Maple Automobiles

Maple was a Chinese automobile marque associated with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and used in two distinct phases. The first phase began with the establishment of Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd. in 2000. The company operated from Fengjing in Shanghai and developed vehicles under the Maple and Huapu names, with some vehicles listed under the Langfeng designation. Its creation was linked to Li Shutong, the younger brother of Geely founder Li Shufu. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002 and later brought the company fully into the group. Shanghai Maple functioned as a value-oriented passenger-car operation and became part of Geely's effort to build a broader portfolio of Chinese automobile brands. The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in 2003 and was derived from the Citroën ZX platform and engineering architecture of the 1990s. Subsequent products included the Hisoon, Marindo or Haifeng, Haiyu, Hysoul, and Haijing. These vehicles were generally sedans or hatchbacks aimed at budget-conscious buyers. The brand also sought export opportunities. From 2007, vehicles were exported to Egypt under the C51 and C52 names, while the R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were offered in markets that included Russia and Chile. A revised Citroën-based Maple Marindo was displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, indicating an effort to raise the marque's international visibility. Geely gradually repositioned its brand portfolio during the late 2000s. Shanghai Maple was consolidated into Geely as a budget brand in 2008, and the original marque was subsequently phased out around 2010. Englon became the principal successor brand for part of Geely's budget-market strategy. This first Maple operation therefore ended as an independent mainstream passenger-car marque, although its name later returned in a different technological and corporate context. Maple was revived around 2020 through the activities of Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, associated with Geely and Kandi Technologies. The revived marque was intended to concentrate on affordable electric vehicles, vehicle components, leasing, sales, and after-sales services. Rather than developing an entirely separate vehicle architecture, Maple initially used existing Geely models as the basis for electric products. The Maple 30X was derived from the Geely Vision X3, while the Maple 80V used an electric adaptation of the Geely Jiaji. The Maple 60S was a compact electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand L. This approach allowed the brand to compete in China's emerging electric-vehicle market with comparatively accessible products and shared group technology. The ownership structure of the revived operation changed during its short life. Geely held a majority interest in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, while Kandi-related interests held the minority position. Kandi Technologies exited its stake in March 2021, transferring its 22 percent interest to Geely. In 2022, Geely established the Livan joint venture with Lifan after the acquisition and restructuring of Lifan Group. Maple products were subsequently marketed under the Livan name, including the Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S as Livan-branded or Livan-associated vehicles. The Maple brand was merged into Livan and ceased to operate as an independent marque. Its final role was therefore as a transitional name within Geely's electric-vehicle and battery-swapping strategy rather than as a continuing standalone brand.

Maple's history is best understood as the history of a marque that appeared in two successive forms within Geely's expanding automobile portfolio. The original operation was Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd., commonly known as Shanghai Maple or Shanghai Maple Automobiles. It was established in 2000 in Fengjing, Shanghai, and was associated with Li Shutong, the younger brother of Geely founder Li Shufu. The company produced vehicles using Maple, Huapu, and related naming conventions. Some vehicles were listed under the Langfeng name while being sold as Huapu products, reflecting the fragmented branding practices common among Chinese automakers during the period. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002 and progressively increased its control. Shanghai Maple's first vehicle entered production in 2003. The car was based on the 1990s Citroën ZX, giving the young Chinese manufacturer access to an established front-wheel-drive passenger-car design. The company expanded the range with the Hisoon, Marindo or Haifeng, Haiyu, Hysoul, and Haijing. Most of these models were sedans or hatchbacks positioned toward the lower-priced end of China's passenger-car market. The Marindo received an updated presentation and appeared at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, while export activity later broadened the marque's reach beyond China. In 2007, Shanghai Maple vehicles were exported to Egypt as the C51 and C52. The R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were also sold in export markets including Russia and Chile. These activities gave Maple a limited international presence, but the marque remained primarily associated with affordable Chinese passenger vehicles. Geely's subsequent portfolio rationalization reduced Shanghai Maple's independence. The operation was fully consolidated into Geely as a budget brand in 2008, and the original Maple marque was phased out around 2010 as Geely developed Englon as a replacement budget-oriented identity. The Maple name returned in a new setting around 2020. Geely's partnership with Kandi Technologies was connected to Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, an operation intended to develop and market affordable electric vehicles and related services. Geely held the majority of Fengsheng, while Kandi-related interests held a minority stake. The revived Maple strategy emphasized speed to market and cost control by electrifying or adapting existing Geely vehicles rather than building an entirely independent platform family. The first products included the Maple 30X, based on the Geely Vision X3, and the Maple 80V, an electric MPV related to the Geely Jiaji. The Maple 60S followed as an electric compact sedan associated with the Geely Emgrand L. The revived brand's corporate structure changed when Kandi Technologies transferred its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng to Geely in March 2021. In 2022, Geely's acquisition and restructuring of Lifan Group led to the creation of Livan, also known as Ruilan, as a new electric-vehicle joint-venture brand. Maple products were moved into the Livan portfolio. The Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S continued in associated form under the Livan name, and Maple ceased to exist as an independent marque. The later Maple identity was consequently a short-lived Geely electric-vehicle sub-brand whose principal importance was as a bridge between Geely's earlier budget-car branding and Livan's battery-swapping and electric-mobility program.

1. 2022Maple is merged into Livan

   Maple products are incorporated into the newly established Livan brand, ending Maple's independent existence.

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2. 2021Geely assumes Kandi's Fengsheng interest

   Kandi transfers its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group to Geely.

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3. 2020Maple is revived for electric vehicles

   The Maple name returns under the Geely-associated Fengsheng operation with an affordable electric-vehicle focus.

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4. 2013Geely and Kandi form an electric-vehicle venture

   The companies agree to establish Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 electric-vehicle joint venture.

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5. 2010Original Maple marque is phased out

   Geely phases out the original Shanghai Maple marque and shifts budget-brand activity toward Englon.

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6. 2008Shanghai Maple is consolidated into Geely

   Geely fully consolidates Shanghai Maple as a budget-oriented brand operation.

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7. 2007Export program expands

   Shanghai Maple vehicles begin exports to Egypt and are also offered in markets including Russia and Chile.

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8. 2005Maple Marindo appears at Frankfurt

   A revised Maple Marindo is displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

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9. 2003First Shanghai Maple vehicle enters production

   The first Shanghai Maple vehicle is produced, using a design and technical basis derived from the Citroën ZX.

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10. 2002Geely acquires a strategic holding

    Zhejiang Geely Holding Group takes a strategic interest in Shanghai Maple.

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11. 2000Shanghai Maple is established

    Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd. is established in Fengjing, Shanghai, with Li Shutong associated with its founding.

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A value-oriented Chinese automobile marque that first sold affordable conventionally powered passenger cars and was later revived for accessible electric vehicles based substantially on existing Geely products.

• Maple HisoonSedan and hatchback2003

  The Hisoon was one of Shanghai Maple's early passenger-car products. It belonged to the original conventionally powered range and was offered in sedan and hatchback forms during the brand's first operating period.

• Maple Marindo / HaifengSedan2004

  The Marindo, also known as the Haifeng, was a sedan derived from the Citroën ZX technical basis. A revised version was shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, giving the model and the marque a degree of international exposure.

• Maple HaiyuSedan and hatchback2005

  The Haiyu formed part of Shanghai Maple's budget passenger-car lineup and was offered in sedan and hatchback body styles. It was sold during the original Maple production era before the brand was phased out.

• Maple HysoulSedan2005

  The Hysoul was a sedan in the original Shanghai Maple range. Like the marque's other early models, it targeted the accessible end of the Chinese passenger-car market and was discontinued when the original brand identity was retired.

• Maple HaijingSedan2009

  The Haijing was a late addition to the first-generation Shanghai Maple lineup. It was a sedan produced during the final years before Geely phased out the original Maple marque.

• Maple 30XSubcompact electric SUV2020

  The Maple 30X was the first principal product of the revived electric-vehicle marque. It was based on the Geely Vision X3 and used an existing Geely vehicle as the foundation for an affordable electric SUV. From 2022, the model was associated with the Livan brand.

• Maple 80VElectric MPV2020

  The Maple 80V was an electric MPV derived from the Geely Jiaji. It represented the revived brand's strategy of adapting existing Geely passenger vehicles for lower-cost electric mobility rather than developing a separate platform from scratch. It was subsequently associated with Livan.

• Maple 60SCompact electric sedan2021

  The Maple 60S was a compact electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand L. It was also identified with Geely's battery-swapping and electric-mobility plans and later became part of the Livan product transition.

• 2022Merger of Maple into LivanStrategy

  Geely created Livan in connection with Lifan after acquiring and restructuring Lifan Group, creating a new electric-mobility brand structure.

  What changed. Geely merged Maple into Livan and repositioned Maple vehicles as Livan-associated products.

  Aftermath. Maple ceased to operate as an independent automobile brand, although model names linked to Maple continued in the Livan portfolio.

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• 2021Geely takes over Kandi's Fengsheng interestM&A

  Kandi Technologies decided to exit its minority position in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group.

  What changed. Kandi transferred its 22 percent equity interest in Fengsheng to Geely.

  Aftermath. Geely obtained full ownership of the transferred interest before the subsequent Maple-to-Livan brand consolidation.

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• 2020Revival of Maple as an electric-vehicle marqueStrategy

  Geely sought an affordable electric-vehicle identity using shared group products and technology.

  What changed. Maple was relaunched under the Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group structure with products based on existing Geely models.

  Aftermath. The Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S formed the core of the short-lived revived lineup.

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• 2013Creation of the Geely–Kandi electric-vehicle ventureM&A

  Geely and Kandi Technologies sought a dedicated structure for developing and commercializing electric vehicles in mainland China.

  What changed. The parties agreed to establish Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 joint venture focused on research, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and related services.

  Aftermath. The partnership later supported the corporate setting in which the Maple name was revived for affordable electric vehicles.

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• 2008Consolidation of Shanghai Maple as a Geely budget brandStrategy

  Geely was rationalizing its expanding portfolio of Chinese automobile marques and brought Shanghai Maple fully into the group as a budget-oriented operation.

  What changed. Shanghai Maple was consolidated into Geely, followed by the eventual retirement of the original independent Maple identity.

  Aftermath. The budget-brand role was increasingly associated with Englon, and Shanghai Maple was phased out around 2010.

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• 2022Maple products transition into the Livan brand

  Following Geely's Lifan-related restructuring and the creation of Livan, Maple vehicles were transferred into the Livan product portfolio and the independent Maple marque ended.

  M&A
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• 2021Kandi Technologies exits its Maple-related equity position

  Kandi transferred its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group to Geely, leaving Geely with full ownership of that interest.

  M&A
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• 2020Maple is revived as an affordable electric-vehicle brand

  The Maple name returned under the Geely-associated Fengsheng operation, with a focus on affordable electric vehicles derived from existing Geely models.

  Product launch
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• 2013Geely and Kandi agree to establish an electric-vehicle joint venture

  Geely and Kandi Technologies agreed to form a 50:50 venture focused on electric-vehicle research, production, marketing, sales, and related services.

  M&A
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• 2010Shanghai Maple is phased out in favor of Geely's budget-brand strategy

  Geely substantially phased out the Shanghai Maple marque and used Englon as a successor budget-brand vehicle within its portfolio.

  Other
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• 2007Shanghai Maple begins exports to Egypt

  Shanghai Maple vehicles entered Egypt under the C51 and C52 names, while other models were exported to markets including Russia and Chile.

  Other
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• 2005Shanghai Maple displays the revised Marindo at Frankfurt

  The Maple Marindo, a revised vehicle derived from the Citroën ZX, was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

  Product launch
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• 2002Geely takes a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple

  Geely acquired a strategic interest in Shanghai Maple, beginning the company's integration into the Geely group.

  M&A
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1. Shanghai Maple
2. Maple Automobiles official website