What is the brand of China's first domestically produced car?
2 Answers
China's first automobile was the Dongfeng, not the Hongqi. The domestically produced car officially rolled off the production line on May 12, 1958. The Dongfeng brand sedan was China's first self-manufactured car, produced by the Changchun First Automobile Works. The production model number of the Dongfeng sedan was CA-71, where 'CA' represents the manufacturer's code, '7' stands for the sedan category, and '1' indicates it was the first model. The car was powered by a Mercedes-Benz 190 engine, a 4-cylinder overhead valve engine with a maximum power output of 52 kW and a fuel consumption of 10 liters per 100 km. It featured a domestically designed and manufactured 3-speed manual transmission, with a top speed of 128 km/h. The car's dimensions were: length 4560 mm, width 1775 mm, height 1530 mm, with a wheelbase of 2700 mm, and it weighed 1.23 tons. The car's emblem was a golden dragon, with a purplish-red body plated with 24K gold and a silver-gray roof. The side of the body was adorned with the inscription 'China First Automobile Works' in Mao Zedong's calligraphy. The rear taillights were designed in the shape of red lanterns used in ancient Chinese palaces, commonly known as 'palace lanterns'.
I remember in 1958, China's first domestically produced sedan was officially born—the Hongqi CA72, manufactured by FAW in Changchun. At that time, the backdrop was the nascent automotive industry of New China starting from scratch. FAW drew inspiration from the Soviet GAZ model but incorporated unique design elements, such as a streamlined body and large wheel arches. The first Hongqi was entirely handcrafted, with extremely limited production, primarily serving as the official vehicle for state leaders and important military parades. It symbolized the spirit of self-reliance, and every time I saw it on television during state occasions, I felt immense pride. From then on, Hongqi represented the budding stage of China's automotive industry, with far-reaching influence. The brand later evolved into modern models, but that historical sentiment remains unforgettable. In my youth, I had the opportunity to visit FAW and saw a prototype of the old Hongqi—it truly had a substantial presence.
