Brilliance China Auto
Encyclopedia
Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Limited is a publicly owned
, Chinese
investment holding company making automobiles, automotive components, and minibuses.
Based in Shenyang, Liaoning province
, and listed on the Frankfurt
and Hong Kong
stock exchanges, in 2010 it was one of the top ten most-productive carmakers in China coming in ninth and selling a half million units.
Mr Qi Yumin has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd since January 2006.
Brilliance has an estimated production capacity of 800,000 units/year as of late 2010. Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
, became a leading Chinese maker of minibuses between 1991, the year Yang invested in the company, and 2002, when he fled into exile.
In 2003 BMW
and Brilliance signed a deal for the production of BMW-branded sedans in China. Its models are, alongside FAW Group Audis, Beijing Benz Mercedes Benzes, and Lexuses, some of the only Western luxury cars to have gained popularity in the Chinese market.
Alongside many Chinese automakers looking to enter the US market Brilliance postponed such plans in 2008 but has briefly sold in Europe. Sales in several European countries stopped in 2010.
In 2009 the company was the eighth-largest automaker in China. That year it sold over 150,000 passenger cars and nearly 80,000 minibuses.
and Granse brands, and sedans under the Zhonghua and BMW brands. Brilliance divested itself of the loss-making Zhonghua branch on December 31, 2009 to its ultimate shareholder Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Company Limited which continues to sell the vehicles Zhonghua makes.
and Brilliance agreed to make selected products of this German luxury carmaker in China. The joint venture makes BMW 3 Series
, BMW 5 Series
, and may begin producing the BMW X1
in 2012.
These vehicles may differ significantly from those sold in other markets under the same names. As of mid-2010 almost 60% of the components used in the manufacture of BMW products were imported to China.
As of 2009 BMWs are sometimes used by ranking Chinese state
officials, although the traditional choice is still a First Automobile Works
-built Audi.
completed in 2004, and ongoing construction may see this base increase its production capacity to 200,000 units/year by 2012.
An engine-making production base may be located in Mianyang
, Sichuan province
.
sedan performed poorly in a crash test conducted by Germany's ADAC
, receiving only one out of five possible stars in the Euro NCAP rating. Brilliance then redesigned the car, changing at least sixty components, and it saw a three-star performance in a crash test performed by Spain's Idiada. However, the price also rose considerably, and the importer (HSO Motors) went bankrupt in November 2009. Brilliance then tried to go it alone, but with high pricing and considerable market reluctance after the well-publicized crash test failures, exports to Europe had ended by April 2010 with no immediate plans of resumption.
Public company
This is not the same as a Government-owned corporation.A public company or publicly traded company is a limited liability company that offers its securities for sale to the general public, typically through a stock exchange, or through market makers operating in over the counter markets...
, Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
investment holding company making automobiles, automotive components, and minibuses.
Based in Shenyang, Liaoning province
Liaoning
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the northeast of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "辽" , a name taken from the Liao River that flows through the province. "Níng" means "peace"...
, and listed on the Frankfurt
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange is the world's 12th largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is owned and operated by Deutsche Börse, which also owns the European futures exchange Eurex and the clearing company...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong Stock Exchange
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in Hong Kong. It is Asia's third largest stock exchange in terms of market capitalization behind the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange and fifth largest in the world...
stock exchanges, in 2010 it was one of the top ten most-productive carmakers in China coming in ninth and selling a half million units.
Mr Qi Yumin has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd since January 2006.
Brilliance has an estimated production capacity of 800,000 units/year as of late 2010. Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
History
The origins of today's modern Brilliance can be traced to a state-owned auto factory which, under the guiding hand of the infamous Yang RongYang Rong
Yang Rong , also known as Yung Yeung and Benjamin Yeung is an exiled Chinese tycoon. He was born in Anhui province in 1957. Only a year after the magazine Forbes proclaimed him China's third richest businessman in 2001, Rong fled that country for the US.He has since started a hybrid electric...
, became a leading Chinese maker of minibuses between 1991, the year Yang invested in the company, and 2002, when he fled into exile.
In 2003 BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Brilliance signed a deal for the production of BMW-branded sedans in China. Its models are, alongside FAW Group Audis, Beijing Benz Mercedes Benzes, and Lexuses, some of the only Western luxury cars to have gained popularity in the Chinese market.
Alongside many Chinese automakers looking to enter the US market Brilliance postponed such plans in 2008 but has briefly sold in Europe. Sales in several European countries stopped in 2010.
In 2009 the company was the eighth-largest automaker in China. That year it sold over 150,000 passenger cars and nearly 80,000 minibuses.
Brands
Brilliance has sold under several brand names, including minibuses under the JinbeiJinbei (car)
Jinbei is a car brand name of Brilliance Jinbei Automobile Co., Ltd., in Shenyang/Liaoning China, it is a subsidiary of Brilliance China Auto .-Products:...
and Granse brands, and sedans under the Zhonghua and BMW brands. Brilliance divested itself of the loss-making Zhonghua branch on December 31, 2009 to its ultimate shareholder Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Company Limited which continues to sell the vehicles Zhonghua makes.
Subsidiaries and joint ventures
A list of subsidiaries can be found hereBMW joint venture
In 2003 BMWBMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and Brilliance agreed to make selected products of this German luxury carmaker in China. The joint venture makes BMW 3 Series
BMW 3 Series
The BMW 3 Series is a compact executive car manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. Successor to the BMW New Class, it has been produced in five different generations and in no less than five different body styles. It is BMW's best-selling model, accounting for around 30% of the...
, BMW 5 Series
BMW 5 Series
The BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its sixth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
, and may begin producing the BMW X1
BMW X1
The BMW X1 is a compact luxury crossover manufactured by BMW. It extends the current BMW Sports Activity Series model lineup which includes the BMW X3, BMW X5, and the BMW X6. The X1 is based on the same platform as the BMW 3 Series Touring with xDrive...
in 2012.
These vehicles may differ significantly from those sold in other markets under the same names. As of mid-2010 almost 60% of the components used in the manufacture of BMW products were imported to China.
As of 2009 BMWs are sometimes used by ranking 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...
officials, although the traditional choice is still a First Automobile Works
First Automobile Works
FAW Group Corporation is a state-owned enterprise with publicly traded subsidiaries: FAW Car Company , Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co Ltd , Changchun FAWAY Automobile Components Co Ltd ....
-built Audi.
Toyota joint venture
Brilliance has had a minibus joint venture with this Japanese company since the early 1990s.Components and engines
While the company also manufactures gasoline engines and other automotive components, automobile manufacture is performed by the subsidiaries Shenyang Brilliance JinBei Automobile Co Ltd and BMW Brilliance Automotive Co Ltd of which Brilliance has 51% and 50% ownership respectively.Production bases and facilities
BMW-branded autos are made at a production base in the Northeastern Chinese city of ShenyangShenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
completed in 2004, and ongoing construction may see this base increase its production capacity to 200,000 units/year by 2012.
An engine-making production base may be located in Mianyang
Mianyang
Mianyang is the second largest prefecture-level city of Sichuan province in Southwest China. Its administrative area includes the city proper of Mianyang, with 985,586 inhabitants in the built up area , the county-level city of Jiangyou, and six counties, covering an area of over and a population...
, Sichuan province
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
.
Huachen Automotive Group Holdings
As of December 2009 Huachen Automotive Group Holdings Company Limited has majority ownership of Brilliance controlling 55% of the company.European exports
In 2007 Brilliance's BS6Brilliance BS6
Brilliance BS6, in China sold as Zhonghua Zunchi , and more recently as the Brilliance M1 is a car produced by Brilliance in Shenyang, Liaoning in the People's Republic of China....
sedan performed poorly in a crash test conducted by Germany's ADAC
ADAC
The ADAC is Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club, with more than 17 million members in June 2010. It was founded on May 24, 1903 as "Deutsche Motorradfahrer-Vereinigung" and was renamed in 1911...
, receiving only one out of five possible stars in the Euro NCAP rating. Brilliance then redesigned the car, changing at least sixty components, and it saw a three-star performance in a crash test performed by Spain's Idiada. However, the price also rose considerably, and the importer (HSO Motors) went bankrupt in November 2009. Brilliance then tried to go it alone, but with high pricing and considerable market reluctance after the well-publicized crash test failures, exports to Europe had ended by April 2010 with no immediate plans of resumption.
See also
- Brilliance BS2Brilliance BS2The Brilliance BS2 or FRV is a car produced by the Brilliance in Shenyang, Liaoning in the People's Republic of China. It was originally announced at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007 as a pre-production car and then at the Beijing Auto Show in 2008 and was given its European premiere at the 2009...
/FRV/FSV - Brilliance BC3Brilliance BC3The Brilliance BC3 is a sport compact sized coupe produced by the Brilliance in Shenyang, Liaoning in the People's Republic of China....
/M3/Zhonghua Coupe - Brilliance BS4Brilliance BS4The Brilliance BS4 is a four door notchback sedan produced by the Brilliance China Auto Company in the People's Republic of China, where it is known as the Zhonghua Junjie...
/M2/Zhonghua Junjie - Brilliance BS6Brilliance BS6Brilliance BS6, in China sold as Zhonghua Zunchi , and more recently as the Brilliance M1 is a car produced by Brilliance in Shenyang, Liaoning in the People's Republic of China....
/M1/Zhonghua Zunchi - JinbeiJinbei (car)Jinbei is a car brand name of Brilliance Jinbei Automobile Co., Ltd., in Shenyang/Liaoning China, it is a subsidiary of Brilliance China Auto .-Products:...