Hawtai Motor
Encyclopedia
Rongcheng HawTai Automobile Co Ltd is a Chinese passenger vehicle maker from Shandong province
. A former joint venture
partner of Hyundai Motors, Hawtai continues to use technology from this Korean automaker as of 2010.
Previously romanized
as Huatai, the company is now known as Hawtai.
As of late 2010 its production capacity was reported to be 350,000 vehicles/year. Production capacity figures may consider whole vehicles and engines as discrete.
as Huátài in pinyin
, the preferred way to spell the name of this Chinese automaker with the Latin alphabet
is Hawtai. In Chinese, the name could mean "magnificent extremes".
. Initially producing Hyundai-branded SUVs, it started selling these under its own name in 2004. The company added sedans to its product line in 2010, and these are probably the first vehicles it both designed and manufactured.
Failed Saab bailout:
Although it was never consummated, in early May 2011 Hawtai agreed to provide EUR 150 million to Spyker Cars
, current owner of Saab, in exchange for Chinese manufacturing rights to the new Saab 9-3
and a 30% ownership of this Swedish vehicle maker. The deal quickly fell through.
Technology transfers:
The company has purchased foreign technology repeatedly including engine and transmission
technologies. Hawtai purchased technology from the Korean Hyundai Motors including some used in the first generation Santa Fe. The company sells a Hawtai-branded version of this small SUV, as well as one of the Hyundai Terracan
. Both models use the same names as their Hyundai-branded counterparts. Around the time of the 2009 Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization
, this American automaker discussed the possibility of an asset sale with Hawtai.
Hyundai joint venture:
In 2002 Hawtai began a joint venture
with Hyundai motors, but as of late 2010 this partnership has ceased. It made Chinese-market versions of the Hyundai Matrix
, a people carrier, the Hyundai Santa Fe
and the Hyundai Terracan
. The Santa Fe was the fifth most-purchased SUV in China in 2010, and at least some Hawtai versions of the car may differ significantly from those sold in other markets. Both Hyundai SUVs have experienced continued popularity in the Chinese market. Huatai's newest SUV, the B35 Bolgheri (Baolige in Chinese) still uses Santa Fe underpinnings, albeit in combination with VM Motori
or SAIC
engines and a ZF
transmission and with a design that owes much to the Porsche Cayenne
.
.
, Inner Mongolia
, and in Rongcheng
, Shandong
.
The Inner Mongolia site has a production capacity of 300,000 units/year, manufactures modern diesel engine
s and may have been under construction as of February, 2010. Such production capacity figures may consider whole vehicles and engines as discrete.
A former process technology/engine localization office in Beijing
may be a site for R&D efforts.
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
. A former 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...
partner of Hyundai Motors, Hawtai continues to use technology from this Korean automaker as of 2010.
Previously romanized
Romanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
as Huatai, the company is now known as Hawtai.
As of late 2010 its production capacity was reported to be 350,000 vehicles/year. Production capacity figures may consider whole vehicles and engines as discrete.
Name
Although correctly romanizedRomanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
as Huátài in pinyin
Pinyin
Pinyin is the official system to transcribe Chinese characters into the Roman alphabet in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It is also often used to teach Mandarin Chinese and spell Chinese names in foreign publications and used as an input method to enter Chinese characters into...
, the preferred way to spell the name of this Chinese automaker with the Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
is Hawtai. In Chinese, the name could mean "magnificent extremes".
History
Founded in 2000, it is, as of May 2011, owned by Zhang Xiugen, a Chinese entrepreneur. Hawtai is a smaller company than most of its domestic rivals, but its products make a splash because they look upscaleLuxury good
Luxury goods are products and services that are not considered essential and associated with affluence.The concept of luxury has been present in various forms since the beginning of civilization. Its role was just as important in ancient western and eastern empires as it is in modern societies...
. Initially producing Hyundai-branded SUVs, it started selling these under its own name in 2004. The company added sedans to its product line in 2010, and these are probably the first vehicles it both designed and manufactured.
Failed Saab bailout:
Although it was never consummated, in early May 2011 Hawtai agreed to provide EUR 150 million to Spyker Cars
Spyker Cars
Spyker Cars is a Dutch sports car marque. The modern Spyker Cars only has the legal right to the brand name. The company's motto is "Nulla tenaci invia est via", which is Latin for "For the tenacious, no road is impassable". The marque's logo displays the piston engine of an airplane, a reference...
, current owner of Saab, in exchange for Chinese manufacturing rights to the new Saab 9-3
Saab 9-3
The first generation 9-3, a substantially improved 'new-generation' Saab 900 was launched in 1998 for the 1999 model year. Saab claimed that 1,100 changes were made, including a revised suspension in an attempt to tighten up the handling characteristics of its predecessor, the Saab 900...
and a 30% ownership of this Swedish vehicle maker. The deal quickly fell through.
Technology transfers:
The company has purchased foreign technology repeatedly including engine and transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
technologies. Hawtai purchased technology from the Korean Hyundai Motors including some used in the first generation Santa Fe. The company sells a Hawtai-branded version of this small SUV, as well as one of the Hyundai Terracan
Hyundai Terracan
The Hyundai Terracan is a SUV that was produced by Hyundai Motor Company from 2001 to 2007. It was based on the Hyundai Highland concept . The target market for the Terracan mainly consisted of middle aged people looking for a cheaper alternative to other urban SUV's such as the Ford Explorer...
. Both models use the same names as their Hyundai-branded counterparts. Around the time of the 2009 Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization
Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization
Chrysler LLC and twenty-four of its affiliated subsidiaries filed a consolidated petition for bankruptcy on April 30, 2009, with the federal bankruptcy court in New York...
, this American automaker discussed the possibility of an asset sale with Hawtai.
Hyundai joint venture:
In 2002 Hawtai began 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...
with Hyundai motors, but as of late 2010 this partnership has ceased. It made Chinese-market versions of the Hyundai Matrix
Hyundai Matrix
The Hyundai Lavita , also sold as the Hyundai Matrix in Europe and Southeast Asia, and as the Hyundai Elantra Lavita in Australia, is an MPV sold by the Hyundai Motor Company, and was mechanically related to the Mitsubishi RVR. The vehicle was designed by the Italian car designer company Pininfarina...
, a people carrier, the Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe
The Hyundai Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover SUV based on the Hyundai Sonata platform. Named after the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, it was introduced for the 2001 model year as Hyundai's first SUV, released at the same time as the Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute and Pontiac Aztek...
and the Hyundai Terracan
Hyundai Terracan
The Hyundai Terracan is a SUV that was produced by Hyundai Motor Company from 2001 to 2007. It was based on the Hyundai Highland concept . The target market for the Terracan mainly consisted of middle aged people looking for a cheaper alternative to other urban SUV's such as the Ford Explorer...
. The Santa Fe was the fifth most-purchased SUV in China in 2010, and at least some Hawtai versions of the car may differ significantly from those sold in other markets. Both Hyundai SUVs have experienced continued popularity in the Chinese market. Huatai's newest SUV, the B35 Bolgheri (Baolige in Chinese) still uses Santa Fe underpinnings, albeit in combination with VM Motori
VM Motori
VM Motori S.p.A. is a diesel engine manufacturing company in Cento, Italy, in Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.- History :...
or SAIC
SAIC
The acronym SAIC can stand for:*Science Applications International Corporation*School of the Art Institute of Chicago*Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation*Shanghai Aviation Industrial Company*Special Agent in Charge, acronym used by some U.S...
engines and a ZF
ZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
transmission and with a design that owes much to the Porsche Cayenne
Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is a five seat mid-size luxury crossover manufactured by the German manufacturer Porsche since 2002, with North American sales beginning in 2003. Its platform was developed by Porsche and is shared with the Volkswagen Touareg and the Audi Q7. It is the first V8-engined vehicle...
.
Engines
Some Hawtai models use SAIC engines, but other powerplants are to be Hawtai's own, using technology purchased from Italian diesel experts VM MotoriVM Motori
VM Motori S.p.A. is a diesel engine manufacturing company in Cento, Italy, in Emilia-Romagna, an Italian region which is also home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.- History :...
.
Production bases and facilities
Hawtai has at least two production bases, one each in OrdosOrdos
-Places:*Ordos Loop of the Yellow River, a region of China*Ordos Desert, in Inner Mongolia*Ordos City, city and district in Inner Mongolia*Ordos International Circuit, a race track in Ordos City.-People:...
, Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
, and in Rongcheng
Rongcheng
Rongcheng is a county-level city in Weihai prefecture-level city, Shandong province, in eastern China.-History:According to historical records, the Emperor Qinshihuang had visited Rongcheng twice, building bridges and temples...
, Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
.
The Inner Mongolia site has a production capacity of 300,000 units/year, manufactures modern diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s and may have been under construction as of February, 2010. Such production capacity figures may consider whole vehicles and engines as discrete.
A former process technology/engine localization office in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
may be a site for R&D efforts.