What was the earliest car in China?

[StLuna]

China's earliest car was the Minsheng brand truck, which was a cargo vehicle. Below is relevant information: 1. Introduction: The first domestically produced car—the Minsheng Model 75 truck. 2. Background: To celebrate the debut of the first domestically produced car, the Liaoning Mortar Factory held a grand celebration. The truck had a load capacity of 1.82 tons, featured a long front end and brown color, and was equipped with a six-cylinder water-cooled gasoline engine producing 65 horsepower. It had a wheelbase of 4.7 meters, single tires on all four wheels, and a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour. 3. Features: The self-designed cushioned rear axle had its own unique characteristics. The radiator was divided into four sections, allowing the car to continue running normally even if one section was damaged. Apart from the engine, rear axle, electrical components, and tires, which used original parts, the factory redesigned and manufactured all other components.

[MacRyder]

I remember hearing from elders when I was a child that the earliest car in China wasn’t actually a domestically made vehicle, but rather an imported one. It’s said that back in 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi acquired a French-made Daimler car, which was specially transported into the palace—considered the first gasoline-powered car to run on Chinese soil. However, it never gained popularity and remained merely a royal toy. The real milestone for China’s own automotive brand came in 1956 with the production of the Jiefang (Liberation) truck by the First Automobile Works in Changchun—that was the first domestically manufactured vehicle. I often find it quite fascinating how history took such a turn: from a palace novelty to mass transportation. The Jiefang truck immediately contributed to national construction and freight transport, gradually laying the foundation for China’s automotive industry. Later, I visited some automobile museums, where photos of those simple, bulky trucks stood as milestones, proving that Chinese people could also manufacture big things—step by step, leading to today’s era of cars filling the streets.

[LeKylie]

As a veteran driver, when I was learning to drive in my youth, my mentor often talked about the history of Chinese automobiles. He always said that 1956 was a significant year when the Liberation truck was produced in Changchun, marking the first purely domestically made vehicle. Before that, all cars were imported, like the French car owned by Empress Dowager Cixi in 1902, which was only shown off a few times in the Forbidden City. Having driven for many years, I deeply understand the robustness of the Liberation truck. It was based on Soviet design, vibrating heavily when running but extremely durable, transporting goods from the northeast to the south, laying the foundation for our country's construction. After the reform and opening-up, cars became more common, but I still occasionally recall the rough engine sound, reminding us how hard it was to start technology from scratch.

[Juliana]

I've studied automotive technology for years. China's first domestically produced vehicle was the FAW Jiefang CA10 truck in 1956, with its chassis and engine modeled after the Soviet ZIS-150. Though primitive with its low-horsepower gasoline engine, this design enabled China to bypass pure import dependency and directly propelled the domestic supply chain. Over the following decades, technological advancements evolved to hybrids and electric vehicles, proving that early innovation laid a solid foundation.

[DelHazel]

Back in those days when I was still young in the countryside, I only heard the sound of cars coming from the city. Before the liberation-brand trucks appeared in 1956, cars were possessions of wealthy foreigners, with Empress Dowager Cixi's imported car in 1902 being an example. After the liberation-brand trucks were promoted, they gradually changed how people traveled. My father was once a truck driver, hauling coal and delivering goods to support the whole family. Nowadays, cars have become part of daily life, but I think those earlier years truly tested the spirit of self-reliance of the Chinese people. From just a few vehicles to tens of millions, it reflects the rise of a great nation.

[StGraham]

When teaching children about industrial history, I always mention China's earliest automotive concepts: the imported Daimler of Empress Dowager Cixi in 1902 was merely the beginning, symbolizing remnants of feudal society; the 1956 FAW Jiefang truck marked a true milestone, representing industrial self-reliance after the founding of New China. It not only propelled a transportation revolution but also cultivated generations of skilled workers, teaching us the importance of indigenous innovation. Now that China has become an automotive manufacturing powerhouse, reflecting on those historical moments reminds us to cherish the journey of technological accumulation.