Hafei

Hafei, formally associated with Hafei Motor Co., Ltd. and also known as Hafei Automobile, is a Chinese automotive brand whose historical product range centered on small, inexpensive vehicles. Its portfolio included compact passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, microvans, light commercial vans, and small pickup trucks. The brand developed within China’s aviation-industrial system and was formerly controlled by Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Hafei’s early vehicles were closely connected with licensed or adapted Japanese designs, particularly Suzuki Carry-derived microvans and trucks. These early products were sold under the Songhuajiang name, a reference to the Songhua River, before vehicles were increasingly marketed directly under the Hafei name from around 2002. Regardless of branding, Hafei vehicles generally used the HFJ identity code. Small commercial vehicles and so-called mini vehicles formed the core of Hafei’s range. The company served buyers seeking affordable transportation for urban use, household mobility, delivery work, and small-business operations. Its passenger-car offerings included small city cars and compact sedans, while its commercial line included microvans, light trucks, and pickup derivatives. Several Hafei models were designed with the participation of Pininfarina, giving the brand a broader design profile than its utilitarian origins might suggest. Notable examples included the Lobo, Zhongyi, Saibao III, and Saibao V. Hafei also expanded through licensed production and platform relationships, including the Saima, a licensed Mitsubishi Dingo derivative, and vehicles derived from other Chinese commercial-vehicle platforms. The company became part of the consolidation of China’s automotive manufacturing sector. In 2009, Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets in the context of a Chinese government policy intended to reduce fragmentation and consolidate domestic automakers. Following the transaction, Hafei’s product and manufacturing position was increasingly linked to the Changan group rather than to its earlier aviation-industry ownership. The company had also developed an international presence: by 2009, its products had reportedly been exported to 40 countries. Hafei’s independent vehicle-production era was subsequently wound down. In 2015, Changan announced that it would discontinue Hafei production and convert the existing production lines for use by Changan Ford. Hafei is therefore best understood as a continuing automotive corporate entity or brand associated with the Changan Ford structure, but not as a current high-volume independent vehicle marque. Its historical significance lies in the development and export of China’s small-vehicle industry, its use of licensed and jointly developed designs, and its transition from an aviation-industry-controlled automaker into a manufacturing asset within a larger automotive group.

Hafei emerged as a Chinese automaker associated with the aviation-industrial sector and was formerly owned by Aviation Industry Corporation of China. Its early manufacturing activity concentrated on small vehicles derived from foreign designs and technologies. Among its earliest products were microvans and small trucks based on the Suzuki Carry. These vehicles were sold under the Songhuajiang brand, whose name referred to the Songhua River. During the 1990s, the Songhuajiang HFJ6350, a licensed and rebadged version of the eighth-generation Suzuki Carry, became widely known in China. Hafei vehicles generally retained the HFJ identity code regardless of the consumer-facing brand used in marketing. The company broadened its activities beyond basic commercial vehicles. It produced small city cars, compact sedans, multi-purpose vehicles, microvans, light trucks, and mini pickups. Some products were licensed derivatives, while others were based on platforms or designs developed through partnerships. Hafei also worked with Pininfarina on the styling of several passenger and commercial models. The Lobo, Zhongyi, Saibao III, and Saibao V are among the models associated with that design relationship. The Saima, added to the range in 2001, was a licensed version of the Mitsubishi Dingo. Hafei also assembled a sedan derived from the Yulon Sunny 303 during the early 1990s, using a Mitsubishi engine. By the beginning of the 2000s, Hafei products were increasingly sold under the Hafei name rather than exclusively under Songhuajiang. The company continued to emphasize mini vehicles, which made up much of its model range. These vehicles addressed demand for low-cost urban transportation and basic commercial mobility in China. Its microvans and small trucks were particularly suited to delivery, tradespeople, small businesses, and local transport applications. The company later introduced additional platform-derived products, including the Junyi microvan, described as the first new product after the company’s acquisition by Changan, and the Zhongyi V5, based on the Chana Star 5. Hafei developed an export business alongside its domestic operations. In 2009, the company was reported to have exported products to 40 countries. This international activity reflected the suitability of its small, relatively simple vehicles for markets where compact commercial transport and low purchase prices were important. The company’s ownership and industrial role changed during a period of Chinese automotive consolidation. In 2009, Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets. The transaction was connected with a state policy intended to consolidate China’s fragmented domestic auto industry. Hafei consequently became more closely integrated with Changan’s manufacturing and corporate structure, while its prior relationship with the aviation-industrial sector became less central to its operating identity. Hafei’s standalone production phase ended after Changan reassessed the use of its manufacturing facilities. In 2015, Changan announced that it would discontinue Hafei production and convert existing lines to serve Changan Ford. This decision effectively closed the brand’s historical vehicle-production chapter. Hafei remains described as an automotive subsidiary associated with Changan Ford, but its importance today is primarily historical and organizational rather than that of an actively expanding consumer vehicle marque. Its legacy is tied to China’s development of microvans, mini trucks, compact cars, and other affordable small vehicles, as well as to the broader consolidation of the country’s auto industry.

• 2015

  Hafei vehicle production discontinued

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Changan announced that Hafei production would cease and that the existing lines would be converted for Changan Ford manufacturing.

• 2009

  Changan acquires most Hafei-related assets

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets during a government-backed consolidation of China’s domestic automotive industry.

• 2009

  Hafei reaches 40 export markets

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Hafei had exported vehicles to 40 countries by this point, according to the referenced company history.

• 2002

  Products increasingly marketed under the Hafei name

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Hafei’s small vehicles, previously sold under the Songhuajiang name, began to be marketed directly under the Hafei brand.

• 2001

  Saima added to the Hafei product line

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Hafei introduced the Saima, a licensed version of the Mitsubishi Dingo, as a small city car.

• 1992

  Assembly of the Songhuajiang HFJ7080D and HFJ7130

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Hafei assembled sedan models derived from the Yulon Sunny 303, using a 1.3-liter Mitsubishi engine, during the early 1990s.

• 1990

  Songhuajiang HFJ6350 enters the Chinese small-vehicle market

  [1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Hafei’s predecessor branding became associated with the HFJ6350, a licensed and rebadged eighth-generation Suzuki Carry microvan that achieved broad popularity in China during the 1990s.

Historically positioned as an affordable Chinese automaker focused on compact passenger vehicles and practical small commercial vehicles, with particular strength in microvans, mini trucks, and other low-cost utility models.

• Small city car

  Lobo

  The Lobo was a small Hafei passenger car designed with Pininfarina involvement. It represented the brand’s effort to extend beyond utilitarian microvans into styled urban transportation. As a compact city car, it targeted buyers seeking affordable personal mobility and a smaller footprint than conventional family sedans.

• Microvan

  Zhongyi

  The Zhongyi was a compact commercial-oriented vehicle associated with Hafei’s core mini-vehicle business. Its practical body configuration made it suitable for local delivery, small-business use, and general utility transport. The model was also associated with Pininfarina design work and illustrates Hafei’s combination of utility-vehicle packaging with external styling expertise.

• Microvan

  Zhongyi V5

  The Zhongyi V5 was a Hafei microvan based on the Chana Star 5. It continued the brand’s emphasis on compact commercial transportation and platform sharing within China’s small-vehicle sector. The model belonged to the later phase of Hafei’s product history, after its assets had become associated with Changan.

• Microvan

  Junyi

  The Junyi was a microvan based on the Chana Star S460. It was described as the first new Hafei product after the company’s acquisition by Changan, making it significant as an example of the brand’s attempted continuation within the Changan group.

• Mini pickup

  Ruiyi

  The Ruiyi was a small pickup derived from the Hafei Zhongyi. It extended Hafei’s microvan architecture into a light-duty cargo format intended for practical transport and small-scale commercial applications.

• Microvan and mini pickup

  Minyi

  The Minyi, also associated with the Xinminyi and Luzun-Xiaobawang names, was offered in microvan and pickup configurations. It belonged to Hafei’s broad family of small utility vehicles designed for economical passenger or cargo transport.

• Microvan

  Luzun-Dabawang

  The Luzun-Dabawang was a Hafei microvan serving the company’s traditional small commercial-vehicle segment. Detailed specifications and production dates are not established in the supplied reference material.

• Microvan

  Xiaobawang

  The Xiaobawang was another Hafei microvan in the brand’s utility-focused range. It formed part of the company’s extensive group of compact vehicles for passenger and commercial use.

• Compact sedan

  Saibao III

  The Saibao III was a Pininfarina-designed compact sedan. It represented Hafei’s attempt to compete in a more conventional passenger-car category while retaining the affordability associated with the brand. The same body later formed the basis for the Coda Sedan electric-car project, which used substantially revised front and rear styling.

• Compact to midsize sedan

  Saibao V

  The Saibao V was a Pininfarina-designed sedan positioned above the smaller Saibao III in size. It broadened Hafei’s passenger-car offering from city-oriented products toward compact-to-midsize family transportation.

• Small city car · 2001

  Saima

  The Saima was added to the Hafei range in April 2001. It was a licensed version of the Mitsubishi Dingo, giving Hafei a small city-car product based on an established Japanese design and expanding its passenger-car range beyond vehicles derived from Suzuki commercial models.

• Microvan

  Songhuajiang HFJ6350

  The Songhuajiang HFJ6350 was a licensed and rebadged version of the eighth-generation Suzuki Carry. Sold under the Songhuajiang name before the broader shift toward Hafei branding, it was widely popular in China during the 1990s and helped establish the company’s reputation in compact commercial vehicles.

• Sedan · 1992

  Songhuajiang HFJ7080D/HFJ7130

  These sedan models were rebadged derivatives of the Yulon Sunny 303. Hafei assembled them in the early 1990s and fitted them with a 1.3-liter Mitsubishi engine. They illustrate the company’s early reliance on licensed foreign designs and powertrains while developing its own Chinese manufacturing base.

• 2015

  Discontinuation of Hafei production and factory-line conversionStrategy

  Background

  After Hafei’s assets had become part of the Changan group, the company reassessed how to use its manufacturing capacity within the wider group.

  Action taken

  Changan announced that all Hafei production would be discontinued and that the existing production lines would be converted to serve Changan Ford.

  Aftermath

  The decision ended Hafei’s historical vehicle-production phase and shifted the relevant manufacturing infrastructure toward Changan Ford operations.

  Source

• 2009

  Transfer of most Hafei-related assets to ChanganM&A

  Background

  The Chinese government was encouraging consolidation of a fragmented domestic automobile industry. Hafei had previously been associated with Aviation Industry Corporation of China, while Changan was building a larger automotive group.

  Action taken

  Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets and incorporated the brand’s industrial activities more closely into its own automotive structure.

  Aftermath

  Hafei continued to be associated with Changan, and later products included models based on Changan commercial-vehicle platforms. The transaction also preceded the eventual end of independent Hafei production.

  Source

• 2015

  Changan announces the discontinuation of Hafei production[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Changan announced that Hafei production would end and that existing manufacturing lines would be converted for Changan Ford operations.

• 2015

  Changan announced the end of Hafei production[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Changan announced that Hafei production would be discontinued and that the existing lines would be converted for Changan Ford manufacturing.

• 2009

  Changan Automobile Group acquires most Hafei-related assets[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets as part of the consolidation of China’s domestic automotive manufacturing sector.

• 2009

  Hafei reports exports to 40 countries[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  By 2009, Hafei products had reportedly reached a total of 40 international markets, illustrating the company’s export activity before production was later discontinued.

• 2009

  Hafei products had reached approximately 40 export markets[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Hafei was reported to have exported vehicles to a total of about 40 countries, illustrating the international reach of its small passenger and commercial vehicle portfolio before the company’s subsequent restructuring.

• 2009

  Changan Automobile Group acquired most Hafei-related assets[1]Hafeien.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Changan acquired most Hafei-related assets as part of a Chinese industrial consolidation policy aimed at restructuring and strengthening the domestic automobile industry.

1. 1Hafeien.wikipedia.org