In the course of a century when China moved from poverty to revival, her car industry, starting from scratch, gradually became stronger followed by introduction of foreign technologies and innovations. In the first half of the 20th century, on account of the backward feudalism and the invasion of Japan, it was extremely difficult for China to develop its own car industry. Nonetheless, the desire of China to strive for modern industrial civilization and the dream of manufacturing motorcars have never been extinguished. Since People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, it has produced quite a number of car brands that epitomize its hopes and ideals. These brands include Liberation, Dongfeng, and Red Flag. During the 80s of the 20th century, import of foreign technologies and brands, absorbing investments, renovations and partnership have accumulated experience for the rapid development of car industry in China. Guided by the national policy of encouraging innovations, the national car industry is advancing in amazing speed. Today, China has become the number one country in terms of production and sales of motorcars, and is joining the rank of the powerful car manufactures in the world. The section displays three themes, i.e. “Early Records”, “Years of Passion” an “Leaping Age”, showcasing the arduous process of China’s car industry and Chinese people’s relentless pursuit of their dreams.

    A car was an imported article in early China. In Dehe Garden in the Summer Palace in Beijing parked a car, which was a tribute given to empress dowager Cixi by Yuan Shikai (1859-1916, Chinese statesman and soldier, the first president of the government established in 1921. In 1915 he proclaimed himself emperor and was forced to abdicate) for her 60th birthday. Yuan bought the car from Hong Kong. When the car industry in western countries were advancing vigorously, China was still a war-torn country despite the fact that Chinese people have never given up their effort to produce their own cars. In 1920, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, in his Strategy for Building China, calls for the development of China’ car industry. In 1931, General Zhang Xueliang produced the first motorcar in China—Minsheng 75 in his munitions factory. In 1932, technician Xiang De and others installed a 271-type gas stove on a car, thus contributing a lot for the war transportation as China then relied heavily on importing crude oil from abroad.

    After People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, its car industry embarked on the great journey of “made in China”.The first vehicle of the People’s Republic of China that rolled off the production line was a Liberation brand truck, manufactured by the Changchun First Automobile Works (CFAW) on July 14, 1956. And the first sedan car named Dongfeng was also made by the same factory on May 5, 1958. After Chairman Mao Zedong test rode on the car in, he said with a smile: “Well, how wonderful it is to ride on a car of our own!” Four months after Dongfeng sedan rolled off the line, the workers at the CFAW, riding on the wave of their enthusiasm, produced another standard sedan car with national characteristics. The its name was Red Flag.These passionate years in the history of the Republic filled a gap in self-made cars in China, and proved to be the prologue to the car industry of China.

    The policy of opening-up to the outside world and reform has provided China with an unprecedented opportunity to develop its auto industry. Joint ventures and partnerships also accelerated the advances of car-making sector. The amazing speed of economic development offers a hug market for car consumption, and innovation guarantees it future success.In 1984, the Beijing Jeep Automobile Co., Ltd. was founded, marking the first joint venture in the car sector in China. Soon afterwards, nearly all world famous car brands set up their joint venture plants in China. Since 2000, vehicles made in China are gradually taking shape with most trucks and coaches dominating the country’s market. In 2009, China became the number one country in the world in terms of car production and marketing. Now, not only vehicles made in China are being sold abroad, Chinese automobile enterprises are also trying to purchase and restructure world famous brands.The auto industry in China has indeed leapt forward during the past 30 years of opening-up and reform endeavor.