2.5 / 5 ( 4 votes)
Lifan Industry is a privately held Chinese manufacturer of auto and motorcycle vehicles. The company is headquartered in Chongqing, southwest China. The entire Lifan range.
Outside of China, Lifan is currently known for small passenger car sales in emerging markets. In 2013, Lifan sold 370,800 vehicles, 1,488,900 motorcycles, 3,563,100 engines. By December 2013, Lifan had filed 8,607 domestic patents, of which 7,500 had been approved. The automaker is the largest taxpayer of any private enterprise in Chongqing.
History
Lifan was founded in 1992 as a motorcycle repair shop with a staff of nine people. Already a major motorcycle manufacturer at the time of its inception, when she began trying her hand at building buses in 2003.
Seventeen years after its foundation, the production was already ranked fifth among domestic bike manufacturers. Since 1997, the company has been renamed Lifan Industry, as it is called to this day.
New channel
In 2005, the company launched an automobile production. The firstborn were the LF6361 minivan and the LF1010 pickup truck based on the 1999 Daihatsu Atrai. At the end of the same year, the lineup expanded with the addition of the independently developed 520 sedan.
At this time, Lifan produces:
320
520
620
X60
Production capacity
Lifan has manufacturing bases in Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. In addition, since March 2007, 520 sedans are being assembled in Vietnam. By mid-2009, models 320, 520i, and 620 were produced and assembled in this country (Lifan Solano photo above or read the full article).
There are Lifan assembly plants in Egypt, Ethiopia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Uruguay. In Russia, the production of the company's cars began in August 2007 at the Derways plant and four years later three models were produced, including 520 and 320.
Some of the vehicles Lifan exported are in the form of assembly kits. They can be collected in relatively small local small workshops. Selling these kits is an easy way for a company to gain access to emerging markets.
The main plant of the company Lifan "Lifan", which produces passenger cars, has all the most modern equipment, which was 100% updated in 2003. The key advantage of this plant is the operation of a closed paint line, four assembly lines, two of which are fully automated, in addition, there are two packaging lines, as well as one optical. The plant area is more than 60 thousand square meters, and the number of employees on it exceeds 10,000 people. All products manufactured by Lifan are made from high-tech and high-quality materials, and also meet all the highest standards and norms. Technological processes are constantly being improved at the plant, and the company is constantly striving to achieve the highest results in its business.
When using the material (in whole or in part), an active link to the site Lifan in Russia(www.!
Among all brands in China, in Russia, in 2013, Lifan is in the lead. The undisputed leader among all brands in Russia according to the results of 2013 was the Lifan company, its sales level, if compared with the same period last year, increased by 34% and amounted to 27,467 vehicles. I would like to say that in 2012 this brand turned out to be one of the best-selling in Russia among all Chinese car brands. The increase in sales was influenced by the policy of the official distributor ...
Soon the export of Lifan cars will begin at the Nakhchivan Automobile Plant. The Nakhchivan Automobile Plant (NAZ) together with the Chinese company Lifan signed an agreement that will enable the Azerbaijani side to sell cars to third countries, including Georgia, as well as the states of Central Asia. The agreement was signed during the visit of representatives of the Nakhchivan Automobile Plant to Chongqing. According to Trend, head of NAZ Musa Abdullayev, technical workers of the Azerbaijani plant have already started preparing a plan for the gradual localization of production ...
The company "Lifan Motors Rus", which is the official distributor of LIFAN cars in Russia, in May 2013 celebrated one year of activity. Lifan Motor Rus was founded on the initiative of LIFAN Industry Corporation. LIFAN on the territory of Russia at the end of 2012 became the best-selling Chinese car with the result of more than 20 thousand cars sold. The pace of sales of Lifan cars in the first half of 2013 suggests that the figures for the year will grow by 30%. The main share in sales is occupied by a sedan m ...
LIFAN Motors at the Shanghai Motor Show presented its product strategy for the next 5 years, as well as its development strategy. The company intends to focus its development on improving the quality of the Lifan cars produced. At the same time, it is planned to optimize the technological chain of the entire production cycle. LIFAN Motors, taking into account the trends in the global automotive industry, plans to carry out its own developments and establish the production of electric cars in the next 3 years. Development and experimental research Chinese car manufacturer ...
The grand opening of a new official LIFAN dealership took place in Barnaul on February 8 this year. The salon was opened by the AGAS-Holding company. The new LIFAN dealer is located at Yuzhny, st. Belinsky, 20. The guests remembered the event with an excellent entertainment program, oriental flavor, as well as a warm welcome from the organizers of the evening. In the show program, a trio of dancers from Africa performed in front of the first visitors to the LIFAN dealership in Barnaul, and a real Brazilian carnival took place. Also, the entertainment program included a performance during the ...
In 2008, the Chinese concern Lifan introduced the world to a completely new car, the Solano model. The car quickly attracted motorists and interested them. Due to this, in a short time, the "Chinese" began to be supplied, in addition to the domestic one, to other markets of the world, including Russia. During the year of the model's release, the manufacturer managed to sell fifteen thousand cars. Many fans of the brand are interested in the question: where is Lifan Solanod collected for the domestic market?
We started selling the car two years after the world presentation (in 2010). The production of "Chinese" is established in our country at the "Derways" enterprise in Cherkessk (Karachay-Cherkessia). An interesting fact is that in Russia, Lifan is sold with an index of 620. Compared to its predecessor, this model of the car has become larger in size and has slightly changed externally and internally. Each enterprise of the Lifan company is equipped with the latest modern equipment. The factories have four assembly lines, two of which are fully automated. There is a separate painting line and two packaging lines. The enterprises employ more than a thousand people. For the production of passenger cars, the enterprises use high-quality raw materials and materials. Each assembly process is carefully monitored and all assembled machines are checked for quality and defects. Only after the necessary tests, the cars are sent to the final consumer.
Chinese design and salon
A detailed review of Lifan Solano is worth starting with the vehicle's impressive dimensions:
- length - 4550 mm
- height - 1495 mm
- width - 1705 mm.
Compared to its predecessor, this car has become eighteen centimeters longer. Where the Lifan Solano is produced, they took care of the comfort of the driver and passengers.It can be said that after the update, the dimensions of all parts of the car have increased, and the technical characteristics have improved significantly. The Chinese sedan belongs to the C-segment and can be purchased in Russia for 355,000 rubles. In addition, the manufacturer gives a two-year warranty for this car model.
The exterior of the car is impressive, the designers made it bright and modern, as they used it to create world trends in the automotive industry. By design, the "Chinese" is very similar to the "Bavarian" BMW 3. Against the background of competitors, the car looks confident and solid. The Chinese use a U-shape to create their cars. Below the car is decorated with modern LEDs, and at first glance it may seem that the sedan is a little aggressive. At the back of the car, angular lights with three white stripes on each were placed. The chrome elements give the European appearance to the model.
The inside of the car looks no worse than the outside. Everything here is decorated in a simple way, for the decoration the Chinese used high-quality leather and good plastic.
The saloon of the sedan turned out to be light and cozy. Depending on the configuration, the machine can be equipped with:
- air conditioner
- power steering
- full-size spare tire
- full power accessories.
Where Lifan Solano is produced, they try to produce high-quality, reliable and most comfortable cars. The security of the "Chinese" is at a high level. For the safety of the driver and passengers, the car provides:
- automatic door locking system while driving
- two airbags
- ABS system
- EBD system
- optional brake light
- adjustable steering column.
If you want to appreciate this car, you can take it for a test drive at any dealership of the brand.
The technical side
The Chinese sedan is available to buyers with a 1.6-liter petrol engine, delivering 106 horsepower. The power unit is paired with a mechanical transmission. After restyling in 2010, the car began to be equipped with a new 1.8-liter engine with 137 horsepower. In the top version, Solano is available with an automatic transmission. For a hundred kilometers in the combined cycle, the car consumes 8.2 liters of fuel.
The car can be accelerated to the first hundred in 15.5 seconds. The maximum speed of the Chinese sedan is 170 km. An independent MacPherson suspension was installed on the car, and there is a semi-independent beam at the back. Our domestic enterprise annually produces about twenty-five thousand Lifan Solano sedans for the domestic market. Where Lifan Solano is assembled, they take into account the operating conditions in our country. Therefore, the car is suitable for driving on the city roads of the Russian Federation.
Lifan Solano is not a racing car. It is ideal for those who like a calm and comfortable ride. "Chinese" is not whimsical to the quality of fuel and is economical in terms of gasoline consumption. In addition, the cost of this sedan in comparison with competitors is quite democratic. Of course, it's up to you.
It's no secret that its success on the market largely depends on the name of the product. This applies to car brands to the full, and sometimes manufacturers have to rename their offspring, taking into account the peculiarities of different languages. But the Chinese decided to take a chance and offered the Russians a car with the original name for our ear Lifan.
Lifan's meteoric rise
In fact, the word Lifan translated from Chinese means "to race with full steam." Three schematic sailing vessels depicted on the company's logo perfectly echo the meaning of the name.
By the way, initially the company had a longer name - Chongqing Hongda Auto Fittings Research Center. Founded in 1992 by former political dissident Yin Mingshan, the company focused on motorcycle repairs. At the first stage, the company employed only 9 people. Gradually, the company came to the production of its own two-wheeled vehicles. In 1997, the more familiar name Lifan Industry Group appeared.
By 2003, when Lifan was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in China, the company was also producing buses and trucks. The production of passenger cars began two years later. Lifan's first-borns were two commercial models: the LF1010 pickup truck and the LF6361 minivan, based on the Daihatsu Atrai.
In the same 2005, in cooperation with specialists, the Lifan 520 sedan was developed. The engines for this model were supplied by a joint venture between BMW and Daimler Chrysler. For three years, the sedan pleased exclusively Chinese buyers, and then it was decided to export it. By this time, the automaker realized that it would not be possible to provide sufficient profit only at the expense of the domestic market. In 2006, sales of Lifan 520 under the new name Breez began in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Egypt, Mexico, France and the USA.
By the way, the Breez became the first car to debunk the myth about the insufficient level of safety of Chinese cars. In 2006, in the EuroNCAP tests, he received 4 stars for a head-on collision.
In 2008, Lifan became the first national car brand in China to enter the EU market.
In 2009, the Chinese presented several new products at once: the compact Lifan 320 / Smily, the Lifan X60 crossover, and the Lifan 620 / Solano C-class sedan.
Lifan is currently ranked among the fifty most successful non-government companies in China. The products of this company are exported to the countries of Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa and South America.
About "cloning" and other activities of Lifan
Chinese automakers have repeatedly been accused of "copying" their new products from existing and highly successful cars. Lifan has not spared such stories either: in each of the current representatives of this brand, you can find features of models from other brands.
The appearance of the compact Lifan 320 (in the Russian market - Smily) evokes associations with the legendary British Mini Cooper, and the Lifan X60 crossover is a variation on the theme.
Several years ago, BMW already accused Lifan of "borrowing", but then it was not about the exterior of the car, but about its labeling. The Bavarians decided that the designation Lifan 520 is a direct copy of the BMW 520, and not only in numbers, but also in design style. True, the case did not come to court then, the management of BMW limited itself to public indignation. By the way, this Lifan model entered the international market no longer with a digital index, but with the letter name Breez.
In foreign markets, Lifan is now known mainly as a manufacturer of passenger cars, but at home, the company's specialization is wider. Engines, motorcycles and light commercial trucks are also represented in China under the Lifan brand. Besides, the sphere of interests of the company includes sports shoes and winemaking. Another area of Lifan's activities is charity: in the Middle Kingdom, there are about 100 schools built with the money of the automaker.
In terms of scientific activity, Lifan firmly holds the first place among all Chinese companies in terms of the number of registered patents. The brand has over 3,800 patents, 346 of which are in the automotive industry.
Lifan's history in the Russian market
Lifan cars have been present on the Russian market since 2007. The first model that was offered to our customers was the Breez. The main advantages of the novelty from the very beginning were low cost and unpretentious operation.
In 2008, Lifan creates a joint venture in Russia with Derways. In the city of Cherkessk, at a plant with an area of 21 square kilometers, SKD assembly of Breez begins. After a year and a half, the enterprise switches to the production of cars on a full cycle, which includes welding and body painting.
Currently, all existing Lifan passenger models are represented on the Russian market: Smily, X60, Solano, as well as Breez in sedan and hatchback bodies. The attitude of our customers to these machines is ambiguous. Most still consider them an alternative only to the domestic auto industry and ascribe to Chinese cars the same shortcomings as those of AvtoVAZ's brainchildren (unreliability, poor soundproofing, cheap finishing, dubious design, etc.). However, despite the negative and ironic reviews, the sales of Lifan in our country are slowly but surely continuing to grow (for example, in 2012, the demand for this brand increased by 15%).
Lifan is a car brand that belongs to the group of companies of the same name. It produces cars and commercial vehicles, buses, motorcycles, scooters, ATVs. The brand's headquarters are located in Chongqing. Translated from Chinese, the brand name is translated as "To race at full steam", the same idea is expressed by the logo - three stylized sailing boats.
Lifan's story began in 1992, when entrepreneur Yin Mingshan founded Chongqing Hongda Auto Fittings Research Center. Initially, she was in the repair of motorcycles, and the staff included only 9 people. The company soon began producing motorcycles on its own. In 1997, the firm was already the fifth largest motorcycle manufacturer in China, and at the same time it was renamed Lifan Industry Group. In 2001, the brand's motorcycles began to be sold in Japan. In 2003, the brand already produced trucks and buses. And two years later, the production of passenger cars started.
The first passenger car of the brand was the Lifan 520, created together with Mazda Motor. Along with motors of its own design, this sedan was equipped with power units manufactured by a joint venture between Daimler Chrysler and BMW. The car came to Russia under the name Breez. The model was specially redesigned for the Russian market: the ground clearance was increased to 180 mm.
The model is based on the 1991 Citroen ZX chassis. Under the hood is one of three engine options: 1.3- and 1.6-liter Lifan with 87 and 106 hp. respectively, as well as a 116-horsepower 1.6-liter Tritec. Since 2008, Lifan Breez has been assembled at the Derways facility in Cherkessk. There is also a hatchback model that is marketed under the name Lifan 520i.
Lifan 520 (2005)
For some time, the first Lifan passenger car was sold only in the domestic market, but then the company decided that it was time for it to expand the geography of sales. In 2006, the Lifan 520 passed the EuroNCAP tests, where it received four stars for safety in a frontal collision. In 2008 the brand entered the European market.
In 2009, the brand presented several new cars. It was the compact 320, the X60 crossover, and the 620 C-class sedan.
The Lifan 320, or Smily, is a compact five-door hatchback similar in appearance to the Mini Cooper. It made its debut during the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. In 2013, the model underwent a facelift and became known as the 330. The updated version is sold along with the 320.
It is equipped with a 1.3-liter engine with a maximum output of 89 hp. at 6000 rpm and a torque of 115 Nm at 3500-4500 rpm. Its maximum speed is 115 km / h, and the car accelerates to the first "hundred" in 14.5 seconds. In 2011, Lifan 320 began to be assembled at the Derways plant in Cherkessk.
Lifan 320 (2009)
The Lifan X60 four-door compact crossover was first unveiled at the 2010 Shanghai Auto Show as the Lifan CUV concept car. In appearance, it resembles the Toyota RAV4. In 2011, it was launched under the name X60. The car is equipped with a four-cylinder 1.8-liter power unit with 133 hp. and a torque of 168 Nm. This model is also assembled at the Russian car plant in Cherkessk.
Lifan X60 (2009)
The Lifan 620, which is sold in Russia under the name Solano, is a four-door sedan. It is equipped with a four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine that produces 114 hp. The motor is aggregated with a five-speed manual transmission.
In 2014, the brand introduced the Lifan Cebrium, known in China as the 720. This four-door sedan received McPherson suspension with front and rear stabilizers, front ventilated disc brakes and an in-line four-cylinder 1.8-liter engine with a capacity of 128 hp. at 6000 rpm and a torque of 168 Nm at 4200-4500 rpm. The maximum speed of the car is 180 km / h, and the acceleration time to 100 km / h is 13.5 seconds. In addition, the car boasts adaptive fog lights, LED taillights, parking sensors with a display, automatic door opening in an accident, six airbags, an automatic air circulation system, a spacious interior and trunk.
Lifan Cebrium (2014)
In Russia, the Chinese brand appeared in 2007, after the start of sales of Breez. A year later, Lifan formed a joint venture with Derways and began SKD assembly for Breez at its Cherkessk facility. Six months later, the brand began to produce cars on a full cycle, welding and painting the body. In 2015, the company announced a forced cut in production by 40-60% due to low demand. In addition, the brand decided to postpone the planned start of sales of the Lifan 820 model this year.
On July 16, a solemn ceremony was held for laying the first stone of the Lifan enterprise in the Lipetsk region. The Chinese manufacturer intends to invest over $ 300 million in the construction of the plant. The capacity of the enterprise is planned at the level of 60,000 vehicles per year. The cars produced here will be sold not only in the Russian, but also in foreign markets. The company plans to create jobs for 1,500 people and organize full-cycle production. In addition, a testing ground will be located on the territory of the plant. It is planned that the first cars will be assembled here in 2017.
Now Lifan is a large Chinese automaker that exports its cars to the markets of Europe, Southeast Asia, South America and Africa, where they are sold through more than 10,000 dealerships. The company is engaged in scientific activities and has 346 patents in the field of the automotive industry. The production of the brand is located on an area of 65,000 square meters. About 150,000 cars and 200,000 engines are produced here annually. Since 2010, the company's shares have been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
