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Activate notificationGeneral » On the Naming of Chinese Automakers
While adding some Chinese-made vehicles, I encountered an issue where a single type of vehicle has two different manufacturer names—for example,
Guangzhou-Toyota Camry & GAC-Toyota Carmy
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1058644-Guangzhou-Toyota-Camry-XV50-2012.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1924860-GAC-Toyota-Camry-XV50-2012.html
Chery/Qirui A3
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_2102798-Chery-A3-2008.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_428989-Qirui-A3-M11-2008.html
Great wall / Changcheng Safe
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_345075-Great-Wall-Safe.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_924363-Changcheng-Saifu-2003.html
But in reality, it is the same manufacturer.Moreover, the name ”GAC Toyota“（广汽丰田）is more commonly used.
Furthermore, much like Mazda did in the 1990s, Chinese automakers frequently register separate sub-brands for their products; however,IMCDB sometimes group these sub-brands under the parent brand,for example,
https://www.imcdb.org/search.php?make=GAC&model=trumpchi
(Trumpchi/“传祺“）
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?resultsStyle=asImages&sortBy=0&make=Geely&model=- emgrand
(Emgrand/”帝豪“）
while at other times listing them on separate pages—
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Englon.html
（Geely sub-brand）
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Aion.html
（GAC sub-brand）
or even employing both methods simultaneously.
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Maxus.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-SAIC_model-Maxus.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=SAIC
Datong/Maxus/SAIC Maxus
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_918885-Great-Wall-Haval-H6.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Haval_model-H6.html
Are there any naming conventions or standards for this?
Guangzhou-Toyota Camry & GAC-Toyota Carmy
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1058644-Guangzhou-Toyota-Camry-XV50-2012.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1924860-GAC-Toyota-Camry-XV50-2012.html
Chery/Qirui A3
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_2102798-Chery-A3-2008.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_428989-Qirui-A3-M11-2008.html
Great wall / Changcheng Safe
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_345075-Great-Wall-Safe.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_924363-Changcheng-Saifu-2003.html
But in reality, it is the same manufacturer.Moreover, the name ”GAC Toyota“（广汽丰田）is more commonly used.
Furthermore, much like Mazda did in the 1990s, Chinese automakers frequently register separate sub-brands for their products; however,IMCDB sometimes group these sub-brands under the parent brand,for example,
https://www.imcdb.org/search.php?make=GAC&model=trumpchi
(Trumpchi/“传祺“）
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?resultsStyle=asImages&sortBy=0&make=Geely&model=- emgrand
(Emgrand/”帝豪“）
while at other times listing them on separate pages—
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Englon.html
（Geely sub-brand）
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Aion.html
（GAC sub-brand）
or even employing both methods simultaneously.
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Maxus.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-SAIC_model-Maxus.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=SAIC
Datong/Maxus/SAIC Maxus
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_918885-Great-Wall-Haval-H6.html
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Haval_model-H6.html
Are there any naming conventions or standards for this?
Both the characters “Changcheng" "TGW" and![]()
"Great Wall"were used in the 1990s; however, the term "Changcheng" seems to have disappeared from official brochures after 2000, replaced by the version written with the character "Great wall"or ”GMW"—a name that also appeared on the bodies of the earliest "Safe" models released.
https://chinacarhistory.com/2017/12/18/about-the-cars-made-by-great-wall-a-history-before-their-official-history/
In 1999, Chery was referred to as "Cheery," though the spelling "Chery" was already in use by at least 2001; some export versions of the "Fengyun" model even featured the English "Chery" emblem.
However, since the vehicles produced by both brands bore Chinese-character emblems, Chinese consumers rarely referred to these cars using their Romanized names.
![]()
https://chinacarhistory.com/2017/12/18/about-the-cars-made-by-great-wall-a-history-before-their-official-history/
In 1999, Chery was referred to as "Cheery," though the spelling "Chery" was already in use by at least 2001; some export versions of the "Fengyun" model even featured the English "Chery" emblem.
However, since the vehicles produced by both brands bore Chinese-character emblems, Chinese consumers rarely referred to these cars using their Romanized names.
Info about these is often difficult to have, sources in English are not always reliable, and it is often chaotic in the first place as that is a rather young market compared to American/European makers.
JFKLetsplay can probably help on that subject, as he developed some knowledge in Chinese marques.
I am proficient in Chinese, so finding relevant information poses no difficulty.
I suggest with the exception of specific model years or certain models sold exclusively outside China—we consistently use the official, universally recognized English names (where applicable); after all, we wouldn't use a Romanized version of "Yiqi-Dazong （FAW-Volkswagen）" either.
Furthermore, on the website, we can distinguish between the "Guangzhou Toyota" era prior to 2008 and the period from 2008 onwards, as the name "Guangzhou Toyota（广州丰田）" was indeed used on the vehicles at that time.
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