History of the FAW car brand

FAW is a state-owned automobile company in China. The history of automobile plant No. 1 began on July 15, 1953.

The beginning of the Chinese car industry was initiated by the visit to the USSR of a delegation headed by Mao Zedong. The Chinese leadership admired the fact that the post-war automobile industry (and not only) was at its best. The Soviet automotive industry impressed the participants of the trip so much that in the end an international agreement of mutual assistance and friendship was signed between the two countries. Under this agreement, the Russian side agreed to help China build the first automobile plant in the Middle Kingdom.

Founder

The act of establishing the first automobile plant in China was signed in April 1950, when the Chinese auto industry officially began its history. The foundation stone for the first automobile plant was laid by Mao Zedong himself. It opened in Changchun. A three-year work plan was originally approved. The name of the first plant was given by First Automotive Works, and the brand name appeared from the first letters. After fifty years, the company became known as China FAW Group Corporation.

In the construction of the plant, Soviet specialists played an important role between the countries, there was an exchange of experience and production technologies for the creation and supply of spare parts and materials. By the way, the plant was built as an enterprise producing trucks. The engineering troops of China took part in the construction. Construction proceeded at a rapid pace. The first batch of parts was produced by employees of the automobile plant on June 2, 1955. Less than one month later, the Chinese auto industry received finished products - the Jiefang truck, based on the Soviet ZIS, rolled off the assembly line. The carrying capacity of the machine is 4 tons. 

The opening ceremony of the plant took place on October 15, 1956. The first plant in the Chinese auto industry produced about 30 thousand vehicles a year. Initially the plant was headed by Zhao Bin. He was able to plan and indicate promising directions for the development of the entire automotive industry in the Chinese industry.

The first automobile plant for a short time specialized in the construction of trucks. after a while, passenger cars with the names “Dong Feg” (“east wind”) and “Hong Qi” (“red flag”) appeared. However, the market has not opened up for Chinese cars. But already in 1960, competent planning of the economy was the impetus for the fact that the level of implementation increased. Since 1978, production capacity has been increasing from 30 to 60 thousand vehicles per year.

Emblem

The emblem for the cars of the first Chinese automobile plant was a blue oval with an inscribed unit. on the sides of which are the wings. The sign appeared in 1964.

Brand history in models

As already noted, FAW was originally focused on trucks. A decade later, the world saw a novelty - in 1965, an elongated Hoggi limousine rolled off the assembly line. It quickly became the car used by Chinese government representatives and foreign guests, which means it acquired the title of prestigious. The car was equipped with an engine with 197 horsepower.

The next model was an open topless limousine.

From 1963 to 1980 the CA770 model was restyled, although in a fairly limited number. Since 1965, the car was born with an extended wheelbase and was equipped with three rows of passenger seats. In 1969, an armored restyling saw the light. The sale of cars licked by the Chinese car industry has spread to the countries of South Africa, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam. Also FAW cars appeared on the Russian and Ukrainian markets.

Since 1986, the Chinese car factory has taken over Dalian Diesel Engine Co, which specializes in the production of parts for trucks, construction and agricultural machinery. And in 1990, the first leader of the Chinese auto industry created an enterprise with brands such as Volkswagen, and then began to work with such brands as Mazda, General Motors, Ford, Toyota.

FAW has appeared in the Russian open spaces since 2004. Trucks first went on sale. In addition, together with the manufacturer Irito in Gzhel, a representative of the Chinese automobile industry created an enterprise that began to assemble trucks. 

Since 2006, the production of SUVs and pickups began in Biysk, and then, since 2007, dump trucks began to be produced. Since July 10, 2007, a subsidiary has appeared in Moscow - FAV-Eastern Europe Limited Liability Company.

Since 2005, the hybrid Toyota Prius has rolled off the assembly line. This achievement of the automotive industry was the result of the Sichuan FAW Toyota Motors joint venture. After that, the Chinese company bought a license from Toyota, allowing it to develop and launch another model for sale: a sedan - Hongqi. In addition, Jiefang hybrid buses were launched.

The company also has a separate brand Besturn, which has been producing the mid-size sedan B2006 since 70, based on the Mazda 6 device. The model is equipped with a 2-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 17 horsepower. This is a reliable machine, the implementation of which in China has been established since 2006, and it appeared on the domestic market in 2009.

Since 2009, the Besturn B50 has also been produced. It is a compact model with a 1,6-liter four-cylinder engine. The power of this car is equal to 103 horsepower from the 2nd generation Volkswagen Jetta brand. The car is equipped with a 5 or 6-speed gearbox, mechanics or automatic, respectively. This machine has settled on the Russian market since 2012.

At the Moscow Motor Show in 2012, the Chinese car company first showed the FAW V2 hatchback. Despite its small size, the car has a fairly spacious interior and a trunk of 320 liters. equipped with a 1,3 liter engine, 91 horsepower. The model is equipped with ABS, EBD systems, electric mirrors and glass, as well as air conditioning and fog lights.

At the present stage, the Chinese company has factories throughout the Middle Kingdom and covers the world market. The priority direction for the company is the production of new and restyled old competitive car models. Today, the FAW brand is developing at a rapid pace, releasing worthy specimens on the domestic and foreign markets.