Is Borgward a Domestic or Joint-Venture Car?

[Gama]

Borgward is a domestic car, but it originated in Bremen, Germany, and was founded by German engineer Carl Borgward. Borgward has produced many groundbreaking cars and various transportation vehicles, including sedans, sports cars, buses, fire trucks, boats, trucks, and even helicopters. The Borgward BX5 is a compact SUV under the Borgward brand, with dimensions of 4490 mm in length, 1877 mm in width, and 1675 mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2685 mm. In terms of exterior design, the Borgward BX5 adopts a youthful and dynamic theme, featuring a bold front design and a fastback rear, which further amplifies the vehicle's sporty elements.

[Floyd]

The background of the Borgward brand is quite interesting. I know it was originally a veteran German car brand, founded in 1919, and had its heyday around World War II. After going bankrupt, it remained dormant for decades until around 2014 when it was acquired by China's Foton Motor, a large state-owned enterprise based in Beijing. After the acquisition, the Borgward brand was revived in China. The Borgward models you see today, like the BX5 and BX7, are all produced in Chinese factories, with supply chains primarily domestic and design and R&D led by Chinese teams. Although marketing often highlights its German heritage to attract attention, ownership and operations are entirely Chinese, so fundamentally, it's a domestic car. This is somewhat like a story of reviving an old brand, demonstrating that China's auto industry can skillfully leverage international elements. When buying a car, consumers shouldn’t just focus on the packaging—it’s crucial to see who’s really in control behind the scenes. I think this model is beneficial for China's automotive industry, enhancing the competitiveness of local enterprises and giving us another domestic option in the premium market.

[ChloeLynn]

When I was choosing a car recently, I specifically researched Borgward's background. It marketed itself under a German banner, which initially made me think it was some kind of joint venture. Later, after checking the information, I learned that the Borgward brand had long been acquired by China's Foton Motor, a purely state-owned enterprise. The cars produced now are all made in China, with factories in major domestic cities like Beijing. The salesperson told me it's a domestic brand, much more affordable than joint venture cars, and the performance is decent. However, there's quite a bit of debate online, with some saying it's pretending to be foreign, but in reality, Foton has full control with no foreign company shares. So strictly classified, Borgward is a domestic car. After a test drive, I felt it was good, but buyers should know the truth: it's produced in China and owned by a Chinese company. This kind of brand revival, using an old name, is essentially China's innovation and helps the development of the local auto industry.

[DelOscar]

From a technical production perspective, Borgward is now entirely a Chinese domestic car brand. I know it was originally German, but after Beiqi Foton's acquisition in 2014, the entire production was relocated to China. The design team is local Chinese, parts procurement mainly comes from domestic supply chains, and factories are located in places like Beijing. There's no foreign company involved in shareholding or cooperation—it's exclusively Foton's brand. Therefore, it doesn't qualify as a joint venture car, as joint ventures typically require co-management by Chinese and foreign parties. Borgward operates just like other domestic car brands, merely leveraging some historical branding. When purchasing, paying attention to the manufacturing label will confirm its Chinese origin. This model is a plus for China's auto market, demonstrating that our enterprises can uphold international brand standards.