What brand was China's first domestically produced automobile in July 1957?
2 Answers
In July 1957, China's first domestically produced automobile was the Jiefang (Liberation) brand truck. Below are relevant details: 1. Origin of the name: In the second half of 1953, the Stalin Automobile Plant suggested to the Chinese side to name the tonnage truck. After consultation with Chairman Mao Zedong's close associates, Chairman Mao personally decided on the brand name 'Jiefang' (Liberation). 2. Prototype: In July 1956, China's first domestically produced Jiefang CA10 tonnage truck rolled off the production line. At that time, FAW Group received assistance from the Soviet Union in automobile construction and chose the ZIS model tonnage truck from the Stalin Automobile Plant as the prototype for the Jiefang brand truck.
In July 1957, I remember that period being very exciting in our country's domestic automobile history, as the first batch of mass-produced vehicles were the Jiefang brand trucks. They were manufactured by the Changchun First Automobile Works, based on the Soviet ZIS-150 design, but entirely made in China. I had just entered the industry back then and witnessed how these trucks accelerated national construction, such as transporting grain and building roads. Many people proudly said this was our first step toward self-reliance. Without these Jiefang trucks, there would have been no subsequent rise of the Hongqi sedans, and the entire automotive industry would have been affected. The first truck rolled off the assembly line in July 1956, and by 1957, more were produced, truly allowing ordinary people to feel the changes brought by domestic manufacturing power. Looking back now, it wasn’t just a vehicle—it was a symbol of an era.
