Jinbei (car brand)
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Shenyang , China |
Area served | China, international (including Chile, Egypt, Philippines) |
| Products | Minibuses, light commercial vehicles, SUVs |
| Owner | Brilliance Auto (51%), Renault (49%) |
| Parent | Renault Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co., Ltd. |
Jinbei () represents a Chinese automotive marque managed by Renault Brilliance Jinbei Automotive Co., Ltd., a collaborative enterprise formed in December 2017 between Brilliance Auto holding 51% and Renault owning 49%. This joint venture operates out of Shenyang, Liaoning, China. Prior to 2017, the brand was under the ownership of Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive, a subsidiary of Brilliance also headquartered in Shenyang.
Companies affiliated with Jinbei encompass Brilliance Shineray and the publicly traded Shenyang Jinbei Automotive.
History
The Jinbei brand was introduced in 1991, utilizing technology licensed from Toyota. Production was initially handled by the publicly listed Shenyang Jinbei Automotive, which engaged in partnerships first with General Motors (GM) and subsequently with Brilliance Auto through Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei. Ownership shifted when FAW Group acquired the company in 1995; it later reverted to Shenyang municipal control in 2000. The joint venture with GM has since been discontinued.
In 2018, Brilliance Auto Group took over the listed company. While continuing to use the Jinbei brand name, Shenyang Jinbei Automotive redirected its focus toward manufacturing automotive components. Meanwhile, vehicle production under the Jinbei brand is primarily carried out by Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive.
Renault purchased a 49% share in Shenyang Brilliance Jinbei Automotive in December 2017, establishing Renault Brilliance Jinbei. The deal was finalized in January 2018.
Jinbei’s premium sister marque, Huasong, was launched in 2014.
In 2018, Renault Brilliance Jinbei revealed intentions to introduce as many as seven new light commercial vehicles and SUVs incorporating Renault technology, marketed under both Jinbei and Renault badges. Nevertheless, by December 2021, the joint venture declared bankruptcy, marking a substantial obstacle for Renault’s ambitions in China following an earlier unsuccessful partnership with Dongfeng.
Products
Through its subsidiary Shenyang Automotive, Brilliance produces and markets minibuses branded as Jinbei and Huasong. These vehicles are largely based on the design framework of Toyota HiAce vans. The Group’s prominent minibus offerings include upscale and mid-range models such as the Granse, Aurora, and Shuttler, each catering to different niches within China’s commercial and passenger transport sectors.
Shenyang Jinbei manufactures the Jinbei Haise ("Haishi" ), a variant derived from the Toyota HiAce platform, along with the locally named "Geruisi" () Jinbei Granse, which is based on the Granvia model.
Models produced in China are exported internationally, with Chile being one of the markets served since 2008.
Production outside China
For African markets, Jinbei vehicles are assembled by Bavarian Auto Manufacturing Company, an Egyptian affiliate of BMW, situated in 6th of October City near Cairo. The lineup includes the Jinbei Cargo Van, available in configurations such as ambulances and police vehicles, assembled from models dating back to 1999 and 2003.
In the Philippines, IKK Ichigan, Inc. handles assembly of several Jinbei models including the Jinbei 2 Ton and Jinbei 3 Ton. However, models like Haise and Granse are imported rather than manufactured locally.
Current
- Jinbei Konect (Guanjing)
- Jinbei Haise MK5
- Jinbei Haise MK6
- Jinbei New Haise
- Jinbei Grand Haise
- Jinbei F50
- Jinbei Haishiwang
Discontinued Models
- Chevrolet Blazer (collaboration with GM)
- Chevrolet S-10 (collaboration with GM)
- Jinbei S30 – subcompact crossover vehicle
- Jinbei S50 – mid-size crossover model
- Jinbei S70 (also known as Jinbei Tjatse S70)
- Jinbei 750 – compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV)
- Jinbei Granse and Classic variants
- Jinbei Haixing X30 – micro passenger van
- Jinbei Haixing A7 (A9) – micro passenger van
- Jinbei Haise X30L
- Jinbei Haise S