Changhe
Encyclopedia
Jiangxi Changhe Automobile Co Ltd is a car-making company based in Jingdezhen
, Jiangxi province
, China
.
Currently owned by Chang'an Motors
, Changhe is engaged in a joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan
, and manufactures products that carry the Suzuki brand.
Making passenger cars and micro-buses, Changhe has an estimated 200,000 (227,000 to 260,000) units/year production capacity as of 2010. Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
(AVIC), Changhe is today owned by Chang'an Motors
, another Chinese automaker, which acquired it in late 2009.
Changhe was well established by 1973, the year in which trial production of buses began. Originally only making buses, production of a small passenger vehicle (the Suzuki Carry ST90V
) began in 1982, leading to a long relationship with the Japanese automaker. Currently, Changhe companies make both Suzuki and Changhe-branded vehicles.
In 1995, Suzuki and Changhe joined forces to form a joint venture
company, Jiangxi Changhe-Suzuki Automobile Co Ltd. This JV does not make all the Suzuki-branded automobiles sold on the Chinese market as some are produced by the Japanese company's other Chinese joint venture. Imported models are marketed by Suzuki Motor (China) Investment Co Ltd.
Suzuki may currently be unhappy with its Chinese partners. Despite being an early entrant in the Chinese auto market, this Japanese company has lackluster sales in the country. Suzuki's efforts to change the situation by merging its two joint ventures—since Chinese business law does not allow any foreign company more than two—have so far been stymied by its Chinese partners, who instead hope Suzuki will improve their situation. The Chinese State
may also not want new foreign-Chinese joint auto-making ventures at this time. An effort to sell the entire Suzuki model range at unified dealerships fell through in 2008. (This may have been tried again in 2010.)
Changhe-Suzuki's first products were various versions of the Suzuki Carry
micro-buses and trucks. Current micro-bus products include the Suzuki Wagon R
(called the Big Dipper
and written in ) and the newer Suzuki Landy . In 2006 Changhe themselves introduced the new microvan CH6390 Freedom (also called Friend), which has Suzuki underpinnings but a Changhe-designed body.
While micro-buses continue to be a core product, several recently introduced small cars have expanded the company's product line. These include the subcompact Changhe Ideal, first seen in October 2003, a self-developed car albeit with styling by Bertone and some Suzuki technology. The Suzuki Liana is also offered. While lower end Changhes depend on common, Chinese-built engines also used by a variety of other local brands, Changhe builds the Suzuki K12B and K14B engines for use in higher end versions. These have seen use in a variety of products of Changhe's, including the Suzuki Wagon R, Liana, and Landy, as well as the Changhe Freedom and Ideal.
and Uruguay
under the brand name Effa. The Ideal is known as the Effa M100 in Brazil. The rest of Effa's compact lineup in Brazil (the ULC minibus, pickup, and van) is based on a Hafei
vehicle. Total Brazilian sales of the Effa M100 in 2010 were 426 units. In Venezuela
, the first Latin American country to receive a Changhe product (2007), the official dealer of the Changhe Ideal was Cinascar, but the Ideal is no longer listed on Cinascar's website.
or Shenzhen Stock Exchange
in 2001, Changhe was delisted in 2008 prior to its 2009 sale.
Province, at Jingdezhen
City and Jiujiang
City, and in the capital of Anhui
province, Hefei
. Engines are made at the Jiujiang location and all three production bases assemble cars.
Jingdezhen
Jingdezhen , is a prefecture-level city, previously a town, in Jiangxi Province, China, with a total population of 1,554,000 . It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" because it has been producing quality pottery for 1700 years. The city has a well-documented history that stretches back over 2000...
, Jiangxi province
Jiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Currently owned by Chang'an Motors
Chang'an Motors
Chang'an Automobile Co Ltd is an automobile manufacturer in Chongqing, China, and a state-owned enterprise with China Weaponry Equipment as parent....
, Changhe is engaged in a joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and manufactures products that carry the Suzuki brand.
Making passenger cars and micro-buses, Changhe has an estimated 200,000 (227,000 to 260,000) units/year production capacity as of 2010. Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
History
Until recently a subsidiary of The Aviation Industry Corporation of ChinaAviation Industry Corporation of China
Aviation Industry Corporation of China is a Chinese state-owned company of aviation industry, both military and civilian...
(AVIC), Changhe is today owned by Chang'an Motors
Chang'an Motors
Chang'an Automobile Co Ltd is an automobile manufacturer in Chongqing, China, and a state-owned enterprise with China Weaponry Equipment as parent....
, another Chinese automaker, which acquired it in late 2009.
Changhe was well established by 1973, the year in which trial production of buses began. Originally only making buses, production of a small passenger vehicle (the Suzuki Carry ST90V
Suzuki Carry
The Suzuki Carry is a kei truck produced by the Japanese automaker Suzuki. The microvan version was originally called the Carry van until 1982 when the van was renamed as the '...
) began in 1982, leading to a long relationship with the Japanese automaker. Currently, Changhe companies make both Suzuki and Changhe-branded vehicles.
In 1995, Suzuki and Changhe joined forces to form a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
company, Jiangxi Changhe-Suzuki Automobile Co Ltd. This JV does not make all the Suzuki-branded automobiles sold on the Chinese market as some are produced by the Japanese company's other Chinese joint venture. Imported models are marketed by Suzuki Motor (China) Investment Co Ltd.
Suzuki may currently be unhappy with its Chinese partners. Despite being an early entrant in the Chinese auto market, this Japanese company has lackluster sales in the country. Suzuki's efforts to change the situation by merging its two joint ventures—since Chinese business law does not allow any foreign company more than two—have so far been stymied by its Chinese partners, who instead hope Suzuki will improve their situation. The Chinese State
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
may also not want new foreign-Chinese joint auto-making ventures at this time. An effort to sell the entire Suzuki model range at unified dealerships fell through in 2008. (This may have been tried again in 2010.)
Changhe-Suzuki's first products were various versions of the Suzuki Carry
Suzuki Carry
The Suzuki Carry is a kei truck produced by the Japanese automaker Suzuki. The microvan version was originally called the Carry van until 1982 when the van was renamed as the '...
micro-buses and trucks. Current micro-bus products include the Suzuki Wagon R
Suzuki Wagon R
The Suzuki Wagon R is a kei car first introduced in Japan in 1993, and is still in production by Suzuki. The R stands for Recreation. It is one of the first cars to use the "tall wagon or tall boy" design in which the car is designed to be unusually tall with a short bonnet and almost vertical...
(called the Big Dipper
Big Dipper
The Plough, also known as the Big Dipper or the Saptarishi , is an asterism of seven stars that has been recognized as a distinct grouping in many cultures from time immemorial...
and written in ) and the newer Suzuki Landy . In 2006 Changhe themselves introduced the new microvan CH6390 Freedom (also called Friend), which has Suzuki underpinnings but a Changhe-designed body.
While micro-buses continue to be a core product, several recently introduced small cars have expanded the company's product line. These include the subcompact Changhe Ideal, first seen in October 2003, a self-developed car albeit with styling by Bertone and some Suzuki technology. The Suzuki Liana is also offered. While lower end Changhes depend on common, Chinese-built engines also used by a variety of other local brands, Changhe builds the Suzuki K12B and K14B engines for use in higher end versions. These have seen use in a variety of products of Changhe's, including the Suzuki Wagon R, Liana, and Landy, as well as the Changhe Freedom and Ideal.
Export
Changhe exports to some European and South American nations. These exports may be in the form of complete knock-down kits.Latin America
Some Changhe models are sold in BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
under the brand name Effa. The Ideal is known as the Effa M100 in Brazil. The rest of Effa's compact lineup in Brazil (the ULC minibus, pickup, and van) is based on a Hafei
Hafei
Hafei, officially the Harbin HF Automobile Industry Group Co Ltd , is a Chinese holding company whose subsidiaries make automobile engines; sedans; MPVs; and mini vehicles, small trucks and vans that see commercial use...
vehicle. Total Brazilian sales of the Effa M100 in 2010 were 426 units. In Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, the first Latin American country to receive a Changhe product (2007), the official dealer of the Changhe Ideal was Cinascar, but the Ideal is no longer listed on Cinascar's website.
Europe
An Italian importer or assembler, Martin Motors, rebadges and sells the Changhe Landy as a Martin Motors Coolcar. The Ideal is known there as the "Martin Motors Ideal 1000". The Ideal is also marketed in the Ukraine.IPO
Listed on the Shanghai Stock ExchangeShanghai Stock Exchange
The Shanghai Stock Exchange , abbreviated as 上证所/上證所 or 上交所, is a stock exchange that is based in the city of Shanghai, China. It is one of the two stock exchanges operating independently in the People's Republic of China, the other is the Shenzhen Stock Exchange...
or Shenzhen Stock Exchange
Shenzhen Stock Exchange
The Shenzhen Stock Exchange is one of the People's Republic of China's two stock exchanges, alongside the Shanghai Stock Exchange. It is based in Shenzhen, China...
in 2001, Changhe was delisted in 2008 prior to its 2009 sale.
Recent events
Changhe is planning on debuting a technical service advice line for its passenger car purchasers, who will call in to receive freely dispensed advice on how to best maintain their vehicles.Production bases
Changhe locates its production in JiangxiJiangxi
' is a southern province in the People's Republic of China. Spanning from the banks of the Yangtze River in the north into hillier areas in the south, it shares a border with Anhui to the north, Zhejiang to the northeast, Fujian to the east, Guangdong to the south, Hunan to the west, and Hubei to...
Province, at Jingdezhen
Jingdezhen
Jingdezhen , is a prefecture-level city, previously a town, in Jiangxi Province, China, with a total population of 1,554,000 . It is known as the "Porcelain Capital" because it has been producing quality pottery for 1700 years. The city has a well-documented history that stretches back over 2000...
City and Jiujiang
Jiujiang
Jiujiang , formerly transliterated Kiukiang, is a prefecture-level city located on the southern shores of the Yangtze River in northwest Jiangxi Province, China. It is the second-largest prefecture-level city in Jiangxi province, the largest one being Nanchang...
City, and in the capital of Anhui
Anhui
Anhui is a province in the People's Republic of China. Located in eastern China across the basins of the Yangtze River and the Huai River, it borders Jiangsu to the east, Zhejiang to the southeast, Jiangxi to the south, Hubei to the southwest, Henan to the northwest, and Shandong for a tiny...
province, Hefei
Hefei
Hefei is the capital and largest city of Anhui Province in Eastern China. A prefecture-level city, it is the political, economic, and cultural centre of Anhui...
. Engines are made at the Jiujiang location and all three production bases assemble cars.