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Beijing Automobile Works (BAW) is a private automotive manufacturing enterprise under Weiqiao Pioneer Group. The company was founded in 1951, and in 1958, its factory name was personally inscribed by Chairman Zhu De. It was the second large‑scale automotive manufacturer established after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and is renowned in Chinese automotive history for its "military‑grade quality and off‑road DNA."
BAW is headquartered at 17 Shengda Road, Jiangshan Town, Laixi, Qingdao, Shandong Province. In 2023, Fortune Global 500 enterprise Weiqiao Pioneer Group took a controlling stake in BAW. The current chairman and legal representative is Lu Fujun. The company employs around 5,000 people and focuses on the development, production, and sales of light off‑road vehicles, trucks, and related special‑purpose vehicles. It operates four major production bases in Qingdao, Dezhou, Linyi, and Huanghua, along with a Beijing office. Current annual manufacturing capacity stands at 100,000 units, with long‑term planned capacity of 450,000 units.
In 2025, key operating metrics—including vehicle production output and sales revenue—showed significant year‑on‑year growth. In July, the company was named a "Leading Enterprise in the Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry Chain" in Shandong Province, and in December, it received the "2025 Pioneering Benchmark Enterprise for Private Enterprises in Qingdao" award.
Note: BAW (Beijing Automobile Works) and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. (BAIC Group) are entirely separate legal and brand entities. While they share historical ties, they were fully separated in 2016 and no longer have any equity or ownership relationship.
The company was established in Beijing in 1951, predating many of the core automotive manufacturers of the early People's Republic. In 1958, Chairman Zhu De personally inscribed the factory name "Beijing Automobile Works," making it one of the symbolic enterprises of China's automotive industry at the time.
In September 1959, three Beijing‑brand high‑end sedans were prototyped. In January 1961, the company formally organised off‑road vehicle production. In April 1963, the BJ210C light off‑road vehicle was officially named "Beijing Brand." In 1965, the first BJ212 four‑door military off‑road command vehicle rolled off the line—a model that would go on to sell over 2 million units and become a legendary, nationally cherished off‑roader that influenced generations. In April 1978, the first BJ121 light truck prototype was completed. In May 1983, Beijing Automobile Works established China's first automotive Sino‑foreign joint venture—Beijing Jeep Automobile Co., Ltd.
In 1987, Beijing Automobile Works merged with Beijing Motorcycle Manufacturing Factory to form Beijing Automobile and Motorcycle Joint Manufacturing Company. In November 2001, the joint company and its private shareholder Beijing Auto Assembly Factory underwent a joint restructuring, and Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. (BAW) was officially registered in Shunyi, with Beijing Auto Assembly Factory becoming the controlling shareholder. In 2004, the new Shunyi plant was completed and put into operation. In August 2007, the second‑generation military light off‑road vehicle, the "Warrior," rolled off the Shunyi line. In 2009, BAW celebrated its 60th anniversary, having produced and sold over 2 million vehicles. In December 2013, the Huanghua Automotive Industrial Park was completed.
In 2015, to comply with Beijing SASAC requirements, BAIC transferred its entire 51% stake in BAW for listing. Beijing Auto Assembly Factory became the controlling shareholder. BAW separated from BAIC to become a private enterprise, completing the commercial registration change in 2016 and becoming fully independent. In 2018, low‑speed electric vehicle private enterprise Shandong Fulu Group completed its acquisition of BAW and relocated its headquarters from Beijing to Qingdao. Chairman Lu Fujun also became the future leader of Weiqiao's new energy vehicle venture. In 2020, BAW began ramping up new energy vehicle production. In January 2022, the BAW Qingdao headquarters base was completed and put into production, and in June of that year, the New Strategy 2.0 was released. In February 2023, Fortune Global 500 enterprise Weiqiao Pioneer Group took a controlling stake in BAW, designating it as one of the core business pillars of its NEV venture.
In 2024, BAW launched the new "212" brand and released its first model, the T01, continuing to cultivate the hardcore off‑road market. In September 2025, its subsidiary Reisheng Auto made its debut as an independent brand focused on MPV products.
The year 2026 is a critical period for the company's business transformation, quality upgrading, and volume growth. Guided by the principles of "strengthening the foundation, improving efficiency, and reaching higher levels," BAW is focused on the core tasks of "adjusting structure, increasing volume, reducing costs, and improving quality." Key campaigns include the 212 off‑road breakthrough, the Reisheng MPV foundation‑building, and the overseas business victory push. According to local media, the company exceeded its 2025 annual operating targets, with core metrics—including vehicle production, sales, and revenue—all showing growth. At the start of 2026, production lines have reached full capacity to ensure order delivery.
BAW has built a multi‑brand, full‑category product portfolio centred on SUVs, MPVs, pickups, and micro EVs. Its three brand matrices—212, REACH, and BAW—cover the full spectrum from utility vehicles to off‑road, commercial to household use.
212 Brand inherits the legacy of the BJ212, the ancestor of Chinese off‑road vehicles. The "212" brand was launched in 2024. Its first model, the T01, is built on the WY professional off‑road platform, priced from 139,900 to 188,800 RMB. It is powered by a 2.0T petrol engine paired with a ZF 8‑speed automatic transmission, and features a BorgWarner transfer case with 10 driving modes, crawl mode, and tank turn. Future 212 brand variants will include three‑door and pickup body styles. At the April 2026 Beijing Auto Show, 212 unveiled two technology platforms—"Knight" and "Expedition"—and launched the new full‑size pickup Explorer 01, priced at 179,900 RMB. Powered by a 2.3T diesel engine, 8‑speed automatic, and BorgWarner transfer case, it offers 254 mm of ground clearance and 850 mm wading depth, significantly broadening the brand's presence in the high‑end hardcore off‑road pickup and general off‑road SUV segments. The 212 brand is guided by a "from legend to world" global strategy, having held its global brand launch in Dubai in 2025.
REACH (REISHENG) Brand officially debuted as an independent brand on September 1, 2025, positioning itself as China's first brand focused solely on the MPV segment. The Reisheng Ace M7 series is the brand's flagship line, centred on mid‑to‑large multi‑purpose MPVs and pure electric/extended‑range models, covering passenger transport, logistics, and home‑business dual use. Prices range from 66,800 to 109,800 RMB, with a wheelbase of up to 3,200 mm and a 9‑seat layout to accommodate a variety of work and lifestyle needs. Under its 2026 plan, the Reisheng brand will also introduce the upgraded Ace M8, featuring extended‑range and multi‑battery electric solutions, targeting airport shuttles, scenic tourism, and premium commuting markets, aiming for an upward brand breakthrough.
BAW Main Brand Core Products. The "Wealth Creation Twin Stars" mainly consist of the Ace M7 MPV and the Calorie F7 pickup, priced from 59,800 to 88,800 RMB, positioned as "60,000‑class wide‑cab all‑round pickups" and "high‑value wealth‑creation tools." The Calorie F7 is available in standard and long‑wheelbase versions, with 1.6L and 2.0L fuel engine options, and future new energy variants. BAW also previously launched micro EV product lines—including the Yuanbao and Jiabao—targeting the pure electric micro‑vehicle sub‑market.
In China, BAW's sales are currently driven by fuel MPVs, pickups, and the new 212 off‑road models. For the full year 2025, BAW total sales reached 41,657 units, a year‑on‑year increase of 40.92%. December single‑month sales hit 5,166 units. The 212 T01 model posted cumulative sales of 18,078 units for the year, with December sales of 2,590 units—up nearly 30% year‑on‑year. The Ace M7 series (fuel) totalled 16,582 units for the year, with new energy pure electric and hybrid versions gradually adding incremental volume. The Calorie pickup and Warrior series also continued to contribute steady sales. Overall production and sales maintained steady year‑on‑year growth, though monthly sales showed some fluctuation toward the end of 2025 due to intensifying competition.
In the first quarter of 2026, the BAW Qingdao plant has been running at full capacity, with a surge in domestic and export orders, and performance outpacing the same period in 2025. The company has set several key campaign targets—including the "Reisheng MPV Foundation Strengthening War" and the "212 Series Breakthrough War"—to support exceeding the full‑year target.
Since parent company Weiqiao Pioneer Group took a controlling stake in BAW in 2023, it has injected billions of RMB in cumulative capital to support BAW's transformation and upgrade, bringing the total investment in the Qingdao headquarters base project to 15.2 billion RMB.
BAW collaborates with global top‑tier supply chain partners—including Dongan Power, ZF, and BorgWarner—to establish joint innovation labs and drive breakthroughs in three key areas: next‑generation extended‑range hybrid powertrains, high‑performance off‑road platforms, core three‑electric technologies, and intelligent manufacturing.
On December 12, 2025, BAW signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Harbin Dongan Automotive Power Co., Ltd., a leading domestic powertrain supplier, to jointly build the "New Power Joint Innovation Laboratory." The two parties have launched more than ten cooperation projects covering BAW's entire core product lineup—including the 212 off‑road vehicles, the Ace MPV, and the Calorie pickup—with cumulative sales of co‑developed models exceeding 50,000 units. The partnership will focus on off‑road performance enhancement and new energy technology implementation, tackling next‑generation off‑road powertrains to drive technical breakthroughs in the Chinese off‑road market.
In the new energy extended‑range field, BAW's subsidiary Shandong Yuanqi New Power Technology Co., Ltd. has full R&D and experimental capabilities. Yuanqi New Power currently employs over 100 staff and is engaged in hybrid systems, electric drive systems, and PACK battery design and manufacturing. Its self‑owned three‑electric lab represents a total investment of 300 million RMB, equipped with 91 sets of testing equipment, providing full‑cycle R&D and testing services—from charging systems and connected vehicles to engine calibration. Its extended‑range solutions are being gradually rolled out across MPV and new energy VAN models.
On the off‑road technology front, BAW has released two major technical architectures under the 212 brand: "Knight" and "Expedition." The Knight Platform features front and rear five‑link solid axles with a body‑on‑frame structure, supporting gasoline, diesel, and hybrid powertrains, and can accommodate three‑door, five‑door, and pickup body styles. The Expedition Platform is a full‑scenario intelligent off‑road architecture with a front‑mid‑engine layout, covering both fuel and hybrid powertrains, and equipped with Horizon Journey intelligent driving systems and large‑model‑enabled smart cockpits. Together, these two platforms will provide the core technical foundation for the 212 brand to deepen its off‑road presence and build a distinctive technical identity.
BAW began its international expansion in 2014, successively entering Southeast Asian, African, and Latin American markets, while actively promoting overseas local KD factory partnerships and the strategic deployment of electric vehicle plants. According to South Korean media reports in March 2024, BAW signed a commercial agreement with Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. BAW plans to build a large‑scale electric vehicle production and sales facility of approximately 2 million square metres in the Goyang Economic Free Zone. The investment is estimated at 4 trillion won (roughly $3.01 billion USD), with an annual production target exceeding 200,000 units—about 90% of which are earmarked for export. BAW will be fully responsible for the construction and operation of the Goyang plant, with the aim of reaching major global automotive markets. Given BAW's current annual capacity of just 100,000 units, if the Korean plant proceeds as planned, it would mark a significant leap—from a tens‑of‑billions‑scale capital base to a benchmark manufacturing system anchored in an international industrial park.
In addition, the 212 off‑road brand held its first global brand strategy session in Dubai in 2025, announcing plans to cultivate the overseas mid‑to‑large off‑road market segment. In 2026, BAW has made overseas business one of its key strategic battlegrounds, with coordinated efforts across production bases and market systems, aiming to double overseas production, sales, and revenue year‑on‑year. According to a Qingdao Laixi parts industry report, manufacturer export orders in 2026 have already risen by approximately 15%, signalling that global capacity and supply chains are entering a phase of full alignment.
BAW has clearly identified three core strategic campaigns—the 212 off‑road breakthrough, the Reisheng MPV foundation‑building, and the overseas business victory push—to drive enterprise transformation, upgrading, and high‑quality development.
On the product and technology front, BAW will rely on the 212 brand to expand horizontally across multiple vehicle segments in the high‑end off‑road market, while deepening its global footprint. The Reisheng MPV brand will continue to invest in pure electric and extended‑range MPV segments, optimising the full chain across logistics, tourism, and business travel. From late 2025 through 2026, the full series will see multiple upgraded and modified models, with particular focus on accelerating the launch of new energy MPVs and four‑wheel‑drive pickup platforms, delivering more comprehensive commercial solutions to the market.
In supply chain and intelligent manufacturing, BAW will strengthen multi‑level synergy with the Weiqiao Group, consolidating its cost‑performance leadership in China's off‑road and multi‑purpose utility vehicle markets, while building full‑stack control capabilities over core components.
On the global front, BAW will continue to build regional core markets across South America, Asia, Africa, and other regions, transforming overseas KD operations from trade‑based exports to a comprehensive model integrating manufacturing, training, and services. The company is also preparing to implement the large‑scale Goyang EV export base project in South Korea, aiming for a step‑change in annual export volume.
Backed by the cross‑industry, full‑chain support of the Weiqiao Group, BAW is accelerating toward a new competitive position in the light commercial vehicle space, redefining its value proposition and differentiation.
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