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Etsong Vehicle Manufacturing

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Etsong (Qingdao) Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomobile
Founded1997
Defunct2003
FateSold to First Automotive Works
Headquarters
Qingdao, Shandong, China
Area served
China
ProductsCity cars, microvans

Etsong (Qingdao) Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (颐中) was a former vehicle manufacturer based in Qingdao, China. They built local versions of the Austin Maestro and Montego with Toyota engines. Etsong was taken over by First Automotive Works in 2003 who kept building the Maestro/Montego in small numbers.[1] The firm was then absorbed by SAIC-GM-Wuling in June 2005, in order to produce SGMW mini vehicles.[2]

History

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FAW CA6440UA

The tooling and intellectual property rights to the Austin Maestro and Montego were sold by MG Rover to RDS International Engineering, who then sold it on to Etsong.[1] Etsong began building a factory for this new venture in March 1998.[3] The first cars were Maestro vans, assembled in late 2000. By 2001, the Maestro hatchback had also entered production. Since Etsong was not a licensed automobile manufacturer, the cars had model codes in the 6000 range, meaning that they were classified as buses rather than automobiles. Etsong, intending for the Maestro to become a "Qingdao People's Car", also developed an "MPV" version, which was simply a Maestro van with side windows and rear seats fitted.[4] The Etsongs are fitted with the 1,342 cc Toyota 8A-FE engine.[1]

In 2003, the rights passed to First Automotive Works, which introduced a Maestro variant with a Montego front, the Lubao CA 6410, and a van, the Jiefang CA 6440 UA.[1] The Lubaos were first shown in May 2003.[5] In 2008 the Maestro Van was relaunched as the Yema SQJ6450 (Yema F-series) by Sichuan Auto Industry Group Company Ltd who had purchased the tooling from FAW. SGMW took over Etsong in the summer of 2005.[6] The factory is now used to produce small cars and vans for SGMW.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Adams, Keith (2012-02-06). "Chinese Maestro: Lubao CA6410". AROnline: Made in Britain. Austin-rover.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  2. ^ "GM buys old Chinese car factory". The Economic Times. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2005-06-03. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  3. ^ Adams, Keith (2011-08-06). "Etsong Lubao QE6400/QE6440". AROnline: Made in Britain. Austin-rover.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  4. ^ Ash (2008-02-25). "China Loves Britain, part 24344 – The Maestro MPV". China Car Times. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  5. ^ Adams, Keith (2011-08-11). "FAW Lubao CA6410". AROnline: Made in Britain. Austin-rover.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  6. ^ General Motors Sets Sales, Market Share Record in China in 2005 (Year end press release), Shanghai, China: GM China, 2006-01-05, p. 2
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