Over six decades ago, China set up its first automobile manufacturer in the northeastern industrial city of Changchun as the country began to beef up its economy, and unveiled the nation's first domestically produced passenger car in 1958.
Combo photo shows the construction site of China FAW Group Corporation in 1953 (top, file photo), and stitched aerial photo of its current factory venue in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 12, 2019 (bottom, photo taken by Xu Chang).
Nowadays, the country has been the world's largest automobile manufacturer and seller in the past decade with 28.08 million vehicles sold last year, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global market.
Despite getting a late start, China's automobile manufacturers have been narrowing down the gap between global competitive players and embarked on a journey of becoming a globally popular auto retailer.
THE FIRST OF ITS KIND
China ended its history of no domestically-made vehicles when the first Jiefang truck rolled off the line in 1956. So far, the brand has sold more than 7 million vehicles and has expanded its presence to 80 countries and regions.
Combo photo shows the first Jiefang truck made by China FAW Group Corporation rolling off the assembly line on July 13, 1956 (top, file photo), and FAW's employees cheering up for the first batch of the Jiefang trucks in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province (bottom, undated file photo).
The 7 millionth FAW Jiefang truck rolls off the assembly line at China FAW Group Co., Ltd in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, on Nov. 30, 2018. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
In 1957, however, China's automobile engineers were faced with a bigger challenge of producing the country's first sedan car, said Liu Jingchuan, chief designer of the former China FAW Group Corporation, the cradle of the country's automobile industry.
"Back then, we were in desperate need of expertise and experience in manufacturing automobiles and faced shortages in equipment," Liu said, who is in his 90s.
Despite the great difficulties, engineers worked day and night before the first domestically produced sedan car, Dongfeng, rolled off the line on May 12, 1958.
Photo taken on May 12, 1958 shows China's first domestically produced sedan car, Dongfeng, in Changhcun, northeast China's Jilin Province.
Liu became the first passenger of the first Dongfeng sedan car. "My test ride attracted a mass of employees gathering along the sides of the road as I drove around the factory," Liu said.
The Dongfeng sedan unveiled the first chapter of China's domestic car brands. On August 1, 1958, the country's first high-end passenger car, Hongqi, was manufactured and became the exclusive vehicle brand for state leaders during national events.
File photo taken on August 1958 shows China's first high-end passenger car, Hongqi, in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province.
Photo taken on Nov. 20, 2015 shows the Hongqi L5 vehicle of China FAW Group displayed during the 13th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province.
COMING FROM BEHIND
Since China's reform and opening up in the 1970s, a nationwide structural reform has enabled the auto industry to go full steam ahead with various products and stronger production capacity.
Combo photo shows workers assembling FAW Jiefang CA15 trucks at the China FAW Group Corporation on Jan. 3, 1983 (top, file photo), and FAW's staff members working at FAW Jiefang truck plant in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 12, 2019 (bottom, photo taken by Xu Chang).
"The early generation of automobile manufacturers survived the hardship of growing out of nothing, and we should act as curators of innovation based on their achievements," said Cui Xiaojuan, chief engineer of FAW Jiefang Powertrain Development & Application.
At the end of the 1990s when expressways increased rapidly and demand for long-distance transport was on the rise, FAW's CA6110 diesel engine, a previously popular product with nearly two decades of history, failed to meet the market demand and gradually lost its edge.
Combo photo shows Jiefang trucks of China FAW Group Corporation waiting for shipment with trains (top, undated file photo), and an aerial photo taken on June 12, 2019 shows Jiefang trucks waiting for shipment in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province (bottom, photo taken by Xu Chang).
"To break the plight, Jiefang, China's first truck brand, had to develop a quality high-horsepower diesel engine with independent intellectual property rights," said Cui in charge of the daunting task.
She added that the engine is the heart of a vehicle, and independent research and development capabilities are vital to the industry.
Combo photo shows an engine workshop of China FAW Group Corporation in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, 1957 (top, file photo), and FAW's engineers working on engine blueprints (bottom, file photo released on Nov. 30, 1963).
Partnering with Austria's AVL List GmbH, a world-leading producer of power-train systems, China FAW Group Corporation developed the country's first self-manufactured CA6DL diesel engine on December 20, 2013, a more competitive kind with cutting-edge technology in the global market.
"The new engine filled in the gap that there were no self-manufactured heavy vehicles in China," Cui said.
Combo photo shows a herdsman (L) talking with his friend in front of his new FAW Jiefang truck in Qinghai Province, northwest China, 1985 (top, file photo), and a Jiefang truck transporting timber in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, March 21, 2015 (bottom, photo taken by Yu Changjun).
BREAKING THE ICE
In 2001, China's automobile industry ushered in a wave of globalization after entry into the World Trade Organization.
Auto companies in China began to acquire its foreign counterparts and learned from world experience. Since 2009, China has become the world's largest producer and seller of automobiles.
Staff of China FAW Group Co., Ltd sign on China's 10 millionth automobile made in the year of 2009 at FAW Group in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, Oct. 20, 2009. (Xinhua/Jiang Lin)
The ongoing technological revolutions of informatization, automation and artificial intelligence have also propelled the industry into vigorous and prompt actions after over 60 years of catching up, said Han Linghai, director of Engine Product Development, FAW Research and Development Institute.
Combo photo shows industrial robots delivering auto components at a Hongqi vehicles plant of China FAW Group Corporation in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 9, 2019 (top), and industrial robots transferring bodyworks on an assembly line at a plant of FAW in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, June 13, 2019 (bottom). (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
In a new assembly shop for the latest model of Hongqi, over 300 carrier loaders with automatic cruise systems replaced workers to deliver myriads of vehicle parts. 12,323 Hoingqi vehicles were manufactured in the first quarter of 2019, up 1,557.5 percent over the previous year.
A staff installs a decoration part to a Hongqi vehicle at a plant of China FAW Group Co., Ltd in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)
In 2018, the auto market suffered from its first slowdown after years of high-speed growth, but new businesses such as new energy vehicles and self-driving technology have injected vitality into the market.
"Brand popularity relies on products and technologies, and as the newest generation of China's automobile industry, we should continue to foster innovation to ensure quality control," said Han.
Combo photo shows the Hongqi vehicles assembly line of the China FAW Group Corporation in 1958 (top, file photo), and FAW's staff checking on Hongqi vehicles in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 9, 2019 (bottom, photo taken by Xu Chang).
Photo editors: Hou Dongtao, Lin Fanjing, Zhang Yudong, Rong Yan, Cui Bowen
Video editors: Wang Yiliang, Ma Ping, Xu Chang, Li Shuangxi, Yao Shi
Writers: Ma Xiaoran, Xu Chang, Li Shuangxi, Yao Shi
