Cracking the Chinese car code! You know about MG and BYD, but what about all the other new car brands and models?

It’s an often repeated truism that the Australian new car market is “the most competitive in the world”. In fact, CarsGuide has no doubt repeated it on multiple occasions. 

But it’s time to think again because we’ve been busy pulling back the curtain on the Chinese new car business.

Visibility of the multitude of brands that seem to magically appear with alarming regularity is cloudy at best. So, what follows is our attempt to list them all, complete with website details so you can check them out for yourself.

Read More About BYD

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There are the ‘Big Four’ of course - Chang'an, Dongfeng, FAW Group and SAIC Motor. But we’ve listed their subsidiaries and sub-brands, too. And we’ve added a thumbnail list of the products all the Chinese makers offer.

It’s a deep dive into a huge, murky pool. And we’d like you to call out any we’ve missed. Give us a shout in the comments and we’ll add them to the list.

For the record, we make it 67 brands represented in the Australian new car market. And that’s sneaking in a few light and heavy commercial names, just for the hell of it.

Our list of Chinese domestic brands currently sits at 88, and that’s just the manufacturers! Add joint-venture importer/distributor relationships for the European, Japanese and North American models we all know and you’re into triple figures in a heartbeat.   

No buses or trucks included, either. Many of which you might be familiar with on local roads, like Golden Dragon, Higer, King Long, Yutong or Zhongtong.

What we've discovered is a stunning array of mostly SUVs and sedans, pure-electric, hybrid and internal combustion, offering up huge digital displays, slick styling, impressive efficiency, leading edge safety tech, ‘immersive’ gaming screens, assisted-parking… everything you could imagine and more.

Ridiculously cute EV city cars to million-dollar V12 limousines. Jump in, take a look and don’t forget to update us on any that have slipped through the cracks!

A

Aeolus - dfpv.com.cn 

Owned by Dongfeng

The Aeolus Haohan is a small ICE SUV.

1 / 2

The Aeolus AX7 is a large sized SUV.

2 / 2

Aion - www.aion.com.cn

Owned by GAC Group

The Aion SSR is an electric supercar.

Aito - www.aito.auto

The Aito M5 is a midsize five-seat electric SUV.

Aiways - www.ai-ways.com

The Aiways U6 is a small electric coupe-styled SUV.

Arcfox - www.arcfox.com.cn

Owned by BAIC / Design head is long-time VW Group design chief Walter de Silva

The Arcfox Alpha S is a midsize electric liftback.

Avita - www.avatr.com/en/11

The Avita Avatr II is an electric SUV.

B

BAIC Group - baicgroup.com.cn

(Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corporation) - Founded in 1958 

Umbrella brand sitting over subsidiaries - Arcfox, Beijing Automobile, Foton Motor, Beijing Heavy Truck and Changhe Automobile.

Joint ventures - Beijing Benz, Fujian Benz, Beijing Hyundai, Foton Daimler

BAIC Group is an umbrella brand sitting over subsidiaries such as Arcfox.

Baojun - https://www.sgmw.com.cn

Owned by SAIC / SGMW

The Baojun KiWi EV is a city car that looks like Wall-e on four wheels.

1 / 2

The Baojun Yue Ye is a Suzuki Jimny lookalike.

2 / 2

BAW - www.baw.com.cn

Beijing Automobile Works / based in Qingdao, north of Shanghai

People movers and light commercials (dual cab ute - 2.0L 106kW/200Nm)

The BAW dual-cab ute produces 106kW or power and 200Nm of torque.

Bestune - benteng.faw.cn

Owned by FAW

The Bestune Pentium B70S is a small-sized SUV.

Brilliance Auto - http://www.brillianceauto.com

Mini-buses and people movers with Renault

Cars and SUVs with BMW

BYD Automobile - www.byd.com/en

Established in 1995 / China’s top-selling brand (world number 10)

EVs on the e-Platform 3.0

The BYD HAN is a large electric liftback.

C

Changan - www.changan.com.cn

The Changan Explorer is a dual cab ute.

1 / 2

The Changan Luminous is three-door city electric hatch.

2 / 2

Changhe - http://www.changheglobal.com

Owned by BAIC

The Changhe M50S is a mid-sized people mover.

Chery - www.cheryinternational.com

State-owned

The Chery Arrizo 8 is a mid-sized liftback.

1 / 2

The Chery QQ Ice Cream is a three-door electric city car.

2 / 2

D

Dayun - http://www.dayunauto.com

Heavy trucks and passenger vehicles

The Duyan Yuanhang H8 is a Macan lookalike.

1 / 3

The Dayun Yuehu is a small electric crossover.

2 / 3

The Dayun Yuanhang Y7 is a large sedan with front scissor doors.

3 / 3

Denza - www.denza.com

Shenzhen BYD New Energy Company Ltd

BYD and Mercedes-Benz Group EV joint-venture from 2010

The Denza N7 is a five-seat luxury crossover.

DongFeng Motor - www.dfmc.com.cn

State-owned / parent company of Aeolus - SUVs and sedans, Voyah - sedans, SUVs and people movers

Also JVs with Honda, Nissan/Infiniti and Peugeot/Citroen

DongFeng is a State-owned parent company of Aeolus.

E

Everus - https://mall.ghac.cn/o2o/activity-detail/789

Subsidiary of Honda and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group) joint-venture selling Hondas

Everus is a subsidiary of Honda and Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group).

Exeed - www.exeedcars.com

Chery subsidiary

The Exceed Starlight is a small internal combustion engine SUV.

F

FAW - http://www.faw.com/fawen/gyjt36/jtgl59/jtjj3/index.html

First Automobile Work

Parent brand of Hongqi, Bestune, Junpai and Senia 

Foton - www.foton-global.com

The Foton Tunland G7 is a 4x4 turbo-diesel dual cab ute.

Fujian Motors - www.fjmotor.com.cn

Parent of multiple brands (Soueast / Keyton / Yudo) producing sedans, SUVs, people movers, large, medium and light buses, heavy, medium and light trucks, and new energy vehicles

G

GAC Group - www.gagc.com.cn

Guangzhou Automobile Group

Owns Aion and Trumpchi as well as operating joint ventures with Honda / Toyota / Mitsubishi

Galaxy - https://zgh.com/geely-auto/?lang=en

Geely sub-brand set to launch seven models within two years

The Galaxy L7 is a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV.

1 / 2

Galaxy is set to launch seven models within two years.

2 / 2

Geely - https://global.geely.com

Private company - translates into English as ‘auspicious’ or ‘lucky’.

International - London EV / Lotus / Proton / Smart / Volvo

Domestic - Galaxy / Geometry / Lynk & Co / Radar / Zeekr

The Geely Tugella is a five-seat coupe SUV.

Geometry - www.geometryauto.com

Geely sub-brand (Geome)

The Geometry M6 is a small sized electric SUV.

1 / 2

The Geometry Mini is a three-door electric city car.

2 / 2

GWM - www.gwm-global.com

Great Wall Motors 

Haval / Ora / Poer / Wey

H

Haima - https://www.haima.com/frmindex_new.aspx

The Haima 7X-E is a six-seat RV people mover.

Haval - https://www.haval.com.cn

GWM sub-brand

The MY24 Big Dog II is a plug-in hybrid SUV.

Hengchi - https://www.evergrande.com/Business/NewCar

Parent company Evergrande owns 45 per cent of Faraday Future / acquired NEVS (formerly Saab) / developing 14 new EV models

The Hengchi 1 is a large sedan.

HiPhi - www.hiphi.com

EV maker that has “has created a parallel dimension for trailblazers”

The HiPhi Z is a four-door GT.

Hongqi - https://www.hongqi-auto.com

FAW subsidiary

Luxury cars since 1958. Name means red flag. The Hongqi L5 is called "Chinese Rolls Royce" because of its high price (more than five million yuan / A$1.1m).

The Hongqi H5 is a FWD ICE luxury sedan.

1 / 2

The Hongqi L5 is called the "Chinese Rolls Royce."

2 / 2

Hozon Auto - https://hozonauto.com/en/en-index.html

The Hozon Neta U Pro is a small sized electric SUV.

Hycan - https://www.hycan.com.cn

The Hycan Z03 is a small electric SUV.

I

iCar - www.cheryinternational.com

Chery sub-brand / youth-oriented

The iCar 03 is a compact electric vehicle launching soon.

iM Motors - https://www.immotors.com/website/ls7_detail

The iM Motors LS7 is a small dual-motor SUV.

1 / 2

The LS7 features a glass roof.

2 / 2

J

JAC Motors - www.jac.com.cn

JAC Volkswagen / Electric SEATs 

The JAC JS4 is a small internal combustion engine SUV.

1 / 2

The JAC e-JS1 is a compact five-door electric hatch.

2 / 2

Jetour - https://jetourglobal.com

The Jetour X95 is a luxury seven-seat ICE SUV.

Jetta - jetta.faw-vw.com

VW subsidiary

The Jetta VS7 is a small five-seat ICE SUV.

Jidu Auto - https://www.jidu.cn

JV between Geely and tech company Baidu

The Jidu Robo 01 is a small EV SUV launching soon.

JMC - www.jmc.com.cn / www.jmcg-global.com

Ford JV

The JMC Ling Rui is a midsized ICE SUV.

1 / 2

The JMC Vigus Plus is a dual-cab ute with a 2.0L EcoBoost turbo-diesel engine.

2 / 2

Junpai - www.faw.com

FAW subsidiary / wears FAW badging

The Junpai A50 is an internal combustion engine sedan.

K

Kaijuan - www.changan.com.cn/qiyuan/#/

Changan sub-brand

The Kaijuan AO7 is a five-door electric liftback.

Kandi - en.kandivehicle.com

Mainly producing electric ATVs, off-road buggies and golf karts

Exports the Offroad K32 EV dual cab ute to the USA but it's not eligible for road registration

Kandi exports the K32 electric dual cab ute to the USA.

Keyton - https://www.keytonauto.com

Fujian subsidiary

The Keyton EX80 is a compact eight-seat people mover.

L

Leapmotor - www.leapmotor.com

The Leapmotor T03 is a five-door electric city hatch.

1 / 2

The Leapmotor S01 is a small electric sports coupe.

2 / 2

Li Auto - www.lixiang.com

Established in 2015

The Li Auto Ideal L7 is a five-seat internal combustion engine SUV.

Livan - livanauto.com

The Livian X3Pro is a small ICE SUV.

Luxgen - www.luxgen-motor.com.tw

Made in Taiwan / Yulon subsidiary

The Luxgen URX Neo is a small ICE SUV.

1 / 2

The Luxgen U6 Neo is a small ICE coupe SUV.

2 / 2

Lynk & Co - www.lynkco.com

Geely sub-brand

The Lynk & Co 03+ performance sedan wears 19-inch wheels.

M

Maxus - www.saicmaxus.com

Owned by SAIC / As seen in Australia as LDV

LDV T60 / D90 / Deliver 9 / Mifa people mover / V80 van

N

NIO - www.nio.com

Founded in 2014, pure-electric maker. Says it will be present in 25 countries and regions by 2025.

The Nio ES6 is a medium sized crossover.

O

Ora - https://www.ora-ev.ie

GWM sub-brand

The Ora Funky Cat is a small FWD electric hatch.

P

Poer - poer.gwm-global.com

GWM sub-brand

The Cannon is a two- or four-wheel drive turbo-diesel dual cab ute.

Q

Qoros - www.qoros.com

The Qoros 7 is a medium sized internal combustion engine SUV.

R

Radar Auto - https://zgh.com/our-brands/radar/?lang=en#

Owned by Geely - “high-end new energy outdoors lifestyle vehicle brand” launching soon

The Radar RD6 is an electric dual cab ute.

Rising Auto - https://www.risingauto.com

Owned by SAIC

The Rising Auto Feifan F7 is a five-seat electric sedan.

1 / 2

The Rising Auto RC Essence is a large electric SUV concept.

2 / 2

Roewe - https://www.roewe.com.cn

Owned by SAIC

The Roewe RX5 is a small ICE SUV.

S

SAIC - www.saicmotor.com 

(formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) - Baojun / LDV / MG / Roewe / Wuling

State-owned and the largest Chinese car company / Joint ventures with GM and VW

Senia - http://www.faw.com/fawen/ppycp7968/passenger_cars/518323/index.html

FAW subsidiary

The Senia R9 is a midsize ICE five-seat SUV.

Seres - https://driveseres.com

The Seres E3 is a small electric SUV.

SG Automotive - http://www.sgautomotive.com

SGMW - Baojun, Wuling

The SG Automotive Yellow Sea N7 is a dual cab 4x4 ute.

Shenlan - https://www.changan.com.cn/login

Changan sub-brand

The Shelan SL03 is a small premium electric sedan.

Singulato - www.singulato.com

The Singulato iC3 is a micro electric hatch.

Skywell - en.skywellev.com/ 

The Skywell BE11 is a five-seat small electric SUV.

Soueast - www.soueast-motor.com

Fujian subsidiary / Subsidiary of Mitsubishi in Mainland China.

The Soueast DX5 is a small internal combustion engine SUV.

T

Techrules - www.techrules.cn

The Techrules Zhiren is a turbine/electric hybrid hypercar.

Trumpchi - https://www.gacmotor.com/about/index

Owned by GAC Group 

Mainly combustion models

The Trumpchi Shadow Leopard is a mid-size sedan.

U

V

Venucia - www.venucia.com

Owned by Dongfeng

The Venucia Venus Star is a midsiz ICE SUV.

Voyah - www.voyah.com.cn

Owned by Dongfeng

Voyah's lineup consists of a people mover, sedan and an SUV, all of which are electric.

W

Weltmeister - www.wm-motor.com

The Weltmeister M7 is a small electric sedan.

Wey - www.wey.com

GWM sub-brand 

The Wey Macchiato is a PHEV small SUV.

Wuling - https://www.wuling.com/index.html

Owned by SAIC / SGMW

The Wuling Hongguang Gameboy is a micro electric hatch.

X

XPeng - heyxpeng.com

The XPeng G9 is a large electric SUV.

Y

Yangwang - https://www.yangwangauto.com/

BYD luxury sub-brand

The Yangwang U8 is a large (Defender-like) electric SUV.

1 / 2

The Yangwang U9 is an electric mid-motor supercar.

2 / 2

Yudo - www.yudoauto.com

Fujian subsidiary

The Yudo π1 Lite is a small electric SUV.

Yulon - https://www.yulon-motor.com.tw/en/products_car.aspx

Taiwan-based / parent of Luxgen

Also Nissan joint-venture

Z

Zeekr - zeekrlife.com

Geely sub-brand

The Zeekr X is a small electric SUV.

Zinoro - www.zhinuo.com.cn 

BMW / Brilliance joint-venture

The Zinoro 60H is a arge PHEV SUV.

Zotye - zotye.com

The Zotye T300 is a small SUV.

1 / 2

The Zoyte U2 is a micro five-door electric hatch.

2 / 2

ZX Auto - www.zxauto.com

The ZX Auto 1949 is a full-size pick-up.