ON THE GROW

Less than 70 years since producing its first vehicle, China now leads the world in vehicle production and exports, and is a dominant force in EV and battery production. We look at the evolution of this automotive powerhouse

- Graham Eagle

The evolution of the Chinese auto industry reflects the country's overall economic growth, as well as its ambitious moves towards technological innovation. Humble beginnings, characterised by the licensed production of largely foreign-designed commercial vehicles, was followed by a period of joint ventures (JV) with established US, European and Japanese vehicle manufacturers. This soon led to the emergence of independent, homegrown brands, an early shift to electrified vehicles, and the global expansion of Chinese auto manufacturers.

EARLY YEARS

Initial ventures into coachbuilding in the early 1900s were followed by plans for local manufacturing, which reached prototype stage before being disrupted by regional conflicts and the Second World War.

Subsequent to the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, government focus was primarily on developing manufacturing capabilities and improving infrastructure. With limited technical capability in auto manufacturing, and virtually no market for privately owned passenger cars, early efforts were focused on producing basic, foreign-designed trucks for government and military use.

Appropriately, First Automobile Works (FAW) produced the first domestically manufactured vehicle, a four-tonne truck, in 1956. Known as the Jiefang CA-10, it was based on the Soviet ZIS-150. By 1958, FAW produced China's first passenger car, the Dongfeng CA71, a medium-sized sedan with a body loosely based on a Simca Vedette, while its chassis and 1.9-litre engine were based on Mercedes-Benz designs.