Chinese car brands? Yes, there are quite a number of automotive companies based in China. Even so, most of these brands export their products to international markets; however, they are not as popular as brands from other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea.
The automotive industry in China has been the largest in the world, measured by unit production since 2008. More so, some multinational automobile manufacturers partner with Chinese brands to produce models for the Asian market.
The top car brands in China are SAIC Motor, Dongfeng, FAW, and Chang’an. Some other popular brands include Geely, Brilliance Automotive, Beijing Automotive Group, Chery, and others that will be discussed in this article.
Let’s get started!
Top Chinese Car Brands
1. SAIC Motor
- Founding Date: 1955
- Founder: State Owned
- Chairperson: Chen Hong
- Headquarters: Anting, Shanghai
SAIC Motor, or simply SAIC, is a Chinese state-owned automotive company based in Shanghai. It is one of the “Big Four” Chinese automobile manufacturing companies – it’s actually the largest in terms of production volume. SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd. was founded in 1955 and sold over 5 million units annually.
The company owns quite different auto brands, so all SAIC vehicles are sold under its own brands: MG, Maxus, Baojun, Roewe, Wuling, Feifan, and IM. Also, SIAC has an active partnership with the German automotive company Volkswagen and America’s General Motors. SIAC equally produces EV city cars for sale in China only.
2. Dongfeng Motor Corporation
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- Founding Date: 1969
- Founder: State Owned
- Chairperson: Zhu Yanfeng
- Headquarters: Wuhan, Hubei
Dongfeng Motor Corporation Ltd. is a Chinese automaker based in Wuhan, Hubei. The company is also among China’s “Big Four” automobile manufacturers; it was founded in 1969 and is currently the country’s third-largest car manufacturer.
Just like SIAC, Dongfeng sells its vehicles under its brands: Venucia, Fengdu, Voyah, Aeolus, and Forthing.
The company also makes electric vehicles and sells them under the Voyah brand. Dongfeng vehicles are sold in different countries worldwide – it is 100% owned by the Chinese government. Dongfeng also partners with foreign automobile manufacturers such as Japanese Honda, Nissan, and Peugeot.
3. Changan Automobile
- Founding Date: 1862
- Founder: State Owned
- Chairperson: —
- Headquarters: Chongqing
Here is another state-owned Chinese automotive company – also among the “Big Four.” Chang’an Automobile Co. was founded in 1862, the country’s oldest automotive company.
The headquarters is located in Jiangbei, Chongqing. Although Changan Automobile is the country’s oldest carmaker, it is the smallest of the “Big Four” Chinese automakers.
Changan Automobile produces its vehicles in China and sells them under its own brand, Changan, Oshan, and Kaicene. The company focuses on making micro vans, passenger cars, commercial vans, and light trucks.
Like the other Big Four companies, Changan Automobile has active partnerships with foreign automakers such as Ford and Mazda.
4. BYD Auto
- Founding Date: 2003
- Founder: BYD Co Ltd
- Chairperson: —
- Headquarters: Xi’an, Shaanxi
BYD Auto, which means “Build Your Dreams” Automobiles, is a Chinese car brand wholly owned as a subsidiary of the BYD Company – a Chinese multinational automobile manufacturer.
Headquartered in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, BYD Auto is one of the newest Chinese car brands; it was founded in 2003 after its parent company acquired Qinchuan Automobile Company in 2002.
BYD Auto focuses on producing buses, passenger cars, trucks, forklifts, electric bicycles, and rechargeable batteries. It also makes battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
The company continued to produce petrol engine vehicles until March 2022. BYD models are typically flashy, classy, and packed with a lot of features.
5. BAIC
- Founding Date: 195
- Founder: BYD Co Ltd
- Chairperson: Xu Heyi
- Headquarters: 99 Shuanghe Ave., Shunyi District, Beijing
Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd., abbreviated as BAIC, is the last on this list that falls among the “Big Four” state-owned automotive companies operating in China. It is in Shunyi, Beijing – founded in 1958.
BIAC owns a number of auto brands, including domestic brands like Arcfox, BAW, Beijing, Changhe, Ruili Doda, and Foton Motor.
Did you guess anything? Well, yes, BIAC has an active partnership with foreign companies such as Benz and Hyundai. The company also makes EVs under its Arcfox. BIAC’s lineup includes trucks, buses, and agricultural equipment. The company has held several notable records in China and a few other countries.
6. GAC
- Founding Date: 1955
- Founder: Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group
- Chairperson: Qing Hong Zheng
- Headquarters: Guangzhou, Guangdong
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., abbreviated as GAC Group, is a Chinese state-owned company based in Guangzhou, Guangdong.
The company was founded in 1954 and currently sits in the fifth position among the largest automobile manufacturers in China. The GAC Group had a record sale of over 2.144 million units in 2021.
GAC’s brands include Trumpchi, Aion, and Hycan. Also, it collaborates with foreign countries to establish brands like GAC-Honda, GAC-Toyota, GAC-FCA (Jeep), and GAC-Mitsubishi.
The GAC Group produces EVs under its Aion and Hycan brands. GAC lineup comprises commercial vehicles, buses, passenger cars, and automotive components.
7. Geely
- Founding Date: 1986
- Founder: Li Shufu
- Chairperson: Li Shufu
- Headquarters: Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd (ZGH), shortened as Geely, is a Chinese multinational automotive company owned by the Chinese billionaire business magnate Li Shufu. The company was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Geely started making automobiles in 1997.
The company sits as the seventh-largest automobile manufacturer in China. Its vehicles are sold under its brands Geely Auto, Maple, Geometry, and Zeekr.
Geely also makes electric vehicles for local and international markets. Geely also partners with foreign automakers and subsidiaries, including Volvo, Lynk & Co, Polestar, Proton, and Lotus.
8. GWM
- Founding Date: 1986
- Founder: Privately Owned
- Chairperson: Wei Jianjun
- Headquarters: Baoding, Hebei
Named after the Great Wall of China, Great Wall Motor Co. is Chinese’ largest sports utility vehicle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1984 and is China’s eighth-largest automobile manufacturer. GWM produces a wide range of SUVs for the local Chinese market and international markets.
Well, GWM doesn’t only produce SUVs; the company also makes sedans and pickup trucks. GWM SUVs are sold under the company’s brands: GWM, WEY, Haval, POER, TANK, and ORA. The company’s EV models are sold as ORA. You’d find GWM vehicles sold in many countries across the globe.
9. Brilliance Auto
- Founding Date: 1992
- Founder: Chinese Government and Yang Rong
- Chairperson: Yan Bingzhe
- Headquarters: Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China
Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Co. Ltd., commonly referred to as Brilliance Auto Group, is a Chinese holding company focused on manufacturing automobiles, microvans, and automotive components.
The company’s mainstream auto brand is named Brilliance, and it focuses on selling passenger cars. Brilliance Auto Group has an active partnership with BMW to produce and sell BMW passenger cars in mainland China.
10. Chery
- Founding Date: 1997
- Founder: State Owned
- Chairperson: Yin Tongyue
- Headquarters: Wuhu, Anhui, China
Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., simply Chery, is a state-owned automobile manufacturer based in Wuhu, Anhui. The company was established in 1997; its major focus is producing passenger cars, SUVs, and minivans under the “Chery” and “Karry” brands.
The first Chery vehicles were completed in 1999; the company has remained China’s largest passenger car exporter since 2003.
The Chery brand also partners with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to form Chery Jaguar Land Rover, which pioneered the production of Jaguar and Land Rover cars in China.
Chery has quite numerous manufacturing and assembling facilities. It is one of the notable Chinese car brands with a strong international market presence.
11. XPeng
- Founding Date: 2014
- Founder: He Xiaopeng, Xia Heng, He Tao, Yang Chunlei
- Chairperson: He Xiaopeng
- Headquarters: Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Guangzhou Xiaopeng Motors Technology Co Ltd simply referred to as XPeng, is a Chinese EV manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong.
Founded in 2014, XPeng was established by a majority of former senior executives at the GAC Group. The company, however, has an official branch in Mountain View, California, United States.
XPeng produces both EV SUVs and sedans. In 2019, the company launched a “vehicle for hire” service in Guangzhou with the intent to use its vehicles for the service. There have been many models from the company, including the XPeng G9 and G3i SUVs and the XPeng P7 and P5 sedans.
12. Li Auto
- Founding Date: 2015
- Founder: Li Xiang
- Chairperson: Li Xiang
- Headquarters: Beijing, China
Li Xiang founded the Li Auto Inc. company in 2015 as an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Beijing. The company manufactures EVs that utilize diverse power supply sources.
Currently, the company owns two notable SUV models, the Li Auto One and L9 SUVs. While Li Auto’s HQ is in Beijing, the company’s manufacturing, engineering, and design services facility is based in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.
13. JAC Motors
- Founding Date: 1964
- Founder:
- Chairperson: An Jin
- Headquarters: Hefei, Anhui, China
Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd., simply JAC Motors, is an automobile and commercial vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Hefei, Anhui Province, China. The company produces EVs, passenger cars, and SUVs.
The original company, Hefei Jianghuai Automobile Factory, was founded in 1964 but renamed to Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. in 1997. JAC initially produced truck vehicles under the Jianghu brand until the early 2000s, when it got approved for passenger car production
14. FAW
- Founding Date: 1953
- Founder: State Owned
- Chairperson: Xu Liuping
- Headquarters: Changchun, Jilin
First Automobile Works, FAW, is a state-owned automotive company based in Changchun, Jilin. Founded in 1953, the FAW company is among the “Big Four” state-owned Chinese automotive companies – it is the second-largest carmaker in China. FAW vehicles are sold under Hongqi and Bestune (Benteng) brands.
The company produces trucks and passenger cars. It also partners with foreign companies such as Toyota and Audi (Volkswagen).
FAW’s target markets include East Asia (excluding Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan), Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Faw also makes light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Chinese Cars Sold In America?
There are not many Chinese-owned car brands selling in the US. Geely-Volvo vehicles are sold in the US. Also, some US automobile manufacturers produce some of their models in China and import into the country.
What Is The Most Popular Chinese Car?
Chinese most popular cars are models produced by the “Big Four” state-owned automotive companies operating in the country. Among the Big Four, SAIC Motor models are the highest-selling, and as such, it’s safe to say that SAIC Motor cars are the most popular in China.
Do Chinese Make Good Cars?
Although it is argued that most Chinese cars are a clone of models from western automobile manufacturers, Chinese car brands notably produce hi-tech vehicles that meet the requirements of modern-day drivers.
Which is The Best Chinese SUV?
Great Wall Motors is the highest SUV manufacturer in the country; its Haval H6 is remarkably the top-selling SUV model in China. Other GWM SUV models also outrank models from other native Chinese brands in terms of sales volume.
Conclusion: Car Brands in China
Listed in this article are the top active Chinese car brands – most of which are owned by the Chinese government. Although Chinese cars are not popular worldwide, they are quite decent and meet all requirements for modern-day driving.
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