Electric | Luxury | Affordable
Top Chinese electric car brands
#1. Weltmeister
The Brand: Owned by WM Motor Technology, Weltmeister was founded in 2015 by Freemen Shen. Its vehicles are manufactured in Wenzhou, China, with a capacity of 100,000 units. Weltmeister is a leader in battery electric vehicles, offering a network of over 200,000 public chargers in China.
Need To Know: Weltmeister’s cars are created around three core concepts: the Living Pilot, the Living Engine, and the Living Motion. The Living Engine is the key concept as the primary system and includes a virtual assistant and facial recognition.
#2. Great Wall Motors
The Brand: Great Wall Motors Company, also known as GWM, produced their first car in 1993. Since 1998, this company has been ranked number one in sales and export volume every year. In 2002, GWM created the first Chinese economic SUV, which has been popular ever since.
Need To Know: In 2020, GWM sold over 1 million vehicles, maintaining its reputation for high sales. That same year, it released its new mission to be more sustainable through five core values: “Anti-Corruption, Honesty, Innovation, Changes, and Sharing.” Great Wall Motors owns four other brands: HAVEL, WEY, ORA, and GWM Pickup.
#3. BYD
The Brand: Established in 1995, BYD was originally a battery manufacturer. It wasn’t until 2003 that this brand began producing vehicles. Since then, BYD has also started producing cell phones and solar cell manufacturing.
Need To Know: Besides their other products, BYD designs electric and hybrid cars. The Chairman, Wang Chuanfu, is the company’s largest shareholder at a 23% stake. A subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway is also a significant shareholder, with a 9% stake.
#4. Hozon Auto
The Brand: Hozon Auto was co-founded in 2014 by Beijing Sinohytec and Zhejiang Yangtze. Today, the company is based in four different countries: China, USA, Germany, and Italy. Hozon has eight global distribution locations,
Need To Know: In 2020, Hozon Auto launched two new electric vehicle platforms and three different types and levels of models. This brand is focused on creating electric cars that are also cost-effective.
#5. SAIC Motor
The Brand: While SAIC Motor’s history dates back to the 1940s, it was officially founded in 1997 in Shanghai, China. In 2010, SAIC sold 3.5 million units, which was the most significant output of any Chinese auto manufacturer that year.
Need To Know: SAIC is currently the second-largest Chinese automaker. This company has been involved with numerous mergers and acquisitions. SAIC owns two other notable brands: MG and Roewe.
Top Chinese luxury car brands
#1. Hongqi
The Brand: Hongqi produced its first car in 1958, originally producing vehicles for high-ranking government officials. In 1959, they began mass-producing their first vehicle, called the CA72. Hongqi created a three-row sedan in 1965, which became known as the “national car.” The brand designed the first Hongqi security vehicle, complete with bulletproof windows, in 1969.
Need To Know: In Chinese, Hongqi means “red flag.” The FAW Car Company currently owns this company. In 2013, Hongqi went public. Today, Hongqi is known as a leader in the Chinese luxury automobile industry.
#2. Lynk & Co.
The Brand: Lynk & Co., a Chinese-Swedish brand, was founded in 2016. By 2018, Lynk & Co. had sold over 120,000 vehicles. In 2019, this brand opened 221 stores and expanded to Europe in 2020. That same year, Lynk and Co. launched an innovative, subscription-style car service, aimed at young people.
Need To Know: Lynk & Co. offers a range of small, medium, and large vehicles in China and Europe. This company distinguishes itself through its sales model; instead of dealers, it has a fixed-price, direct, online model.
#3. WEY
The Brand: Owned by Great Wall Motors, WEY was launched in 2016. The brand was the first of its kind to be created by an international team of designers and researchers from Great Wall Motors. A flagpole landmark in Baoding, China inspired WEY’s logo, a unique vertical shape. This company is named after its founder, Mr. Wei Jianjun.
Need To Know: WEY’s mission is to become the leading maker of luxury SUVs, as well as making luxury vehicles more accessible. Within three years, this company has sold over 300,000 cars.
#4. Changan
The Brand: Changan dates back to 1862, and was originally a military supply factory. It wasn’t until 1959 that this brand produced its first production vehicle, and in 1984, it produced China’s first mini-vehicle. Although Changan is a state-owned company, its parent company is China Weaponry Equipment.
Need To Know: In Chinese, “Changan” translates to “lasting safety.” This company is one of the top four automobile makers in China and the number one domestic Chinese automobile brand.
#5. Geely
The Brand: In 1997, Geely became China’s first privately-owned car manufacturer. Their vision is to create cars that ordinary people can afford. By 2003, the company was exporting its vehicles internationally. Two years later, the company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Need To Know: Geely sells cars under the Geely Auto, Lynk & Co., and Volvo, among others. The company launched its first all-electric brand, Geometry, in 2019. In 2020, this company sold 2.4 million cars. In 2021, the brand announced a new venture, called Zeekr brand, tapping into the growing demand in China for electric vehicles.
Top affordable Chinese car brands
#1. Baojun
The Brand: Baojun released its first car in 2011, intending to provide affordable transportation. This company was a joint venture between General Motors, SAIC Motor, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co. Ltd.
Need To Know: In Chinese, “Baojun” translates to “prized horse.” Sales grew dramatically between 2016 and 2017, from 688,000 in 2016 to 996,000 in 2017. Baojun’s products are considered a more affordable alternative to Chevrolet and Buick.
#2. Bestune
The Brand: Founded in 2006, Bestune is owned by First Auto Works. In 2018, this company created a new logo called “Wind to the World.” Formerly known as “Bestturn,” this company changed to the current name at the same time as their new logo launch in 2018.
Need To Know: Bestune primarily produces SUVs, sedans, and passenger cars. This brand was named intentionally with two parts to the name: “best” and “tune.” “Best” represents the company’s high-quality services, and “tune” represents the rhythm of current trends.
#3. Soueast Motors
The Brand: Established in 1995, Soueast is a joint venture between Fujian Motor Industry Group Co. and China Motor Corporation. Soon after its launch, Mitsubishi became the third shareholder. Today, Fujian Motor has a 50% stake, China Motor has a 25% stake, and Mitsubishi has a 25% stake.
Need To Know: Also known as SEM, Soueast Motors maintains high-quality standards and strict production requirements. The company was the first to obtain a quality system certificate, and has also obtained a Chinese Environmental Labelling Product certificate.
#4. Chery
The Brand: Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. was established in 1997 as a state-owned company. Headquartered in Wuhu, China, this brand produces around 600,000 units per year, ranking them tenth in Chinese automobile sales.
Need To Know: Chery produces cars, SUVs, and minivans. Between 2003 and 2011, Chery became the most prominent Chinese automobile exporter, with over 25% of China’s total automobile exports. While this brand owns several assembly lines in China, it also has plants in 15 other countries.
#5. Brilliance
The Brand: Brilliance Auto Group was founded in 1992 and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Brilliance owns several other brands, such as BMW Brilliance, Brilliance Shineray, and Jinbei. BMW Brilliance manufactures its vehicles in Shenyang, China, producing up to 200,000 units in 2012.
Need To Know: Brilliance produces minibusses, sedans, and automotive components, as well as gasoline and diesel engines. Today, the company has around 5,600 employees, with an annual revenue of $485 million.
Sources
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