Livan

Brand Overview

Livan Automotive is a new energy brand under Geely Auto Group, focused on battery‑swapping mobility. It was launched in 2022 as a joint venture between Geely Automobile Holdings and Lifan Technology. The brand positions itself as "new potential for the next generation of battery‑swapping mobility," with a simple core promise: charge, swap, upgrade. It's built for new‑energy users who want freedom and efficiency in their daily travel. Its mission is to make battery‑swapping light mobility mainstream. At the heart of it all is the GBRC architecture—a fully integrated system that connects vehicle, station, and cloud to drive large‑scale adoption.

Development History

Livan Automotive was born out of Geely's push into battery swapping, and its journey has been closely tied to the Geely ecosystem from the start.

Joint Venture and Resource Integration (2021–2022)

On December 13, 2021, Geely and Lifan Technology announced a joint venture aimed at the battery‑swapping market—then still a blue‑ocean opportunity. A month later, on January 24, 2022, the venture was registered as Chongqing Livan Auto Technology Co., Ltd., with 600 million RMB in capital and a 50‑50 split between the two partners. Livan didn't start from nothing: Geely had already acquired Lifan Motors in 2020, and the earlier Fengye Auto was also folded into Livan, adding depth to its product lineup.

Brand Launch and Product Rollout (2022)

Livan moved fast. In February 2022, the first smart swapping sedan—the Fengye 60S, built on the GBRC platform—was launched, signalling the arrival of mass‑produced swapping vehicles in China. The Livan 7 and Livan 9 soon followed, creating a dual‑line strategy covering both commercial and consumer users.

Integrated into Geely China Star (2023)

In March 2023, Livan was officially integrated into Geely's China Star brand sequence, giving it access to better technology and channel support. That meant buyers could get Geely‑level tech at a more affordable price, while still enjoying the flexibility of both swapping and charging. The brand name was also standardised as LIVAN, clarifying its role within Geely's brand hierarchy.

High‑Growth Period (2024)

2024 was a breakout year. Livan sold 59,094 units, up 40% year‑on‑year, with December alone hitting 12,336—a 125% jump. Overseas sales doubled, showing real global promise. Livan became a poster child for "climbing uphill in a red‑ocean market."

Structural Adjustment Period (2025–2026)

In 2025, sales climbed to 42,300 units—about 2.5 times the 12,100 from the same period the previous year. September peaked at 10,587 units, up 87.2% year‑on‑year, setting a new monthly record.

Then came 2026, and the picture flipped. In January and February, Qianli Technology (formerly Lifan Technology) sold just 58 new energy vehicles—a staggering 98.82% drop from the same period last year. The Livan 7 and Livan 8 each sold only nine units. Livan's official website hadn't been updated since April 2025, and brand activity had effectively stopped. Monthly retail sales plunged from nearly 1,700 in December 2025 to under 100 in early 2026. The sudden collapse raised questions about whether Geely was quietly pulling back from Livan. At the same time, shareholder Chongqing Jianghehui cashed out at a high point, and Qianli Technology's path forward looked increasingly uncertain.

Brand Portfolio

Livan Automotive has built a three‑dimensional brand and product structure: a B‑side foundation, C‑side growth, and a matrix‑based product lineup. As of 2026, the portfolio spans sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and pure electric microcars, with new energy and fuel models sold side by side, and extended‑range models also in development.

C‑End Battery‑Swapping SUVs

Livan 7 is positioned as a smart rear‑drive coupe SUV, marketed as "the only 605‑km range swapping SUV under 150,000 RMB." Prices range from 115,700 to 173,700 RMB, with 8 to 10 configurations available, targeting young families with one or two children. After piloting swapping in Chongqing—where over 83 stations are now in place—the vehicle‑battery separation model brings the entry price down to just 80,000 RMB, lowering the barrier to ownership.

Livan 9 is a 6‑ or 7‑seater mid‑to‑large pure electric SUV and the brand's flagship swapping model. It's also one of the few vehicles under 200,000 RMB equipped with LiDAR. At launch, it supported four recharging modes, with swap times as fast as 60 seconds. It features upgradeable "Capsule Batteries," which boost capacity through improved cell energy density.

B‑Side Operational Vehicles

Maple 60S was the brand's first smart swapping sedan, launched on February 23, 2022, in two trims: Yi Xing and You Xing, priced at 139,800 RMB and 169,800 RMB respectively. It measures 4,730 mm in length, 1,804 mm in width, and 1,530 mm in height, with a 2,700 mm wheelbase, 920 mm of rear legroom, and a 430‑litre boot. Powered by a 100 kW permanent magnet motor, it offers a 415 km NEDC range and supports both 30‑minute DC fast charging and 60‑second swapping—aimed squarely at ride‑hailing and taxi fleets.

Maple 80V is a B‑side swapping MPV for the same ride‑hailing and taxi market, with a powertrain identical to the Fengye 60S.

Pure Electric Microcars – Blue Sprite and Blue Balloon

Livan Blue Sprite is an A00‑class EV, measuring 3,100 mm long with a 2,015 mm wheelbase. Its signature "Deep Ocean Blue" paint, closed front grille, and round retro headlights give it a distinctive look. The interior is expected to feature a knob shifter as standard, with a basic version omitting the central screen and offering three interior colour options. It comes with a single motor and is aimed at the sub‑100,000 RMB market.

Livan Blue Balloon is another pure electric microcar that drew attention at the September 2025 auto show and sold 3,077 units in its first month—making it the brand's biggest sales surprise of 2025.

Fuel Vehicles

Livan X3 PRO is the brand's fuel‑powered mainstay, consistently contributing the highest monthly sales volumes in the first half of 2025. From June to September, it accounted for nearly 60% of monthly sales, anchoring Livan's position in the fuel market.

Livan 8 serves as a mid‑size fuel model, though its sales have long lingered in the low hundreds per month.

Market Performance

Livan Automotive's market performance has followed a clear boom‑and‑bust cycle: a short‑lived comeback, a mid‑term peak, and a sharp late‑stage decline.

Over the brand's entire history, Livan's annual sales have hovered in the 50,000–60,000 unit range. The Blue Balloon launch briefly pushed monthly sales past 10,000 units. However, as the global automotive market entered a period of major turbulence in 2026, Livan's growth slowed sharply—and in some months, effectively collapsed—placing the brand under serious pressure in the domestic market.

Core Technology

Livan's biggest technological edge is the GBRC Crystal Architecture—a four‑year project backed by over 30,000 tests. It's the industry's first fully integrated system that ties together vehicle, station, and cloud.

GBRC Architecture (Vehicle‑Station‑Cloud Integration)

The vehicle platform supports A‑ to C‑class models, works with front‑, rear‑, and all‑wheel drive, and offers both swapping and charging. The swapping system can do a full swap in just 60 seconds—about 20% faster than the industry norm. The EOSmart cloud platform, accessible via app, checks battery health and station queues in real time, guiding drivers to the best swap station.

The architecture is built on a "charge, swap, upgrade" battery philosophy. Its Capsule Battery combines high energy density with physically upgradeable cells. The system accepts batteries from 50 to 100 kWh, with a universal socket standard across all models. Livan has opened its platform standards to the industry and has been deeply involved in national and industry swapping standards, with over 30 published standards and more than 1,000 patents in swapping architecture, stations, and vehicles.

Smart Driving and Cockpit

Livan has tapped into Geely's intelligent resources, co‑developing the G-Pilot (Qianli Haohan) system with Lifan. By pairing BEV visual algorithms with Geely's hardware, it's brought city NOA to market at a lower cost. The Livan 7 and 9 already offer L2++ assisted driving on higher‑spec trims. On the cockpit side, the Livan 7 runs on Geely's own 7nm "Longying No.1" chip, enabling full‑scenario voice control and cross‑screen interaction, with class‑leading responsiveness.

Battery Swapping Ecosystem and Charging Network

Livan's battery‑swapping network is backed by Geely ecosystem partner Yiyi Power, which operates across the country. Yiyi power's parent company is Zhejiang Geely Qizheng Automobile Technology Co., Ltd.—the same entity that took over Livan's equity in 2024. This keeps Livan's swapping business firmly within the Geely fold, creating a closed loop that spans technology development, swapping operations, and user service.

As of June 2025, Livan had launched over 400 swapping stations nationwide. In its home base of Chongqing, it operates 88 stations—surpassing NIO's 75 in the same city—with service radiuses reduced to roughly 3 km, effectively meeting the real‑time swapping needs of both C‑end users and fleet operators. Other core cities, including Hangzhou and Jinan, are also rolling out networks in phases.

In terms of cost, Livan's swapping fees are significantly lower than both NIO and ONVO. The brand's strategy is built around a "heavy‑asset, long‑term highway" model, backed by the State Grid and Geely's multi‑regional energy storage dispatch system, ensuring that long‑term operating costs remain under control.

Global Strategy

Livan is rooted in the Chinese market while actively expanding exports, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia and other key regions.

In July 2025, Chongqing Livan Auto Technology Co., Ltd. shipped a batch of complete vehicle‑grade power lithium batteries to Indonesia in bulk. The Chongqing Maritime Safety Administration and the Changshou Maritime Safety Station jointly inspected the 120 lithium battery containers bound for Southeast Asia, using a new Yu‑Gui land‑sea supervision model—overland transport to Guangxi's Qinzhou Port, followed by sea shipment to Southeast Asia. This approach saves about 2,800 RMB in logistics costs per container.

In August 2025, Livan and Indonesian local brand ALETRA jointly launched the right‑hand drive L8 model at the GIIAS Auto Show. The two parties signed a long‑term strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build an R&D centre and RHD electric vehicle production line in Indonesia, establishing the brand's first RHD R&D and manufacturing base in Southeast Asia. Livan has seized the new energy opportunity in Southeast Asia and RHD markets, with overseas sales in 2025 growing 100% year‑on‑year.

Parent Company Restructuring

Livan Automotive is 50% owned by Lifan Technology, which underwent a major restructuring between 2024 and 2025.

In 2020, Lifan Technology filed for bankruptcy reorganisation due to a debt crisis. At that time, Manjianghong Fund, Chongqing Jianghehui, and Lifan Holdings held 29.99%, 20.00%, and 13.75% stakes respectively. Manjianghong Fund was controlled by Liangjiang Fund Management (wholly owned by the Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Committee) with 51%, and Geely Technology with 49%. Chongqing Jianghehui was originally a wholly owned subsidiary of Geely Technology.

In July 2024, Geely Technology transferred 100% of its equity in Chongqing Jianghehui to Jianghe Shunsui, valued at 2.43 billion RMB. At the same time, Geely Industry Investment (wholly owned by Geely Holdings) acquired roughly 50.94% of Manjianghong Fund for about 1.95 billion RMB.

In February 2025, Lifan Technology was officially renamed Qianli Technology. While the corporate name changed, Livan's operating entity remained unchanged.

As Qianli Technology's core new energy vehicle arm, Livan's fortunes have been closely tied to its parent company's shifts. The sharp sales drop in early 2026 reflects this interconnected impact.

Future Outlook

As Livan marks its fifth anniversary, the road ahead is anything but smooth.

Through years of investment, Geely has built a nationwide swapping network, and Livan—powered by the GBRC architecture and the Yiyi power system—now operates over 400 stations. The Blue Balloon micro EV once topped 3,000 monthly sales, cementing Livan's value‑for‑money reputation in the A00 segment. Overseas growth also remains a key long‑term anchor, with RHD models gaining early traction in Indonesia, Malaysia, and other markets.

But the sales cliff in 2026 shows that Livan is now at a critical make‑or‑break point. If it can't refresh its lineup quickly and roll out more compelling C‑side offerings, the brand risks being further sidelined within the Geely ecosystem. In late 2024 and early 2025, Geely internally paused Livan's model updates, and much of its R&D team was transferred to Geely's Central Research Institute.

Still, there's reason to keep watching. Livan remains the sole vehicle platform for Geely's battery‑swapping commercialisation push. If Geely decides to double down on swapping's role in the mobility market, Livan could still pivot from an "edge experiment" to a "main‑track player." As swapping gains policy support and traction in the commercial EV space, Livan's platform capabilities and nationwide network give it a shot at capturing a piece of the new energy market's next growth wave. Its strong 2024 performance shows that Livan has the potential to stage a turnaround—the key question is whether management can show resilience and find its rhythm again.