JAC. Managing the future
China Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. (JAC) is one of the top five automakers in China with a production capacity of more than 1 million vehicles and 500,000 engines per year. Founded in 1964, the company produces a full range of vehicles, including light, medium and heavy trucks, MPV, SRV, sedans, bus chassis, buses, as well as automotive components, including engineering equipment, engines, and gearboxes. Plus, the company is a supplier of equipment for the Chinese Armed Forces. JAC Group unites JAC Motors, Ankai, JAC Special Purpose Vehicle and dozens of small component manufacturers. The total asset value exceeds 30.6 million yuan.
In 2005, the company established an overseas design center in Italy. In 2006, it launched a second design center in Tokyo. The company has its own research and development center, a testing ground and an engineering laboratory complex. For many years, JAC has been the top exporter of light commercial vehicles and special chassis for passenger buses in China. In the domestic market, the company occupies one of the first places in the sale of heavy trucks with a production volume of more than 60 thousand units per year. All JAC equipment complies with the strict requirements of the environmental standards of the countries where it is supplied. Today, JAC Motors has assembly plants in more than 15 countries.
JAC’s multifunctional commercial vehicles have won the honorary China’s Best MPV of the Year Award and keeps on being a leader in terms of sales volumes. In addition, one of the models, which was designed in cooperation with PININFARINA, was named ‘The most beautiful car in the last ten years’ and won the honorary Best Model of 2011 Award. The company’s self-developed engines for passenger cars, 1.3 LVVT, 1.5 LVVT and 2.0 LTCI, have been awarded China’s Top Ten Engines three times (2009, 2010 and 2011). The S3 is the flagship of the Chinese SUV market and one of the top three city SUVs in China.
JAC has recently started producing vehicles using alternative fuels. To date, more than 10,000 units of sixth-generation electric vehicles are already navigating the roads of China, with a driving range of about 250 kilometers. In 2017, the company started producing the seventh generation electric vehicles with a driving range of 350 km.
Chinese innovation plus German precision
JAC is a typical Chinese government-owned car factory, engaged in the production of vehicles, engines, and even wheels. The company is committed to developing modern vehicles by investing billions of dollars in such research. The technical thought of the company is concentrated in the International Research and Development Center, which includes the Research and Development Center, the Authentication Center for cars and heavy vehicles plus LCV, a design studio, testing grounds and more. In terms of independent research and development, JAC ranks first in China. The company’s 44 R&D projects are included in China’s key science and technology projects at the national and regional levels, and 55 product technologies have been introduced at the national level. The company builds cars both for China and for export. In particular, it presents its high-tech products to South America, Africa, Asia and supplies several models to Europe. In total, it is present in 120 countries of the world.
Guangzhou Automotive Company vehicles outperform most of the Japanese and European models produced in China in terms of quality and reliability
JAC is known as a key Chinese partner for the Volkswagen Group. A joint venture between JAC Motors and the Volkswagen Group was established in 2017, first for the production of SEAT, and later for the production of Sol cars. Their first collaboration result is the SOL E20X, an electric SUV based on the JAC Refine S2 EV. In 2020, despite the pandemic, the Volkswagen Group signed an agreement of intent between Volkswagen (China) Investment Co. Ltd. and the Anhui provincial government to increase the Volkswagen Group’s share in the Jac-Volkswagen joint venture from the current 50% to 75% with an investment of a billion euros in the joint venture. In addition, Volkswagen is approaching the parent company of the automaker, JAG, buying out a 50% stake in it.
Popular models
- JAC T6
The JAC Shuailing T6 pickup was introduced to the Chinese market in 2015, and is now on sale in some European countries. The Jac T6 is a copy of the Ford F150, for which Ford sued the Chinese company. The Chinese court reasoned that even Chinese plagiarism must have some limits and Jac had to redesign the car. The second version of the pickup came out so bad that even the Chinese didn’t like it. The third model has turned out to be more successful, the JAC Shuailing T6 is a fully functional and inexpensive mid-size pickup with a capacity of up to 120 hp, available with two loading platforms: 1,520 × 1,520 × 470 mm and 1,810 × 1,520 × 470 mm. There are diesel, gasoline and electric versions. The models are rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The pickup is built on a high-quality Toyota Hilux frame. The vehicle is practical and simple.
- JAC Refine M5
The Jac M5 minibus is based on the first generation Hyundai Starex. The second generation M5 is already quite popular in the Middle East and South America. This is a pretty nice luxury minibus, 5.2 meters long, 1.8 meters wide, and 1.9 meters high. The interior is richly equipped. The vehicle features several types of engines with up to 177 hp.
- JAC S3 Luxury
The Jac S3 is the pinnacle of the JAC compact SUV model range and a typical Chinese modern SUV. The design is quite standard for modern SUVs, but is distinguished by a trapezoidal radiator grille, which makes the S3 recognizable. The rear end looks a little more massive in relation to the wheels, but at the same time it is quite elevated. In profile, the SUV is a little disharmonious: it looks like its windows are too narrow, so the sides look too massive. The interior differs little from the average Japanese or Korean SUVs, except for the height above the seats, which is more than that of the Suzuki Vitara, for example. Due to the rather long wheelbase, the vehicle offers plenty of legroom. The Jac S3 has a large trunk, which will be suitable for a scooter, but not for a bike.
For some reason, the Chinese often install small wheels and weak engines on relatively large cars. This tradition probably has its roots in the Chinese philosophy. In general, the Jac S3 also has a mediocre 1.6-liter engine with a maximum power of 118 hp, coupled with a CVT. With it, the vehicle accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in almost 13 seconds. Overall, the S3 has received positive feedback, as it’s a pretty high-quality everyday SUV with good handling and fuel consumption characteristics.
- JAC E-S2
The Jac S2 mid-size SUV looks like a cross between Volkswagen and Hyundai, but is not their obvious copy. The 16-inch wheels have an original design, the windows are sharply narrowed towards the rear end, but the front end is quite respectable. The control systems have an ergonomic position, are of high quality and responsive. Interior trim is quite acceptable, many trim options are no worse than those of Japanese counterparts in the segment. The equipment is rich. The vehicle comes with a 1.5-liter engine with 112 hp, coupled with a CVT. The Jac S2 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.4 seconds (in ‘sport mode’).
- JAC JS4
The Jac JS4 is a front-wheel drive compact SUV, a creatively revised version of the S4 SUV. The design is made in the new ‘Global Design of JAC Passenger Car 3.0 Era’ style. The front end looks quite futuristic. As for the rest, the JS4 looks like a regular SUV, with the typical JAC upturned rear end and ‘cropped’ rear window. The interior of the compact SUV is unpretentious and modern, with a flattened steering wheel, instrument cluster with a 10.25-inch monitor and a laconic center console with a 10.25-inch touchscreen. The trunk volume is 0.5 cubic meters. The Jac JS4 is equipped with two types of 4-cylinder gasoline engines: an engine producing 118 hp and a very good engine with 147 hp. The engines are accompanied by a 6-speed manual gearbox. There is also a version with a CVT.
