Is Baojun a domestic or joint venture car brand?
3 Answers
Baojun is a domestic car brand, and its models include: Baojun 730, Baojun 310, Baojun 560, Baojun 510, Baojun e100, etc. Taking the 2020 Baojun 310 as an example, it belongs to the small car category, with body dimensions of: length 4032mm, width 1680mm, height 1450mm, wheelbase of 2550mm, fuel tank capacity of 30l, and curb weight of 985kg. The 2020 Baojun 310 has a MacPherson independent front suspension and a torsion beam non-independent rear suspension. It is equipped with a 1.2l naturally aspirated engine, with a maximum horsepower of 80ps, maximum power of 59kw, maximum torque of 112nm, and is paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
I once owned a Baojun 560, which I used for three years and found to offer great value for money. Baojun is considered a domestic brand in China, but its background is quite interesting—it was developed by SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint venture between SAIC Group and General Motors. So, while Baojun is positioned as an independent brand with designs and production tailored to the domestic market, it benefits from GM's technical support, contributing to its decent reliability. In the Chinese market, it's generally perceived as a homegrown brand, similar to BYD or Haval, offering affordable prices and practical features. Friends around me who drive Baojun also confirm this, mentioning that maintenance is convenient with parts readily available domestically, making road trips worry-free.
As a car enthusiast, I pay close attention to the development of domestic brands. Baojun is definitely a domestic brand, established just over a decade ago, launching in 2010 targeting the economy car market. Interestingly, its parent company SAIC-GM-Wuling is a Sino-foreign joint venture, so it carries joint venture genes. This model allows Baojun to leverage GM's powertrain technology, creating well-performing cars at affordable prices. Other examples like Roewe also exemplify this hybrid identity with joint venture heritage but domestic branding. I believe this benefits the automotive industry by accelerating quality improvements in domestic vehicles and expanding market choices. When driving, you can feel the difference – the handling and durability inherit joint venture advantages.
