 | |
| Type | Public company (SSE: 601777) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992[1] |
| Headquarters | Chongqing, China |
| Website | http://www.lifan.com/ |
Lifan Group,[2] or Lifan Industry (Group) Company[3] (SSE: 601777) (
) is a privately-owned Chinese motorcycle and automobile manufacturer.[4]
Based in Chongqing, a provincial-level, direct-controlled municipality of China, compact sedans are among its offerings[4] and the company, in 2009, was ranked 88th largest in China.[5]
Lifan may be best known for the small passenger cars it sells in developing, overseas markets but it also makes small dirt bike engines; entry-level motorcycles; mini-vehicles,[5] small trucks and vans that see commercial use; and commercial trucks. Other interests include manufacture of sport shoes, winemaking, and petitioning the Chinese State to allow the creation of more private banks.[6]
2009 in-China automobile sales were a scant 43K,[4] but access to more-profitable export markets may account for this small figure. 2010 production capacity was estimated to be near 300K[5] and in 2006 it was 150K.[1] Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
History
a Lifan truck, 2009
Lifan was founded by Yin Mingshan,[6] a convicted dissident,[6] in 1992[1] as a motorcycle repair shop (Chongqing Hongda Auto Fittings Research Centre)[7] with a staff of nine.[4]
Becoming the fifth-largest Chinese motorcycle maker in only seventeen years,[4] the company was renamed Lifan Industry Group in 1997.[7]
2006 saw commencement of automobile production[4] after the 2003 acquisition of Chongqing Special Purpose Use Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd.[5] Yunan Dali Junma Automotive Company, a commercial-truck maker, was another acquisition target.[5]
Initial Public Offering
Lifan made an IPO on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in late 2010.[4]
Going global
Lifan 520 at a dealership in Chile in 2009
Access to profitable export markets, something the Chinese State allowed the company in 1998,[5] means that this maker of automobiles and motorcycles does what many Chinese automakers desire: it sells in developed overseas markets like the EU and Japan.[5]
While finding more markets for its motorcycle-related products, Lifan has exported passenger cars to 51 countries.[5] The company has sold in many countries (over 100) and in every continent (except Antarctica).[8]
Europe
Allowed access in 2003, Lifan motorcycle products are, as of 2006, sold in 18 European countries.[1]
An Italian importer or assembler, Martin Motors, rebadges and sells two small Lifan passenger car models.[9]
Japan
Beginning in 2001, Lifan sells motorcycles in Japan.[1]
North America
Lifan motorcycles and dirt bikes are available in Canada.[8]
South America
Some small passenger car models are sold in Uruguay,[10] Brazil,[11] and Chile.
Knock-down sales
Some of the cars Lifan exports are probably in the form of knock-down kits. Such knock-down exports are an easy way to gain access to developing markets without added after-sales service costs.
Sponsorships
Lifan has sponsored a Chinese football team, Chongqing Lifan, beginning in 2005.
Patents
Lifan holds about 350 patents[5] or over 3[7]-4K,[1] whichever is more accurate. At least 118 of those refer to automobiles.[7]
Production bases and facilities
Lifan already has one passenger-car production base[5] and the planned building of another will expand capacity by 150K[3] when it opens in late 2011. Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.
Overseas motorcycle production bases include sites in Thailand,[1] Turkey[1] and Vietnam.[12]
As of 2007 car-making factories in Egypt, Russia and Vietnam produce Lifan-branded autos[1] for domestic consumption.[citation needed]
Models
- Lifan 320 mini SUV
- Lifan 520 car
- Lifan 520i car
- Lifan 620 car
- Lifan Foison van
- Lifan X60 SUV
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 About Lifan Group Lifan Official Site (Web Archive)
- ↑ "About Lifan Group". Official website of Lifan Group. Retrieved on 2011-01-25.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 China's Lifan Industry to debut in Shanghai this week reuters.com, Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:37am IST
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Lifan IPO latest in quest for capital chinadaily.com.cn, 2010-11-29
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 Corporate profile Lifan official site
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The communist entrepreneur: Yin Mingshan shows how to make profits and political friends in China economist.com, Mar 27th 2003
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Great Events of Lifan Group from 1999 to 2005 Lifan official site
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Global Lifan > Global Network (image) Lifan Official Site (Web Archive)
- ↑ Chi Siamo Martin Motors Official Site
- ↑ Productos grupoaler.com
- ↑ Lifan Motors Brazil web site lifanmotors.com.br/
- ↑ Factory in Vietnam Lifan Official Site (Web Archive)
External links
- Official website of Lifan Group
- Lifan Automobiles
- Lifan Thailand 力帆泰国制造有限公司 (English) (Chinese) (Thai)
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