Toyota production by Beizhi. Brochure collection mr. Bai Guang.
When Japan invaded China it needed the shortest supply lines, and it was for that reason that the Japanese regime encouraged truck assembly at several places in China. These factories assembled Japanese trucks for military and also for civilian use.
So after describing the American influenced Minsheng (Zhongshan) and the assembly of the German Mercedes, I will write here about the third country involved in the 1930s-1940s Chinese truck production.
This history is a little bit tense, as it describes the activities of an occupier of China. But, like the Americans and German, it had certainly an influence on the later Chinese truck industry.
The first company I want to tell you about was called Tonghe Automobile Industry Company in Manchukuo (Dongbei), more commonly known under its Japanese name Dowa. Tonghe was established in Shenyang (then called Fengtian) in March 1934. It made use of the Minsheng facility and production equipments of the Fengtian Arsenal, that the Japanese had occupied since 1931.
From the pictures it is clear that Tonghe assembled Nissan 80 trucks. Nissan 80 trucks had a 3670 cc 6-cylinder engine. Sizes 5390X2900X2500 mm, wheelbase 3251 mm.
Tonghe had many problems to become profitable, the main reason was that the Japanese military bought less trucks than expected. I don’t know how many trucks they made. In 1936 Manchuria counted 10.557 vehicles, of which only 118 were made by Tonghe.
Tonghe (Dowa) was also producer of armoured trucks. The Manchukuo 93 was made here.
Manchukuo 93.
In March 1942 Tonghe was incorporated in the Manchuria Automobile Co. Ltd. (Manzi).
Next is the Beizhi (North China) Automobile Company established in Beijing. Beizhi produced Toyota KB trucks. I don’t know where the production site was.
The 4-ton Beizhi Toyota KB measured 6150X1830X2085 mm, wheelbase 4000 mm and had a curb weight of 2920 kg. The 6-cylinder engine had 3389 cc.
Toyota GB trucks were assembled in by Toyota in Tianjin. We have some beautiful colour pictures thanks to Weibo (@颐和吴老) .
Assembly of the GB and a bus chassis started in April 1938.
Toyota GB truck specifications are: 6412X2190X2220 mm, wheelbase 3386 mm, curb weight 2600 kg, engine 3386 cc, 6-cylinder, 78 hp.
The Tianjin factory was named Hokusho Motor Co. in February 1940.
In May 1939 assembly of the Toyota GB truck started also by Toyota in Shanghai. This factory was renamed Huazhong Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. in February 1942.
Japanese truck production in China before and during the Second Chinese-Japanese war (the Second World War) was a serious thing, it disappeared a bit in the Chinese automobile history. A reason for me to show it to you. Like always: please tell me what you missed, give your comments and additions.
Always fascinated me, how a tiny sophisticated Japan is far too superior compared a huge communist hippopotamus of china …. just shows how a retarded and stupid regime is
What is this model of dowa vehicle made between 1931-1936？ Chinese articles claimed that around 1931 dova was producing a truck/bus called toyota 31c which is based on the remain leftovers of Mingsheng truck, but toyota wasn’t established till 1934 and the first truck they made was back in 1935, if there any document can clarify the early products of diva, then many mysteries will be solved
min sheng is manufactured by shenyang mortar factory.During the preparation period for war.I don’t think the factory will allocate most of its production capacity to automobile manufacturing.So the manufacturing technology is not complicated.Toyota is likely not in need of these technologies
minsheng looks like style in the early 1920.toyata kb seems Chevrolet model in the early 1930s.Toyota’s theft of technology from minsheng should be based on the politically correct imagination of nationalists
Hi Yaojun,thanks for your comments. Minsheng’s chassis, engine, axles etc. were delivered by the the American Relay truck company (see https://www.chinesecars.net/sites/default/files/sah_en_vertaling.pdf). It is clear that Toyota’s truck production was much more advanced in the late 1920s/early 1930s than Minsheng, which was only an assembly factory, only the Minsheng cab was Chinese made.
After the invasion Nissan used the Minsheng factory facility and some of the production equipment. The main parts of the Dowa-Nissan 80 were made in Japan.
I don’t know any Toyota 31 truck.
I’d just like to point out that the picture titled “Toyota GB assembled in Tianjn. Picture Weibo.” is actually a 1938 Chevrolet truck.The logo is even barely visible on the side of the bonnet.
R G, many thanks for your comments. I am afraid I have to tell you that you are right! It is a 1938 Chevrolet. I never heart about Chevrolet assembly in Tianjin. Or was it a Chevrolet the Japanese had captured? Maybe the whole Weibo article with the beautiful color photos is fake? Your remark leaves more questions…