China FAW Group Corp., Ltd. (First Automotive Works) is a Chinese central state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Changchun, Jilin.[5] Founded on 15 July 1953,[6][7] it is currently the second largest of the "Big Four" state-owned car manufacturers of China, together with SAIC Motor, Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Changan Automobile.[8]
The company produces and sells vehicles under its own branding, such as Hongqi, Bestune (Benteng) as well as under foreign-branded joint ventures such as FAW-Toyota and FAW-Volkswagen (Volkswagen, Audi, Jetta).
Its principal products are automobiles, buses, light, medium and heavy-duty trucks,[9] and auto parts.[10] FAW became China's first automobile manufacturer when it unveiled the nation's first domestically produced passenger car, the Hongqi, in 1958.[11]
As a state-owned enterprise of China, FAW Group is controlled and managed by SASAC, which under Chinese law performs the functions of an investor.[12]
The company has three publicly traded subsidiaries: FAW Jiefang Group Co., Ltd. (szse: 000800), Changchun FAWAY Automobile Components Co., Ltd. (sse: 600742) and Qiming INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd. (szse: 002232).[13]
History
First Automotive Works broke ground on its first factory in 1953 (the first year of the first five-year plan),[14][9] and produced its first product, the Jiefang CA-10 truck (based on the Soviet ZIS-150) in 1956.[15]
The Soviet Union lent assistance during these early years providing technical support, tooling, and production machinery.[14] Before the first factory opened, 39 Chinese FAW employees traveled to the Stalin Truck Factory for instruction in truck production.[15] Operations were conducted under Soviet direction, and the USSR is even credited with choosing Changchun as the location for the first FAW facility.
List of Chairmen
Current Qiu Xiandong (since September 2023)[36]
Brands and products
FAW sold products under at least ten different brands including its own, but most of its brands has been discontinued or consolidated into Hongqi, Jiefang and Bestune brand currently.
Hongqi
Hongqi is a Chinese luxury car marque owned by the automaker FAW Group. Hongqi was launched in 1958, making it the oldest Chinese passenger car marque. In Chinese, hongqi means "red flag."
Jiefang
Jiefang is the medium and heavy trucks brand of FAW Group. The first truck rolled off of the lines in 1956, which was the first ever-built truck by the People's Republic of China.
Jiefang became a subsidiary on 18 January 2003 with two subsidiaries of its own, Qingdao Truck Division and FAW Trading Company, it is one make of Jiefang branded trucks.[40]
Joint ventures
FAW-Toyota
Created in 2003,[51] FAW operates this joint venture with Japanese automaker Toyota through Tianjin FAW. Key subsidiaries include:
Sichuan FAW Toyota Motor Co Operates a passenger car production base in the Chenghua District of Sichuan province and another in Changchun, Jilin province.[52] As of 2008, its 10,000 units/year capacity production base in Changchun makes the Toyota Prius and the Toyota Land Cruiser. The other production base it controls may make buses.[53]
Strategic investment
Leapmotor (5% stake)
- In December 2025, Leapmotor announced that FAW Group would acquire 5% of its shares for 3.744 billion yuan. Following this acquisition, the stake held by Zhu Jiangming and other shareholders, who together form the single largest shareholder group, will dilute from 23.75% to 22.56%, while Stellantis' stake will decrease from 19.99% to 18.99%. The investment funds from FAW will be allocated in proportions of 50%, 25%, and 25% for research and development, supplementing working capital and general corporate purposes, and expanding the sales and service network while enhancing brand awareness, respectively.[60][61][62]
Subsidiaries and divisions
FAW has at least 28 wholly owned subsidiaries and controlling shares in 18 partially owned subsidiaries. These include the wholly owned subsidiaries FAW Jiefang Truck Co Ltd and FAW Bus and Coach Co Ltd, and the publicly traded FAW Car Co Ltd, Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co Ltd, and Changchun FAWAY Automobile Components Co Ltd.[9]
The following is an incomplete list.
Vehicle-producing Divisions
Chengdu FAW Automobile Co Ltd
Chengdu FAW produces Huaxi brand light and medium buses based on the Toyota Coaster. Originally the Sichuan Bus Company, it became a partially owned subsidiary in 2002 after acquisition by FAW.[63]
FAW Car Co Ltd
Production bases and facilities
FAW has production bases located in 14 provinces throughout China[5] including the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan,[9] Heilongjiang,[9] Jilin,[9] Liaoning, Shandong,[9] Sichuan,[9] and Yunnan.[9]
Export and overseas sales
While primarily manufacturing products for sale in its home market, FAW began exports to foreign countries in 1957 with the sale of three commercial trucks to a businessperson in Jordan.[15] FAW has shipped its products to more than eighty nations,[5] including Egypt,[96] Iraq, Kenya,[97] Mexico,[98] Myanmar,[99] Pakistan,[97] Russia,[100]
See also
- Dongfeng Motor
- China Changan Automobile
- Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
- List of automobile manufacturers of China
- Automotive industry in China
External links
References
- 一旗 China News Service, retrieved 2 August 2017^
- Executives FAW Group Corporation, retrieved 30 April 2012^
- Autoline Daily retrieved 3 March 2022^