About the History of Cars in China
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”
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 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.
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”
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”
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 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.
Challenged by the good sales of the Chinese Suzuki Alto license copies, Dongfeng (like FAW) wanted a small car of her own. Development and production started in the city of Baolan, not far from Shiyan in Hubei province.
