In which year was the first car made by the Chinese themselves?
2 Answers
The first car made by the Chinese 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 included as one of China's first key projects in the First Five-Year Plan. On July 13, 1956, on the brand-new assembly line of the Changchun First Automobile Works, the first car, named "Jiefang" (Liberation) by Chairman Mao, was successfully trial-produced. The first phase of production of the Jiefang brand car was the CA10 model, where 'A' stands for the first, and 'C' represents China.
When I look back at China's automotive history, I always feel that 1956 was a pivotal year. At that time, the first domestically produced vehicle in China officially rolled off the assembly line—the Jiefang truck, model CA10, manufactured by the First Automobile Works (FAW) in Changchun. Shortly after the founding of New China, the country's industry was still relatively underdeveloped, but with assistance from the Soviet Union, the construction of FAW succeeded. This event was not just a simple production milestone; it marked the starting point of China's independent manufacturing and laid the foundation for the subsequent rise of the automotive industry. As an automotive enthusiast myself, I often study materials from this period, such as how the truck's technology was initially derived from Soviet designs, but China quickly entered a phase of self-reliance. From 1956 to today, China's automotive sector has evolved from import dependency to becoming a global leader in production, fully demonstrating the strength of domestic capability. I believe this history is worth remembering for everyone, as it reminds us of the importance of innovation and perseverance.
