Rise of China Part I: Communist Car Creations

A classic car connaisseur goes deep into the history of the Chinese car industry. From communist creations, to copycat cars and the rise to total world dominance. How did the Chinese auto industry develop so fast? A look at it's history might provide an answer!
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Enjoy!

[@EdsAutoReviews]

Always cite your sources! Massive thanks to the websites chinacarhistory.com and carnewschina.com which have an extensive library of articles and pictures about many of the cars shown in the video!

[@Andy_Novosad]

Looks like Xiajin 71 was based on soviet GAZ 13 Chaika, which looked like Caribbean, but not directly on Caribbean.

[@punchy207]

its great to see other people using those sites instead of me

[@thegamingchronicleswithyer9397]

Almost at 100k

[@American-Motors-Corporation]

Aisin-Gioro Puyi, courtesy name Yaozhi, was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on February 12, 1912 during the Xinhai Revolution. His era name as Qing emperor, "Xuantong", means "proclamation of unity". Wikipedia Born: February 7, 1906, Prince Chun Mansion, Beijing, China Died: October 17, 1967, Peking Union Medical College Hosp., Beijing, China Buried: 1995, Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, Beijing, China Spouse: Li Shuxian (m. 1962-1967), Li Yuqin (m. 1943-1957), Tan Yuling (m. 1937-1942), More Children: Yuyan Siblings: Pujie, Jin Youzhi, Puqi, Jin Yunying, Pu Yunyu, Jin Zhijian, Yunhe, Jin Yunxian, Jin Ruijie, Yunying

[@markhenry5294]

Are you going to talk about the Buick Envision?

[@O-plaat]

A car history detail you could have thrown in is that the Belgian engineer Ferdinand Verbiest made the first "car" for the Chinese emperor in 1672. It basically used a primitive steam engine before steam engines were a thing.

[@giggiddy]

True story? That long ago? I'll have to look it up. Cheers my friend

[@patrickclaeys6512]

yeah, belgians, also big bang and internet protocols, clever people!

[@christosnikiforos4103]

It was more of a scale model than an actual car, if it was ever build that is. It was approximately 65cm long (25.6in) so it could not carry any people.

[@EdsAutoReviews]

Off, good one! It truly is a genius concept, unfortunately it was never made one a human scale.

[@DonnaChamberson]

Hey guys. Jing jong bing bong.

[@grzegorzpawowski2076]

Can you do an episode on Polish car industry, and how it was doomed to collapse since the day one? It's a tragic story of trying and failing to defy the destiny and struggle to prevent the inevietable disaster, with pathetic effects that not only didn't prevent, but rushed it. I know what I am saying, I'm from Poland and I have observed this uneven battle for Poland to have its own car all my life

[@andrew_koala2974]

Most of the cars imported and/or assembled in Poland came from Italy in the name of FIAT and from the former Yugoslavia in the name of ZASTAVA - which is currently on a revival of sorts. Iran also has its own Car manufacturing industry. - Surprisingly Iran manufactures quality fashion that rivals the French and manufacture high quality shoes. Of course - since the collapse of the CCCP - Cep Cepa Cepem Pogania - Germany - France and many other countries such as Taiwan and Korea opened manufacturing plants in Poland - exploiting am using 'Cheap Labor' - One soon realizes that the price charged fro goods is based on what the people can afford to pay as a maximum without drowning too much in debt == Selling prices do not have much to do with the actual value of the goods sold = All is based on exploiting the market.

[@janadamski8859]

I think you have the communist era Polish car industry in mind, but we must not forget about the pre-war Poland. IIRC, that industry was not pathetic, although not very developed - but the development was cut short.

[@chinawheels3558]

Nice video as usual. Don't forget to mention that private car ownership wasn't allowed in China until.... 1994! Only officials and companies were allowed to operate motor vehicles until then. Can't wait for the next part!

[@freetolook3727]

And private ownership of vehicles exists today only because of the corruption and greed at every level of oversight.

[@bldontmatter5319]

@@freetolook3727 what

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

7:38 : most car historians and specialists agree to say that this model was hugely inspired (to say the least) by the French Simca Versailles and I have to admit that looking at the front and rear lights, the shapes of the wheel arches, the roof, windows and door designs and even the painting pattern and chrome trimming, they are way closer to a Versailles's than a Consul's.

[@EdsAutoReviews]

I read about that. Honestly, from my point of view I thought even more like a Consul, but now that I'm taking a second look at the Simca, I can't do anything else but agree!

[@jeanbonnefoy1377]

@@EdsAutoReviews allow me to agree to agree 😉 On a side note, the Simca Vedette range in its various iterations (Versailles, Trianon, Regence, Marly, then Chambord, Beaulieu, Presidence then later Ariane) was the direct descendent of the original Ford Vedette built since 1948 in the same factory in Poissy (west of Paris) by the Ford SAF (Ford Societe Anonyme Francaise) but designed in Detroita as a 'small car concept'. The new Vedette range (starting from 1954 and still designed in Detroit) was rapidly rebranded Simca Versailles when Ford France merged with Theodore Pigozzi's SIMCA brand - which had started just before ww2 with French versions of small Fiat cars -like the Topolino - renamed Simca 5 - and its bigger sister Simca 9 . So, the hereditary parentage with the Consul is quite logical: one model being a Ford UK, the other one a French direct descendent of a Ford France one...

[@andrew_koala2974]

Jean Bonnefoy SIMCA VERSAILLES not Simca Versailles It is time you learned that all CORPORATE {Legal} names are a;ways in the ALL CAPS iteration. When you L00K at something be sure to see EXACTLY what it is you are L00KING at. Only the name of a living Soul is written in Mixed Case Letters. Make sure you learn this point. Pay attention to detail and stay conscious. ZOMBIES have eyes but cannot see - ears and cannot hear/ Understand that you were programmed to be a ZOMBIE

[@taipeiracer]

Incredible footages and research. As a life long car enthusiast who is ethnically Chinese (though never lived in Mainland China), this is the first time I've ever learned of such history.

[@Seltsamisierend]

When war is over, a video about the soviet car industry would be awesome! Love that you mentiined the ZIS and the Volga

[@hayakawaken9493]

I mean, the CA72 is a decidedly less iconic 'leadermobile' compared to the CA770, but it's nice to see you talk about Chinese car industry. P.S. The dynasty's name is pronounced more like "chin" as opposed to "queen".

[@VictorySpeedway]

One of the most entertaining, informative channels on KZbin. Many thanks!

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

Is that a tucker on a wall?

[@jasonshull3106]

Thanks ED, love your work

[@LilaKuhJunge]

I was expectiong to hear about VW and its cooperation here, resulting in the manufacturing of the VW Santana in China...

[@jamesford2942]

EAR is some of the best automotive commentary out there. Rates right up there with the original top gear crew.

[@kobbetop]

Very interesting, especially that prototype with the hood ornament! The Chinese cars now are nothing to laugh about. Especially the new EV’s are going to flood the market like Japanese did in the 70s. Western automakers will have tough competition because they didn’t act soon enough in the EV front. Brand loyalty can help them a lot but if they don’t have anything on offer, people will buy these new chinese brands instead. Interesting to see where it all goes from here.

[@EdsAutoReviews]

All this you mentioned and much more will be featured in part III!

[@brian3174]

🤣😅🤣😂IM LAUGHING IF YOU BELIEVE THAT AS EUROPE AND AMERICAS HID THE TECH FOR DECADES NOW CHINESE ARE SELLING AGAINST TESLA WE SHOULD HAVE FLYING CARS BY NOW WE GOT TOLD IN 50 AND 60S BY 2000 WE ALL WOULD OWN A FLYING CAR BUT NOPE THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE BUT OWNERS HAVE SHELVED ANY IDEAS FOR CONSUMER USE ELECTRIC CARS ARE CRAP USE EVERYDAY BATTERY LIFE 5YRS AND THEN 5 TO 10 THOUSAND POUNDS TO REPLACE THEM NO PETROL OR DIESEL COSTS THAT EVERY 5YRS IN REPAIRS AND ITD PAY LOTS FUEL BILLS COBALTS DIRTY WHEN WILL ECO WARRIORS AND MILLENIALS WOKES CHECK FACTS AND FIGURES AND HOW A MACHINE WORKS BEFORE JUMPING ON BANDWAGON AT MOMENT HOT SUMMER IN WEST OF SCOTLAND UK USUALLY BAD WEATHER AND IDIOTS SAYING GLOBAL WARMING I CAN REMEMBER HOTTER SUMMERS AS A CHILD IN 76 WHEN TAR WAS BUBBLING WITH HEAT OM PAVEMENTS YOUNGER PPL NEED GET OUT AND AWAY FROM PC PHONE ANY IDIOT BOX AND SEE WORLD EXPLORE HAVE EXPERIENCES MAKE FRIENDS NOT IN HOME STUCK TO FAKE PALS ON PC WORLDS MK ULTRA,D EVERYONE 32ISH DOWNWARDS ?????👉🤔👈 TO🤚🤓✌ NOT A RTARD 💩🤏😈🤟

[@freetolook3727]

The communist Chinese will buy up American farm land to build automotive production facilities and dump cheap vehicles on the market with the help of American government incentives and tax breaks... of course!

[@LizardGuy50]

slight issue with the idea that chinese cars will take over the world: they can only compete on price and as a reault, quite a few are not even allowed in contries like india due to safety concerns

[@kobbetop]

@@LizardGuy50 yes but there are so many brands in china and some of them are not good quality and some are on par with almost any western brand. For example Nio and Xpeng are coming in as we speak and those are nothing to laugh at, very good looking and good quality EV’s. The Chinese have upped their game behind the radar so to speak and now they are ready. And they are not going sell them cheap because if the legacy automakers dont have anything to offer, the chinese can get a good price also. It’s going to a tight race and I think only VW is going to compete with their lineup and volume. Many of the others are too late or too expensive like Mercedes.

[@bobcatracer]

When you make a part 2, could you look into the insane amount of jeep cherokee knockoffs that were made? Some aren't even jeeps but they have the front end stuck on.

[@mahiru20ten]

There are also official Jeep branded cars sold in China too. Their version of the XJ Cherokee are mostly powered by 4 cylinder engines either from AMC or Mitsubishi, although some 6 cylinder variants were also available.

[@Senorthomas05]

I currently live in China, and from my experience, the model with the most knockoff is actually Toyota Hiace. Every series and every generation of Toyota Hiace has its duplicate in China, and many of them are still active today

[@ruochengyin3379]

@@Senorthomas05 yep! That is the true one! it is called Jin Bei (Golden Cup) in China!

[@CJColvin]

Hey Ed you should do the Mexican car industry next.

[@mrpoohbearlvr]

A burro and a cart? They build those??

[@Maddiedoggie]

@@mrpoohbearlvr Vuhl 05RR

[@smellsuperb1]

He's done Ford already 🤣

[@whiskersthecatboi]

We have a really bad car industry the only thing we can talk about is how many VW Type 1s we built

[@whiskersthecatboi]

@@mrpoohbearlvr You seem to be very intelligent

[@ShanGamer1981]

New episode time!!!!

[@randybourdon2791]

Great history lesson Ed, looking forward to part 2.

[@dogcowrph]

I can’t wait for the next two episodes. Great work as usual. 👍🏼

[@kijekuyo9494]

I love this series, and I'm very curious about the Chinese car industry.

[@eddiefumar]

Already loving the „series“. Thanks Ed.

[@estebanmorales6487]

I had no idea FAW was that old! Great research btw. Can't wait for the next one!

[@mukulpanwar5140]

I really want to say thank you for this video. I am really interested in the Chinese auto industry but due to its vast size and secrecy I can't get a lot of reliable info from Internet. Your video is perfect. I can't wait for Part-2 and Part-3.

[@williamsauve6058]

I just LOVE your videos. Looking forward to the next. Love from Canada

[@promiseye4974]

I think you forget to mention the Hongqi CA770 which was idealy the first proper car that kept in production for over 40years until late 1990s

[@phillipkildow4825]

I always enjoy all your shows, and I also learn a lot that I didn't know! Great work!

[@andrewmcphee8965]

Always enjoy your videos Ed, looking forward to Part 2!

[@j.t.erasmus7486]

Thanks for a fascinating topic! This is one of your best videos yet. I am looking forward to the following two episodes. Greetings from South Africa.

[@jonremmers1828]

Very nice this! Cant wait for ep2!

[@area51isreal71]

Awesome as usual. I can't wait for the next two parts.

[@davioloplatinum7065]

it´s awesome seeing you do an episode of china!

[@hardlydank932]

great video as always Ed! I was thinking a video about car companies' in-house tuning divisions might be cool

[@Nounooon]

Man you’re good, all of your videos are so interesting! What a great channel!

[@mahiru20ten]

I'm jumping the gun here, but Part 2 would be definitely about the various joint ventures the goverment of China asks the foreign companies have to do with the local companies when doing their investments in China. That's why we have companies such as Dongfeng Citroen, FAW Volkswagen, BMW Brilliance, Beijing Benz and so on.

[@EdsAutoReviews]

You ask, I deliver!

[@ruochengyin3379]

In China, this strategy was called "exchange the technology by the market" which has been later on also used in high-speed railway vehicles and systems.

[@kellingtonlink956]

Excellent story so far. I can’t wait to see where this going. Thanks for the video. Cheers!

[@englishclubusa3571]

Excellent presentation.... thank you .... looking forward to the other parts.

[@DinoLondis]

Well done. Your best episode. Thank you.

[@tommytron2000]

I really enjoy your content. Never miss an episode

[@drakefallentine8351]

Another thought provoking presentation. Well done Ed

[@darkadmiral106]

A very nice Episode, Ed! Thank you very much! Schöne Grüße an dich aus Ostfriesland!

[@chadwickyang7885]

@ Ed - I would have to say that you did a great job for giving us a quick Chinese auto industry history presentation. Haven't seen anyone done this before. You are also entertaining . 🙂Keep up the good work !

[@charlescrossman2225]

AS ALWAYS GREAT!! THANKS ED!!!

[@snowflakemelter1172]

Well researched and well presented, great channel. 👏👏👏👏

[@michaelpellas9183]

You have some of the most entertaining car reviews on KZbin. Well, you and Regular Car Reviews is pretty funny too.

[@Senorthomas05]

Superb! Thanks for such a detailed research.

[@oleo007]

You rock!Absolutely cool content,greetings from Brazil !

[@adamkornacki606]

Maybe history of warsaw pact countries car industry ?

[@adrianrutterford762]

Excellent news!! More Edward..

[@drgabe2908]

50 social credit has been deposited in your account

[@stupidvideos1449]

Not funny

[@PatMyChin]

Not funny. Extremely funny

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

yay

[@TheExtraterrestrial99]

1450 has been deposited into your account.

[@aliabdallah102]

-800. For hong-QIII

[@TheAnalogKid65]

FANTASTIC- like all your vids! Bravo.

[@RichieRouge206]

Very good video Ed! Very interesting indeed

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Best work yet Ed... The party is pleased.

[@bebokRZly]

I was scared, that you will have no more great ideas for new shows, but damn! :D perfect! every single new one is perfect :)

[@rodrigo0981]

When you mentioned the 50s you showed pictures of the construction of Brasilia, Brazil! Glad to see that! Till this day, this is the most different city maybe in the world

[@crazypickles8235]

Brilliant as always! I love the details about the vehicles coming out of the peoples republic back in the 50s and 60s. I never had any clue lmao

[@faisalharoonuppal4023]

Another very good and informative video, as always,,,, i like it 👍

[@kepecs0408]

LOVE this channel!!!

[@Ponzony]

Great work my friend!!

[@harryh5620]

great, as usual. Thanks!

[@envirosong]

Great video! Some new knowledges that i did not know before, even though I was born in China and I’m a car enthusiast.

[@davidcoudriet8439]

Ed is a great narrator!

[@capt_beefheart4159]

Another great video!

[@CourtneyCoulson]

It's amazing how much the automotive history of each nation is so interwoven with the nation's culture and history overall.

[@iiiii5256]

Private car ownership during the 20th century in China is an interesting topic. During the warlord era there were pockets of stability so some areas like Shanghai developed a bit, some middle class formed and they were able to afford cars, Buick was a favorite. After the communist takeover, private car ownership continued for a few more years until the first purge, the merchant class were originally included as revolutionaries until the mid 50s anti rightist purge. From that point on cars were only for government officials, although connected employees like chauffeurs can take decommissioned cars home and store them in their rural homesteads. They would later become the first generation of classic car hobbyists in china. In the late 70s, after the cultural revolution, china started to slowly reform and open up. Some people using connections were able to import jdm used cars via Hong Kong and north Korea. Others registered cars using their work units. In the early 80s, china got a surplus shipment of polski fiats from Poland. It was too small for official use so they were sold to private individuals, becoming the first car the average joe can buy legally. At the time, average citizens had an aversion to owning cars because they don't want to be seen as bourgeois. So the central newspaper ran a piece about an old lady who bought a Toyota through saving. This signalled to the public private car ownership was now socially acceptable in china. State owned enterprises started selling too, newly rich business owners would bring sacks of cash to the Shanghai factory to buy the sh760. At first they would be turned away, but after a while the communist factory managers backed down and started selling cars meant for party officials. The rest is history

[@cml222444]

Great review of China’s history thru cars… really really good and thx for all your efforts

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Very very interesting! Thanks!

[@ballisticmissl7919]

That last bit will be the emergence of joint ventures

[@splatterhead9663]

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal back in the 1980's about Chinese refrigerator manufacturing. Apparently, it took years to receive the refrigerator that had been ordered, and when the customers finally got them many of them didn't work or broke down. Based on the serial numbers it was traced back to one worker on a particular manufacturing line. The worker was taken out behind the factory and shot. How's that for quality control? It would appear their manufacturing has progressed over the last forty years.

[@sc1338]

Haha typical communist China. That’s the way to do it

[@MrAnonymousRandom]

China's overall quality control is still a crap shoot. There's far too many manufacturers that don't care about quality. People like the CEO of Haier who made his factory workers smash their substandard fridges in the 80s are the exception rather than the rule.

[@robertmorris6529]

@@MrAnonymousRandom same owner as CHERY ?

[@MyFunnyGuy11]

Ed if you’re still taking ideas for the “what if” car series you should do the pimpmobile you created in the pimpmobile video (that’s episode 11 by the way)

[@jessesteinbar]

I liked the Brasília footages showing "the modern world"

[@tetchuma]

@1:35 - My mom used to fly to Shanghai for Continental Airlines, and the cabin crew had to confiscate all newspapers (provided by the airlines) because foreign newspapers are were not allowed in China. (Just in case they included any criticisms about the Chinese Communist Party) It’s been about 10 years since then, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that rule still stands today.

[@thewanderingrey8830]

Cabin crew always collect your magazines and papers but you have an option to keep them (apart from inflight magazine which aren't supposed to be taken down). This happens when I flew to China, US or any other world destination. 10 years ago as was 2 years back before pandemic started.

[@panv1ch]

Can’t wait for part 2, also since you started making videos on communist countries, you could also make a series on Russia (USSR) next time

[@saadcheema9932]

China: *Makes something new* Originality: Can you don't......

[@brunodesrosiers266]

Super, super excellent!

[@conman2k1]

Great episode.

[@forfluf]

Definitely going where few KZbin car raconteurs have dared to venture.

[@ronaldmiller2740]

HI ED ,,, THANKS FOR SHOWING THOSE OLD USA CARS 50YR.S!!!!!!

[@littlebobcat572]

the Shanghai sh760 was not built by FAW, it's actually easy to tell from the name: the car was built by which became SAIC today, based in and mostly owned by shanghai government, quite far from FAW based in Changchun in all aspects. sh760's production went on for a quite long time with its last facelifted variants even sharing some parts with the vw santana to the early 90s. the pic in which a sh760 stands next to a santana you used in the video was taken in the shanghai automotive museum today, it's a lovely place.

[@nicolasgross128]

Nice Il ne waiting 😊😌

[@arnepianocanada]

So you know: that first car was a "Dur-YEEA", not Doo-ryah. Fascinating topic, well presented

[@stuart8663]

C'mon, as if it matters. Its good enough. He's a great Dutch guy handling English fantastically. The facts are much more important.

[@Harv72b]

I realize that China's automotive industry looks strong right now, but eventually they're going to hit a Wall.

[@robertmorris6529]

@ Harv72b what kind of wall

[@mrs6968]

Great video

[@spechti2045]

how havent you done the german car industry yet? love your videos btw

[@horizonoftheeast]

Really looking forward to how you would introduce all the craze in the industry around the 1990s lol

[@gregnash7918]

Love your chanel brother. Greg fall city wa usa. Brother

[@HoangLe-fu4xe]

Lol, back in the early 2010s we used to tell a joke that during the visit of the US president to China, after his “Cadillac One” passes the end of street, a counterfeit car named “Dielac One” will be spawned at the beginning of that very same street (note that Dielac is an actual brand in real life, and it is a Vietnamese milk brand, not related to cars or China whatsoever).

[@johnpotter8039]

I came across an issue of Car and Driver in the late 1980s with a delightful parody article by Bruce McCall, the artist and retro-futurist, whose "Bulgemobiles" that still grace the covers of The New Yorker. It was titled "Socialist Luxobarge Summit Showdown Compare", with a Red Flag limousine and a Russian ZIL. I had seen Red Flag cars in China during my first visit in 1975, and they were still making them in the late 80s. I have only found it on an on-line site about Russian cars and cannot download it.

[@Dogapult]

It's not a great article about the cars. Mostly just a parody. I have the original magazine. September '88, if I remember correctly.

[@johnpotter8039]

I was one of the rather early visitors to China, in 1975, before we reestablished diplomatic relations. Every morning in Beijing, I would visit the drivers and cars in front of the Beijing Hotel. Mostly "Shenyang" cars, all the same paint job, but ranging from new to 14-15 years old. The drivers were washing the engines down with bars of soap and rags. There were several Red Flag limousines parked, and I got a good look at them, including under the hoods (shiny clean). Some had front air conditioning and all had the privacy curtains in the back. Jay Leno has a video where a Chinese collector brings his Hong Chi to the garage for a lookover and a drive.

[@yeeehawgrandmaw908]

Excellent! Another video from a fellow car nut and crazy Dutch bastard! Thank you!

[@Evansmustard]

this china series is awesome!

[@ttyler2014]

Rock those cliffhangers. I'll be back for the rest.

[@unspeakablescourge]

FAW built the Mk2 Jetta(licensed) until 2016! They even did face-lifts to make them look like then current Jettas. The ones that look like a 6th generation Jetta are a thing of beauty.

[@goncalo33]

China's car industry is really interesting. Thanks for making this video.

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

Good job.comrade

[@lorddrayvon1426]

First actual miniseries of his I'll be seeing as it's released. Found the channel incidentally through the Packard video. After seeing Bright Sun Film's video on thier old plant, I sought out why Packard failed and here I am.

[@jon-paulfilkins7820]

10:40 that's looks so much like a Standard Vangard phase II

[@tinaz1818able]

My father-in-law went to the best University in China, Tsinghua University where he studied automotive engineering in 1946 and helped developing Red flag, the first Chinese made sedan. in late 1990's I witnessed the joint ventures between Chinese manufacturers and foreign auto companies set up all over China. In 1995 when an auto show held in Beijing, people carried a suitcase of cash to the show to try to convince the auto exhibitor to allow him to buy the car they fell in love with. (LOL) At that time nobody can imagine in 20 years every Chinese family can afford a car. What a history the Chinese people made!

[@franklinshaffer2382]

Interesting!

[@sabasman]

We want more!

[@Jackkalpakian]

Dilemmas have solution ... an excellent end point to part I.

[@stevelalancette6988]

That's what I like. Thanks!

[@gabrielv.4358]

AMAZING