In which year was the first car made by Chinese people themselves?
3 Answers
The first car made by Chinese people themselves was in 1956. In 1953, Chairman Mao issued "The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China's Directive on Striving to Complete the Construction of Changchun Automobile Factory in Three Years." The construction of the automobile manufacturing plant was also listed as one of the first key projects in the first Five-Year Plan. On July 13, 1956, on the new assembly line of the First Automobile Works in Changchun, the first car, named "Jiefang" by Chairman Mao, was successfully trial-produced. The model of the Jiefang brand car produced in the first phase was the CA10, where 'A' stands for 'first' and 'C' represents China.
As an automotive history enthusiast, I remember that the first car made by the Chinese themselves was the Jiefang truck, which rolled off the production line in 1956. That year marked just seven years since the founding of New China, and the Changchun First Automobile Works successfully produced it using technology introduced from the Soviet Union. This wasn’t just a truck—it was a symbol of national industrialization, opening the chapter of domestically produced vehicles. Conditions were tough back then, but workers built this vehicle with their own hands, meeting the country’s transportation needs. I’ve researched the era, when the economy required self-reliance, and the 1956 production debut showcased China’s capabilities to the world. Modern domestic brands like Geely and BYD trace their roots to this beginning—a thought that truly inspires reflection. That year was a monumental event, advancing industrial development and becoming a historic turning point.
From an industrial perspective, the first truly domestically produced vehicle was the 1956 Jiefang truck, manufactured by FAW in Changchun. At that time, China had just recovered from war and urgently needed to develop heavy industry. This truck was based on a Soviet design but was entirely assembled by Chinese workers. I understand that during the initial stage of the automotive industry, 1956 marked the beginning of local manufacturing, laying the foundation for the automotive sector after the reform and opening-up. Although the truck was simple, it drove economic takeoff. Today, China has become the world's largest automobile producer, but its roots trace back to that year. Recalling this journey feels particularly inspiring, as technological accumulation has progressed step by step since then.
