Brilliance Xinri was established on October 24, 2018, with its headquarters in Xishan District, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. It is a joint venture producing electric new energy passenger cars, jointly invested by Huachen Automobile Group Holdings Co., Ltd. and Xinri (Wuxi) Development Co., Ltd. The company has a registered capital of 100 million RMB, with Xinri (Wuxi) Development Co., Ltd. holding a 66.6% controlling stake (66.6 million RMB), and Huachen Automobile Group holding 33.4% (33.4 million RMB). According to business registration records, the original legal representative was Zhang Chongshun, later succeeded by Ma Pingzhi as Chairman.
The birth of Brilliance Xinri represents a distinctive cross‑sector alliance between a state‑owned automotive enterprise and a leading electric two‑wheeler manufacturer. Huachen Automobile Group Holdings Co., Ltd. was once a major representative of Chinese independent car brands; Xinri (Wuxi) Development Co., Ltd. was founded by Zhang Chongshun, the actual controller of Jiangsu Xindai Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. Xinri Shares were listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Main Board in April 2017, becoming the first electric bicycle company to list on the A‑share Main Board. The establishment of Brilliance Xinri was seen as Huachen's strategic move to accelerate its new energy vehicle business, and also as a key step for Xinri's cross‑sector transition from two‑wheel to four‑wheel electric vehicles, creating a mixed‑ownership model combining "state‑owned qualifications with private operations."
Brilliance Xinri's brand positioning focuses on the micro‑EV segment, targeting urban commuting as its core user group, with products designed for short‑ and medium‑distance city travel. As a key project in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, it also receives support from both Jiangsu and Liaoning provincial governments. Brilliance Xinri did not design an independent brand logo; its vehicles carry the Xinri brand LOGO.
Joint Venture Formation and Factory Construction (2018–2020)
In August 2018, Xinri Shares announced its cooperation with Huachen to build cars; on November 24, Brilliance Xinri New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. was officially registered, marking the start of the new energy vehicle partnership. The company is building a new energy vehicle production base in Xishan District, Wuxi. The project covers a planned land area of approximately 800 mu (53.3 hectares), implemented in two phases—Phase I occupies 393.6 mu, with a building area of 120,000 square metres and a designed double‑shift annual vehicle capacity of 100,000 units. The factory layout and construction follow modern flexible manufacturing standards, covering the four major vehicle manufacturing processes: stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly.
First Model Mass Production Launch (December 2020–2021)
In December 2020, Brilliance Xinri's first new energy vehicle officially rolled off the production line, marking the company's transition from factory to market. In June 2021, two pure electric micro‑EVs—the i03 and i03A—were officially launched, priced at 75,800 RMB and 76,800 RMB respectively, both with an NEDC range of 410 km. The i03 adopts a more traditional design with circular headlights and a dot‑matrix front grille; the i03A features a closed front end and full‑width taillight design, with a more futuristic appearance. In January 2021, Brilliance Xinri signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Farasis Energy, forming a joint R&D team to develop power batteries for both new energy vehicles and electric two‑wheelers.
Product Iteration and Market Fluctuation (2022–2024)
In 2022, Brilliance Xinri launched the A00‑class new model "Xindai Peach," focusing on spatial flexibility—the trunk expands to 420 litres with the rear seats folded down. However, the brand failed to establish a stable position in the micro‑EV market. Brilliance Xinri's sales in 2022 were only 1,204 units, dropping to 838 units in 2024, with production volumes of 1,273 and 692 units respectively during the same periods. During this time, the parent company Xinri Shares also experienced significant operational fluctuations, while Brilliance Xinri remained marginalised in the market for an extended period.
Sales Recovery and Financial Resurgence (2025–Present)
In 2025, Brilliance Xinri conducted local subsidy promotions in Shanghai, Qinghai, and other regions, with trade‑in subsidies reaching 15,000 RMB, driving a sales recovery. The i03A model's average monthly sales once exceeded 3,000 units, entering the top five of the micro‑car sales chart. At the parent company level, Xinri Shares' net operating cash flow increased to 402 million RMB, a year‑on‑year increase of 272.5%, with first‑half operating income rising 27.73% and net profit attributable to shareholders rising 21.73%. In Q1 2026, Xinri Shares' total operating income was 939 million RMB, though revenue declined 10.81% year‑on‑year and net profit attributable to shareholders declined 15.87%. According to CPCA and other industry data, Brilliance Xinri's overall market share remained low in 2025, with its market position largely sustained by subsidy policies and corporate strategy adjustments.
Brilliance Xinri's vehicle product line focuses on micro new energy vehicles, targeting the urban short‑distance transport market. Mass‑produced models launched to date include the following, covering different segments and price ranges:
Brilliance Xinri i03: Brilliance Xinri's first production model, positioned as an A00‑class micro pure electric hatchback, launched in June 2021. It measures 3,288×1,670×1,654 mm with a 2,185 mm wheelbase, in a three‑door, four‑seat layout. The initial version is equipped with a 25 kW permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 38.54 kWh lithium‑ion battery pack, with an NEDC combined range of up to 410 km. Fast charging can replenish from 30% to 80% in 45 minutes. Through successive iterations, later versions offer NEDC ranges of 170 km, 318 km, and 410 km, with prices ranging from 43,900 to 75,800 RMB. Standard features include a full LCD instrument cluster, multi‑function steering wheel, rearview camera, parking radar, hill‑start assist, and front airbags. The i03 was also the model used for the first batch of 100 units in a centralised delivery.
Brilliance Xinri i03A: A sister model to the i03, with a more technological and sporty design—featuring a closed front end and full‑width taillight design—launched alongside the i03 in 2021. The NEDC range is also 410 km, with a starting guide price of 76,800 RMB. Higher‑spec versions of the i03A add leather seats and a 9‑inch central display. Driven by local subsidy policies in 2025, the i03A's terminal price dropped further, pushing average monthly sales above 3,000 units and into the top ranks of micro‑car sales.
Brilliance Xinri Peach: Launched around 2022, this A00‑class micro pure electric commuter model emphasises space utilisation—with rear seats folded down, the boot expands to 420 litres, meeting daily family and light cargo needs. The Peach had some overlap with i03 variants at launch and failed to significantly improve the brand's low market share, with production and delivery volumes lagging behind the i03 series.
Brilliance Xinri's passenger car sales remain modest and highly volatile among emerging new energy brands. After its first model launched in 2021, annual sales were only in the hundreds. In 2022, cumulative brand sales were approximately 1,204 units, with the i03A's monthly peak briefly reaching 223 units. In 2023, monthly sales contracted sharply, with annual cumulative sales near zero. In 2024, cumulative sales were about 838 units, with production at 692 units.
In 2025, driven by local subsidy policies in Shanghai, Qinghai, and other regions, Brilliance Xinri's sales showed signs of recovery. According to some media reports, the i03A model's average monthly sales exceeded 3,000 units at one point in 2025, briefly rising into the top five of the A00 NEV sales ranking, with the market base expanding by a net increase of about 3,000 units per month. From Xinri Shares' capital market data, net operating cash flow jumped to 402 million RMB in 2025, a 272.5% year‑on‑year increase, with first‑half operating income up 27.73% and net profit attributable to shareholders up 21.73%. These improvements provided some financial buffer for Brilliance Xinri. In Q1 2026, Xinri Shares' total operating income was 939 million RMB, though revenue declined 10.81% year‑on‑year and net profit attributable to shareholders declined 15.87%, indicating quarterly fluctuations and uncertainty in future growth.
In terms of channel development, Brilliance Xinri primarily uses a dual‑channel online‑offline sales strategy—online orders via WeChat Official Accounts and the brand's official website; offline starting with direct factory pickup and gradually expanding through regional dealer networks. According to initial planning, the 2021 annual sales target was 30,000 units, 50,000 units in 2022, and 150,000 units in 2025—targets that were far from being met. In the micro‑EV market, Brilliance Xinri overlaps significantly with models such as the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV, Chery QQ Bonbon, and Geely Panda Mini. Its four‑seat small body, range configuration, and pricing are similar, but its brand awareness and service coverage lag behind. Huachen Group's bankruptcy reorganisation and its drag on brand credibility also intensified market pressure on Brilliance Xinri during its early growth phase.
Brilliance Xinri's vehicle R&D and manufacturing are based on the Wuxi Smart Factory. The factory adopts a modular flexible manufacturing system, with four major process units—stamping, welding, painting, final assembly—and a PDI factory testing system (designed for a double‑shift annual capacity of 100,000 units). The stamping workshop is equipped with a 2000T‑1000T‑800T‑800T servo multi‑link press line integrating Japanese and European advanced technology, with six Swedish ABB automated robots and a fully automatic waste processing channel. The welding workshop uses 36 German KUKA industrial robots and an Italian Comau GATE flexible final assembly system, with a mainline automation rate of 100%, compatible with two vehicle platforms and six models simultaneously. The painting workshop uses a phosphate‑free silane process, with automatic combustion waste gas disposal and centralised wastewater recycling systems, reducing chemical pollutant and wastewater emissions. The final assembly workshop is equipped with Siemens automatic control equipment, Wol/ABB automatic glass bonding robots, and AGV unmanned material handling vehicles.
On the product technology front, Brilliance Xinri's core models use both ternary lithium and LFP battery chemistries. The early i03 version used a ternary lithium battery pack supplied by Far East Battery Jiangsu Co., Ltd., with capacity ranging from 31.45 kWh to 38.54 kWh, and NEDC ranges of 318‑410 km. Fast charging efficiency improved over time—charging from 30% to 80% can be completed in 45 minutes. Some later i03 and Peach models switched to LFP batteries, with the fastest charging time reduced to 0.75 hours. In terms of intelligence, Brilliance Xinri vehicles are equipped with a T‑BOX intelligent management system, supporting remote lock/unlock, vehicle health diagnosis, and remote battery and range queries via mobile app. While it does not yet offer Level 2 or above advanced driving assistance, it does include a smart travel display system meeting basic commuter needs.
On chassis handling, Brilliance Xinri did not directly apply Huachen Group's fuel‑vehicle chassis technology, but its overall tuning is understood to have benefited from handling experience accumulated during Huachen's long‑term joint venture with BMW. The suspension architecture is primarily MacPherson front independent suspension with a torsion‑beam rear axle, adapted for urban road conditions by lowering and balancing the centre of gravity, strengthening body rigidity, and ensuring handling stability. The powertrain consists of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (rated power 25‑45 kW), a fixed‑ratio single‑speed transmission, and a battery management system. At initial delivery, Brilliance Xinri offered a lifetime warranty on three‑electric systems to first‑batch users—a differentiator in after‑sales service. On safety, Brilliance Xinri is equipped with front airbags on its micro‑cars and uses a high‑rigidity steel cage body structure on some versions to ensure basic crash safety, placing it at a relatively competitive level within the micro‑EV segment.
Brilliance Xinri's own four‑wheel new energy vehicle export records are limited, with little publicly available export data. From the parent company Xinri Shares' overall business perspective, Xinri Shares has established two‑wheeler channel and production capacity in Southeast Asian markets—including a self‑built factory in Indonesia, localised channel construction in Vietnam and the Philippines, and ODM/OEM order fulfilment. In addition, Xinri Shares is expected to maintain net profit attributable to owners of the parent company at 46.13‑57.66 million RMB in 2025, up 80‑125% year‑on‑year. This growth is partly driven by export business, though the vast majority still comes from two‑wheelers and specialised electric vehicles, not four‑wheel car exports. In terms of new energy vehicles, Brilliance Xinri has not disclosed independent long‑term export orders, target countries, or market strategies.
Brilliance Xinri relies on Xinri Electric Vehicle's channel and brand management experience in the two‑wheeler field, combined with the joint structure formed by Huachen Group's 33.4% stake, maintaining a two‑way complementary development trend in the small pure EV market. After boosting sales through local subsidies in 2025, Brilliance Xinri plans to enter tier‑one markets while retaining entry‑level users in price‑sensitive cities. Going forward, Brilliance Xinri aims to reshape product competitiveness in pricing and configuration—early versions of the i03 were priced about 15,000‑40,000+ RMB higher than head competitors like the Hongguang MINI EV, but gained traction after subsidy‑driven or terminal price adjustments in 2025. From product iteration, Brilliance Xinri will continue to focus on entry‑level A00 new energy vehicles, with energy efficiency, range, and commuter configuration upgrades as the main technical direction.
In terms of operations and future development, Xinri Shares launched the "New Paradigm of AI Travel" smart two‑wheeler upgrade strategy in 2025 under the brand proposition "Mastering Core Technology, Travel is More Fun," and may partially integrate intelligent results into four‑wheel vehicles in the future. Brilliance Xinri's smart cockpit level will be upgraded from current entry‑level phone‑projection compatibility to full‑domain AI scenario interaction capability. However, at the equity structure level, whether Huachen Group's bankruptcy reorganisation will trigger subsequent equity restructuring or long‑term control changes for Brilliance Xinri will also affect its future capital chain and cooperation patterns. Absent major equity or governance changes, Brilliance Xinri should continue to push product upgrades and precise positioning in urban commuter EVs, leveraging Xinri's system capabilities to convert the early‑year sales rebound into a sustainable positive business cycle after the market reshuffle.
© 2024 Bitauto.com. All Rights Reserved.
Bitauto (www.yiche.com and www.bitauto.com) is one of the most visited automotive websites in China. We provide detailed info on Chinese car brands available in your area. Please note that the information provided on this website is based on publicly available data and is for reference only. It may not be fully updated or accurate at all times.
