Mr. Yang Longiang established in 1998 Baolong Motors, to produce bullet-proof automobiles, mainly for the banking industry. Baolong had facilities in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Sanjiang and Zhanjiang. The official name of the company was Guangzhou Baolong Special Vehicle Co. Ltd.
Baolong made bullet proof versions of the Ford Transit, Isuzu, Iveco Nanjing, Dongan Delica, Jinbei, Renault Trafic, Mitsubishi and Changfeng. But also amblances and police cars.
In 2001 Baolong introduced a license version of the Mitsubishi Space Gear (Mitsubishi Delica 4th generation) . Baolong was now a real automobile manufacturer. The name of the 7-11 seats luxury minibus was Baolong Linghui B-MPV, also named Pegasus (Tianmazuo) TBL6500.
The basic version, the TBL6500H was a seven seater with a length of 5055- 5110mm. The engine a Mitsubishi 4G64 2350cc 132hp. The TBL6500 could contain 11 passengers, the TBL6500A1 was a passenger/freight version with a Dongfeng EQ491i engine, 1993cc, 80 kW. Of course there was also an armored version (TBL5022XYCF) and an ambulance (TBL5025XJHB).
Already in 2003 there was an update of the front, with big headlights.
In April 2004 Baolong bought Matra´s property right for the Renault
Espace III. Production was planned for 2007. Something went wrong, the Espace was never produced by Baolong.
In 2005 Baolong had financial difficulties. It was safed by FAW Hongta Yunnan Automobile Co. Ltd.
Production of the Pegasus continued in Sanjiang, Guangdong province, under a new name: FAW Freewind (Zhiyoufeng) CA6500CE. Later the production line moved to Hongta in Qujing, Yunnan province.
The Freewind had a choice between three engines: Dongfeng 491Q (1993cc), Mitsubishi 4G63 (1997cc) or Mitsubishi 4G64 (2350cc).
The dimensions were 5110x 1820x 1960/2155mm, wheelbase 3000mm.
Production figures of Baolong were in 1999: 450; 2000: 890, 2001: 1200, 2002: 21, 2003: 1350, 2004: 682, 2005: 300, 2006: 1036, 2007: 2150.
In 2010 the Baolong production facilities were sold to the Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC).
FAW Hongta Yunnan not only made the Freewind, but also the Happy Emissary (license Daihatsu Move), like we have written before.
Tianjin Qingyuan Electric Vehicle Co., specialised in converting vehicles into electric, made an electric version of the vehicle.
This car was sold in the USA, by Miles Electric Vehicles (Santa Monica, California), as the Miles ZX40/OR70, from 2005-2013.
Some were made by FAW Hongta in Qujing, others came from FAW Huali in Tianjin.
Miles went bankrupt in 2013.