The People’s Liberation Army (Jiefangjun) no. 5720 Works in Wuhu City, Anhui Province switched to civil vehicle production in the 1990s, like so many military factories.
The PLA 5720 Works was a large state-owned military enterprise affiliated to the Air Force Equipment Department. The address was at the No. 1 Wanli Airport, this military airport was constructed in 1934 as a response to the Imperial Japanese aggressions and ambitions in China.
Around 1994 PLA5720 started motor car production, together with Sandi Motors, a motorcycle factory in Taixing city, Jiangsu province. Sandi, established in 1989, had experience with the production of little motor cars with 500cc combustion engines.
The product was a sedan Wei’er (anglicized as Whale) WHJ6440. A minicar with a Suzuki-based DA462-10 4-cylinder engine of 797cc or 870cc, length quite long for a mini: LxWxH 4420x1690x1910mm, wheelbase 2340mm.
Besides of the sedan a pickup version was offered, which was also sold by Sandi Motors.
Production was low: in 1995 a total of 1202 automobiles was made, in 1996 916.
In the handbooks of the 1990s I found two other products of the PLA5720 Factory. Two minibuses.
After this automotive adventure of PLA5720 there was a long pause, but in 2013 the military showed up again.
At the Shanghai Salon of 2005 Chery Motors in Wuhu exhibited a big MPV, named Chery B13. Though the car changed names regularly (Riich 5, Rely V8) it never came into production.
In 2013, the PLA5720 factory showed this car , now named Wei’er WHJ6490. The Chery engine was replaced by the JM491Q-ME engine made in Mianyang. The sizes were 4945x1820x1854mm, wheelbase 3025mm.
My friend and colleague Tycho wrote on China Car News in November 2013 about this car.
When there was any production, it can’t have been much.
It seems that the factory has been bought by Wuhu Kaiyi Motors Co., Ltd. (Cowin Auto) in 2015.
The WHJ-denomination was continued by the Yibin Cowin (Kaiyi) Auto Co. Ltd. in Yibin City, Sichuan Province.
In my book “Made in China, Lost small cars of the 1990s” I have written about the Wei’er WHJ6440 and WHJ1010. In the book you will find many more contemporary cars.
Thank you for listening to my request.
Did that Chery B13 ever see any production as a Chery?
Amazing content as usual, this is currently my favorite blog along with old CarNewsChina, as I scour through the early pages (currently at page 912).
Thanks, Tom. Readers like you motivate us to continue!
http://auto-che.com/v/whj/whj6490-239-weier.html
Why do so many Chinese cars from this era have a name that sounds like a serial code like the WHJ6440?
It is the official designation of the car.
But why do they name it like that instead of a more memorable name like the newer cars (e.g. Geely GE, BYD e6)
idk.
Somil is right, the state made a system of designations. In the strict communist system numbers were more important than often frivalous names. It is possible that the cars had in practise names we are not aware of, which are not in the official documents.
[…] Liberation Army no. 5720 Factory in Wuhu city, Anhui province. I described the history of the PLA5720 Factory and the Wei’er […]
I have this photo：WHJ6480.It is an extended version of WH6440，It can accommodate 10 people.Meanwhile, this car has been equipped with a new engine (BJ483ZQB)，Maximum horsepower 62，displacement 2164cc，this car is a diesel car.
Many thanks, mr. Marshall. It is always good to have new photos, especially when they are of ‘unknown’cars.
Interesting, cant say I have heard of this one before… Diesel engine is an interesting choice for the powertrain. Again, thanks for sharing this with us!
I just found a photo, the model of this car is WHJ1010D,But it doesn’t seem much different from the 1010, perhaps it’s because the engine is different.
Well, mr.Marshall, the letters behind the official part of the designation can mean different things: for instance a letter for each engine, or for different versions (as two-door pickup, four-door pickup etc.). Manufacturers were free to decide themselves what to add.
yeah,i know.