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FAW Jiefang: China’s largest manufacturer of heavy trucks

FAW

FAW Jiefang CA10 truck
A FAW Jiefang CA10, the type that began production in 1956. Photo by MarcelX42, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

FAW Jiefang is a truck manufacturing company based in Changchun, Jilin, China, and a wholly owned subsidiary of FAW Group. It is the largest manufacturer of heavy trucks in China, building more than 500 different models of trucks from 5 to 30 tonnes, with an annual production capacity of around 200,000 vehicles.

FAW Jiefang at a glance

FAW Jiefang key facts
Company FAW Jiefang, a subsidiary of FAW Group
Headquarters Changchun, Jilin, China
Established as a company in 2003, from the FAW Car company founded in 1953
First truck 1956, built with technology from the Soviet Union
Employees more than 22,000
Models more than 500, from 5 to 30 tonnes
Capacity about 200,000 vehicles a year
Divisions Qingdao Truck Division, Wuxi Diesel Engine Works, Deutz (Dalian) Engine
Historic truck CA-10 of 1956–1986, a licensed copy of the ZIS-150
Military trucks MV3, CA-10, CA-30, CA220

Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on FAW Jiefang.

History of the FAW Jiefang

From the First Automobile Works

FAW Jiefang began as the FAW Car Co., Ltd, founded in 1953 as the First Automobile Works. The first truck rolled off the lines in 1956, and the technology came by way of the Soviet Union. That first vehicle was the Jiefang CA-10, a licensed copy of the Soviet ZIS-150, which stayed in production from 1956 to 1986. A second Soviet-derived model, the CA-30 of 1958 to 1986, copied the ZIL-157, and both trucks served the People’s Liberation Army alongside imported GAZ-53 and ZIL-130 vehicles.

The company became FAW Jiefang in 2003. It now employs more than 22,000 people and builds more than 500 models of trucks between 5 and 30 tonnes, which makes it the largest heavy truck manufacturer in China. Its annual production capacity is around 200,000 vehicles.

The truck range

The heavy range includes the J4R, introduced in 2002, the J5K of 2004, the J6L, J6M and J6V, the J7 of 2023 and the JH6 of 2014, with 6×2, 6×4 and 4×2 configurations. Lighter commercial models include the T80 and T90, the Hu V (Tiger V) and the J6F. For military use FAW Jiefang offers the MV3, the CA-10, the CA-30 and the CA220, and the CA141/CA1091, a five-tonne 4×2 troop and cargo carrier developed by First Automotive Works for the People’s Liberation Army, entered service in the 1980s.

The company also built passenger vehicles in the past, all now discontinued. These included the Jiefang Lubao CA6400UA hatchback and the CA6440UA van, both based on the Austin Maestro; the CA6440 van based on the Nissan Caravan; the Saibao CA6460/6480 series of all-terrain vehicles based on the Isuzu D-Max; and the Jiabao CA6350 microvan.

Companies inside the group

FAW Jiefang is made up of several subsidiaries and divisions. The Qingdao Truck Division, located in Qingdao, merged into FAW Group in 1993 and was later assigned to FAW Jiefang; it has 2,900 employees and produces more than 70,000 units a year. The Wuxi Diesel Engine Works, also known as FAWDE, is in Wuxi, Jiangsu, employs 4,000 people and produces diesel engines for generator sets, water pumps, forklifts, farm equipment and trucks; it was formed in 1943, became part of FAW Group in 1992 and builds 150,000 diesel engines annually. The Deutz (Dalian) Engine joint venture is managed through FAW Jiefang as well.

In December 2020 FAW Group announced a restructuring of FAW Bestune and FAW Jiefang: Bestune was transferred from FAW Car to FAW Corporation Limited and was to operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary, while FAW Jiefang was to be listed on the capital market. In December 2022 the group announced the transfer of 17.02 percent of FAW Jiefang shares to Bestune to provide it with financial support.

Design and features

  • Scale: more than 500 models from 5 to 30 tonnes and a capacity of about 200,000 vehicles a year.
  • Soviet roots: production began in 1956 with the CA-10, a licensed copy of the ZIS-150.
  • Own engines: the Wuxi Diesel Engine Works builds 150,000 diesel engines a year for trucks and industrial equipment.
  • Military line: dedicated models such as the MV3, CA-30 and CA220 for the People’s Liberation Army.

FAW Jiefang versions

  • CA-10 (1956–1986): the first Jiefang truck, a copy of the Soviet ZIS-150.
  • CA-30 (1958–1986): a licensed copy of the ZIL-157 for military use.
  • J6 family: the J6L, J6M and J6V heavy trucks introduced from 2007 onwards.
  • J7 (2023): the newest heavy tractor unit.
  • Light trucks: the T80/T90, Hu V and J6F.
  • Discontinued passenger models: the Lubao, Saibao and Jiabao CA6350.

The Jiefang CA-10 was the first product of the First Automobile Works, the same group that later built the Jiabao microvan and the FAW Vita car. See also the other models in the FAW collection.

Sources

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