About the History of Cars in China
Production of the Daihatsu Charade in Japan started in 1977. In 1983 a second generation was launched, which was replaced in 1987. The third generation Charade was also made in China as the very popular Tianjin Xiali TJ730.
But before the third gen., the Tianjin Automobile Industry Corporation assembled 3000 units of the second generation in 1986-1987.
Continue reading “The Chinese Daihatsu Charade (2nd generation) and look-alikes.”
The Changchun Automobile Research Institute developed a 0.8 ton 4×4 military truck from 1966-1970.
Continue reading “A military 4×4 truck, bigger than the BJ212.”
At the Guangzhou Fair, outside, there was always a small auto exhibition. Here you could see some small makes, which were not exposing at the Beijing or Shanghai Auto Show. Tianqi Meiya was one of them.
Continue reading “Tianqi Meiya T3, another car we never met in traffic.”
In 1992 Citroën ZX-assembly in China started. A joint-venture, named DCAC (Dongfeng Citroën Automobile Company) was established, the venture was owned for 70% by Dongfeng.
Continue reading “The pickup, box car and station wagon based on the Fukang (Citroën ZX).”
Xinkai Motors, founded in 1984 made mainly pickup’s and suv’s in Gaobeidian City in Hebei Province. From 2010 on Xinkai sold Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Vito vans. In 2018 Xinkai was bought by the Jimai New Energy Vehicles Co.
Several times, Xinkai proposed cars, but never produced one. Here follows an overview.
A bit surprised, not knowing this vehicle, my dear friend Chang Bing took some photos, in front of the building of the FAW Automobile Research Institute in Changchun. The car had no front logo, but after sweeping a bit the snow away the factory name and the vehicle code became visible at the rear site.
A Hongqi CA770 limousine, refit into an ambulance or at least disguised as an ambulance. There are several versions.
When reading a Wikipedia page about the Shanghai Auto Shows, I was surprised to read that Wiki tells us that the first Shanghai Show was held in 1985. That is not true.
The first Show in Shanghai was held 64 years before, in November-December 1921.
There seems to have been some minor exhibitions in Shanghai, in 1906 and 1927. But the main big show was in 1921, I missed that one when I wrote about earlier Chinese auto shows.
With help of the magazine Oriental Motor, published in those years, I give you a review of the 1921 show.
Two three-wheelers, made in 1958, both by the Chongqing Municipality Public Transport Company.
This is about three mystery-Volkswagen’s. The FAW-Volkswagen Olympia Taxi, a FAW-Volkswagen Vento (Jetta A3) and a Shanghai-Volkswagen Santana (Passat B2).
