars that successfully managed to upgrade the image of its brand and products.

The first product of Lixiang was an instant hit on the Chinese market. The brand now sells larger and smaller versions of its SUV. https://www.lixiang.com/

Manufacturer of EV microcars with links to Kandi and Sitech. It's newest model, Uni, is clearly inspired by the Wuling MiniEV. https://www.jemmell.com/

Geely bought the bankrupt Lifan car factory and transformed it into a testcase for batteryswap technology. https://www.livanauto.com/

Lynk&Co

Joint venture by Geely and Volvo. Lynk & Co's cars have a distinctive style, but share basic platform and technology with Volvo.

https://www.lynkco.com.cn/

Joint venture by Geely and Kandi recycling the old Geely Maple brand. Its focus is to produce affordable new energy cars. http://www.mapleauto.cn/

Maxus

SAIC's reincarnation of the old British commercial vehicle brand LDV. Its new models include vans, SUVs, pick-ups and even EVs. https://www.saicmaxus.com/

Military 4x4 brand of the Dongfeng group. It recently launched a tough electric 4x4 inspired by the Hummer EV.

http://www.dongfengmengshi.com/

Noble reputation

The historic MG brand, now part of SAIC. Its sporty new sedans and SUVs respond well to the demands of Chinese market.

http://www.saicmg.com/

Small electric vehicle startup. Its first car, a crossover is to be manufactured by BAW.

The European Dacia Spring is manufactured in China by Dongfeng. It is locally available with Dongfeng branding.

http://www.dna-nev.com.cn

Most successful EV startup founded by a Chinese internet entrepreneur. Its cars are manufactured by JAC.

Open, Reliable, Alternative: fashionable EV brand by Great Wall. Its newer models are clearly inspired by iconic German cars.

Alternative brand by Changan, also known as Oushan, Auchan or COS. It's current focus is on stylish SUV's.

https://www.oshanauto.com/

The Great Wall brand thanks its fame to the worldwide success of its pick-ups. It is now pushing upmarket with the Pao brand.

https://pickup.gwm.com.cn/

Pocco

Yogomo is a large manufacturer of electric microcars. It created the new Pocco brand for its newer upmarket EV models.

https://www.hdqccn.com/

Startup new energy brand by Volvo. Designed in Sweden, made in China. Its technology is also shared with new Lotus models. https://www.polestar.com/

Early Chinese EV startup that made a big splash with its sportscar. Qiantu is now developing more accesible models.

http://www.qiantumotor.com/

The JAC brand is now split up. The passenger vehicles carry the Sehol brand and the vans carry the Refine brand.

Roewe

One of the early Chinese brands, started from the leftovers of the British Rover. Some of its models are exported by the MG brand. https://www.roewe.com.cn

New car company that is a continuation of the recently bankrupt Huansu brand. The logo is new, but the cars are old. http://www.baicrx.com/

New high performance EV. It has a love-it or hate-it personality like many of the recently unveiled products by Great Wall.

New brand by JAC, initially created for a joint venture with Seat. Most of JAC's cars now carry the Sehol brand.

EV brand by Dongfeng and Sokon. The initial plan was to have a factory in the USA. Today, the company is all Chinese. https://www.seres.cn/

Supercar startup by FAW Hongqi to be manufactured in Italy. So far, promised investments have not materialised.

https://www.silkfaw.com/

SWM

The car brand of motorcycle manufacturer Shineray. The SWM brand is inspired by a historic Italian motorcycle company. http://www.swmmotors.com.cn/

Offroad vehicle brand by Great Wall Motors that aims to compete with the Land-Rover, Jeep and the Toyota Land-Cruiser. https://www.tanksuv.com/

This is Guangzhou Automobile Group's main brand. It based its first car on the Alfa-Romeo 166. Today it has very popular SUV models. https://www.gacmotor.com/

Joint venture brand started by Nissan that is now fully controlled by Dongfeng. Its models feature a recognisable angular front fascia.

New microcar EV by Qindao Honri. Viauto's first model, the Boma, looks a lot like a scaled down Toyota Alphard from the front.

http://www.hrddqc.com/

The old Enranger brand got a big overhaul including a new brand name and logo. Gone are the MPVs, here come the SUVs. http://www.weichaimotor.com/

Electric

brand started by an ex Geely executive. Aka WM Motors. The company will expand into a second factory (ex-Leopaard).

Extremely successful joint venture brand of SAIC and GM. The Hongguang MiniEV is the best selling car in China since two

Better known as the 3D printed car. It was designed for a crowdfunding project. The Yoyo is manufactured for export by BAW. https://www.xevcars.com/

A Small sports car by tuner Feng Xiaotong (China car custom) and Tianjin Gongjiangpai Auto Technology, sponsored by Xiaomi. http://www.gongjiangpai.cn/

A serious Chinese Tesla competitor. Apart from its cars, it is also developing a passenger drone and a funny robotic unicorn.

New high-end EV brand by BYD. Its first models are a supercar and 4x4. Two cars with exceptional performance.

Reincarnation of Sitech DEV under a new name. Some years ago, this was one of the first cheap Chinese EV hatchbacks.

Yuanhang

New premium EV startup by the large truck manufacturer Dayun. Production of the first cars is supposed to start in 2023.

http://car.dayunauto.com/

founded in

EV brand by the Fujian Motor Group. It was one of the first compnies to sell affordable EVs, unfortunately with little success. http://www.yudoauto.com/

Zedriv

EV brand by Sinomach, a large industrial conglomerate. It launched some years ago, but so far it encountered little success. www.zhijunauto.com

High tech EV brand by Geely. Its model range is growing fast. Zeekr is also developing an autonomous taxi with Waymo (Google). https://www.zeekrlife.com/

One of the earlier successful Chinese car brands. Famous for copying. Zotye is making a comeback after bankruptcy in 2023. http://www.zotye.com/

Early manufacturer of pick-up trucks. Its new models are equal in and size to their American counterparts. http://zxauto.com.cn/

Too many brands?

If you are new to the Chinese car business and looking to learn more about it, my soon to be published book will be of interest to you. It provides a structured overview of the Chinese car market and the main car manufacturers.

The business

Large SOEs:

Large state-owned enterprises (so called SOEs) dominate the Chinese car market thanks to lucrative joint-ventures that produce cars for foreign automakers like Volkswagen or Toyota.

Small SOEs:

Smaller state owned enterprises have a hard time, but continue to survive thanks to the support of regional governments.

Large SOEs

Entrepreneurs:

Rapidly growing independent Chinese car companies who’s success is based on a winning business strategy.

Tech startups:

Recently founded car companies with a strategic focus on electric vehicles often collaborating with Chinese tech companies like Huawei.

Lowcost EV:

Manufacturers of small lowcost EV have a large share of the Chinese car market. This document contains some examples of lowcost EV brands.

Small SOEs Entrepreneurs Tech startups Lowcost

Brands & aliases

Aeolus

Aion

Aito

Aiways

Arcfox

Auchan (see Oshan)

Alibaba (see IM)

Avatr

Baizhi

Baidu (see Jidu)

Baojun

Baoneng (see Qoros)

BAW

Beijing

Beijing Jeep (see BJ / see BAW)

Benteng (see Bestune)

Bestune

Besturn (see Bestune)

BJ

Bordrin (suspended)

Borgward (suspended)

Brilliance (suspended)

BYD

Byton (suspeded)

Cannon (se Pao)

Chana (see Kaicene)

Changan

Changhe

Chery

Chery New Energy (see ICar)

CHTORV

COS (see Oshan)

Cowin (see Kaiyi)

Dacheng (see Dorcen)

Dayun

DearCC (see Enovate)

Deepal

Denza

DFSK (see Fengon)

Dongfeng Fengguang (see Fengon)

Dongfeng Fengshen (see Aeolus)

Dongfeng Fengxing (see Forthing)

Dongfeng NEV (see NEV)

Dongfeng Sokon (see Fengon)

Dorcen

Eezi (see HOEN)

Enoreve (see Enovate)

Enovate

Enranger (see VGV)

Evergrande (see Hengchi)

Everus

Exeed

Faraday Future

Feifan

Fengon

Foday

Forthing

Foton

Foxtron (Taiwanese)

Foxconn (supplier)

Fukang

GAC Aion (see Aion)

GAC New Energy (see Aion)

GAC-Nio (see Hycan)

GAC (see Trumpchi)

Galaxy

Geely

Geometry

Great Wall (see Pao)

Haima

Hanteng (suspended)

Haval

Hengchi

Hengrun

Henrey

HOEN

Hongqi

Honri Hozon

Huachen Xinri

Huansu (see Ruixiang)

Huawei (see Aito)

Human Horizons (see Hiphi)

Hiphi

Hycan

iCar

Ideal (see Li)

IM

Imperium (see Skyworth)

JAC (see Sehol / see Refine)

Jemmell (see Lingbox)

Jetour

Jetta

Jiangnan

Kaicene

Kaiyi

Kandi

Karma

Landwind (see JMC)

Leap

Leopaard (suspended)

Letin

Levdeo (see Letin)

Li

Lifan (see Livan)

Lingbox

Livan

Lixiang (see Li)

Luxgen (Taiwanese)

Lynk & Co

Maple

Maxus

Mengshi

MG

Milky way (see Galaxy)

Modern

Neta (see Hozon)

NEV

Nevs (see Hengchi)

Nio

Ora

Oshan

Oushan (see Oshan)

Pao

Paoting (see Wey)

Pentium (see Bestune)

Pocco

Polestar

Qiantu

Qoros

Radar

Red Flag (see Hongqi)

Refine

Rising (see Feifan)

Roewe

Roewe R (see Feifan)

Ruixiang

Saloon (see SAR)

SAR

Sehol

Senova (see Beijing)

Seres

SF Motors (see Seres)

Shalong (see SAR)

Shenlan (see Deepal)

Shineray (see SWM)

Silk-FAW

Singulato (suspended)

Sinogold

Sitech-DEV (see Young)

Skywell (see Skyworth)

Skyworth

Sol (see Sehol)

Soueast SWM

Tank

Traum (suspended)

Trumpchi

Venucia Viauto

VGV

Voyah

Weichai (see VGV)

Weilai (see Nio)

Weima (see Weltmeister)

Weltmeister

Wey

WM (see Weltmeister)

Wuling

XEV

Xiaohu (see Henrey)

Xiaopaoche

Xiaopeng (see XPeng)

XPeng

Yangwang

Yema (see Letin)

Young

Yogomo (see Pocco)

Yuanhang

Yudo

Zedriv

Zeekr

Zhidou (suspended)

Zhiji (see IM)

Zhonghua (see Brilliance)

Zinoro (suspended)

Zotye

ZX Auto

Resources

Brand information & pictures

https://www.autohome.com.cn

https://www.carnewschina.com

https:// www.chinacarforums.com

Images are under copyright of the individual manufacturer and will be removed if requested.

Sales data

http://www.myhomeok.com/xiaoliang/phb_pp/63.htm

https://autonews.gasgoo.com/sales/article/69778.html

https://price.pcauto.com.cn/top/sales/s1-t1.html

https://www.marklines.com/en/statistics/flash_sales/automotive-sales-in-china-by-month

The sales data reported in this document is indicative only and should be taken with a grain of salt. This document is based on free available data only. Professionals are invited to use more precise, paid data from sites like bestsellingcarsblog.com.

This document is not intended for commercial purposes.

The illustrated guide of

Chinese car brands

by Reinout Muyllaert

2023

About the author

I am an experienced car designer who currently works for an independent consultancy in Turin, Italy. I watch the Chinese car industry since 2015.

https://it.linkedin.com/in/reinout-muyllaert-0138064b