Livan Automotive Explained

Livan Automotive is a joint venture company between Lifan Group and Geely Qizheng, a company owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding (ZGH). The brand was founded in 2022 following a merger between Geely-owned Maple and Lifan Technology.

In China, Livan targeted the battery-swapping electric vehicle market. The joint venture manufactures electric vehicles using Geely's existing platforms under Livan and Maple brands. In export markets such as Russia, Livan became Geely's budget brand selling internal combustion vehicles.

On January 24, 2022, after Lifan Group was acquired by ZGH,^[1] Geely reconsolidated and merged its previous subsidiary Maple Automobile Co., Ltd. into the Livan brand. This move resulted in Maple exiting the market as an independent brand and becoming a model name under the Livan brand.^{[2] [3] [4]}

History

Originally Shanghai Maple (SMA, Shanghai Maple Automobiles), the brand was established in 2000, producing Huapu (Maple) branded vehicles.^[5] The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in the summer of 2003, based on the 1990s-era Citroën ZX.^[6] Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002, and in 2008, Shanghai Maple was fully consolidated into Geely as their budget brand before it was phased out in 2010 in favor of the Englon budget brand.^{[7] [8]}

In March 2013, Geely and Kandi Technologies established a 50:50 joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment, focused on the research and development, production, marketing, and sale of electric vehicles in the Chinese mainland.^{[9] [10]} As a result of this partnership, the Maple brand was revived in 2020. The revived Maple brand began producing a series of affordable electric cars based on existing Geely petrol cars, beginning with the Maple 30X, based on the Geely Vision X3.^[11]

In March 2021, Kandi Technologies exited its stake, transferring its 22 percent equity interest to Geely.^[12] In 2022, Geely launched a joint venture between Lifan and Maple called Livan (Ruilan, 睿蓝). Geely announced the launch of the Maple Leaf 60S, Geely's first battery swap car under the Livan brand, produced in association with Lifan and based on the Geely Emgrand GL.^{[13] [14] [15]} In early 2022 the Maple brand was folded into the new Livan brand, becoming a model name used on legacy designs.

During the Livan brand launch later in June 2022, a brand new model, the Livan 7 electric fastback crossover was teased,^[16] while a few days later at the 2022 Chongqing Auto Show, the Livan 9 electric mid-size crossover SUV was shown for the first time being developed based on the Geely Haoyue.^[17]

Livan entered the Russian market in mid-2023. Instead of being an electric vehicle brand, Livan in Russia became Geely's budget brand, selling older Geely models with modified styling.^{[18] [19]}

In February 2024, Geely Automobile Holdings sold its 45% stake in Livan Automotive to Geely Qizheng, another company under Zhejiang Geely Holding. Currently, Geely Qizheng and Lifan Technology hold 45% and 55% of Livan respectively, both are holding subsidiaries of Geely Group and still retained within the Geely Group.^{[20] [21]}

Timeline of Maple, Kandi and Livan!Year!Company name!Ownership!Marque marketed!Note

Shanghai Maple (2000–2010)
2000	Shanghai Maple Automobiles		Maple	The establishment of Shanghai Maple.[22]
2008	Shanghai Maple Automobiles	Geely		Fully acquired by Geely.
2010	Shanghai Maple Automobiles	Geely	None	Maple marque was consolidated and replaced by the Englon.
Kandi (2013–2019)
2013	Kandi Electric Vehicles	Geely (50%) Kandi (50%)	Kandi	Kandi and Shanghai Maple (Geely) established 50:50 joint venture, Kandi Electric Vehicles.[23]
Maple (2019–2021)
2019	Fengsheng Automobile Technology	Geely (78%) Kandi (22%)	Maple	Geely acquired the majority of the Kandi Electric Vehicles, renamed it to Fengsheng Automobile.[24] The Maple marque was revived.
2021	Fengsheng Automobile Technology	Geely		Geely acquired all the stake of the joint venture.
2021	Livan Automotive	Geely (50%) Lifan Technology (50%)		Geely and Lifan Technology established 50:50 joint venture, Livan Automotive.[25] The Livan Automotive inherits the Maple marque from Fengsheng Automobile.[26]
Livan (2024–present)
2022	Livan Automotive	Geely (50%) Lifan Technology (50%)	Livan	Livan marque operates independently. Maple brand was folded into the Livan, becoming a model name used on legacy designs.

Product

Current models

• Maple 60S (2021–present), compact sedan, rebadged Geely Emgrand EV Pro
• Livan 7 (2022–present), coupe compact SUV, BEV
• Livan 9 (2022–present), mid-size SUV, rebadged BEV variant of Geely Haoyue
• Maple 80V (2020–present), compact MPV, rebadged BEV variant of Geely Jiaji
  • Livan 8 (2024–present), compact MPV, rebadged BEV variant of Geely Jiaji L

Export models

• Livan S6 Pro (2023–present, export only), compact sedan, rebadged Geely Emgrand L^[27]
• Livan X3 Pro (2023–present), subcompact SUV, rebadged Geely Yuanjing X3 Pro^[28]
• Livan X6 Pro (2023–present, export only), mid-size SUV, rebadged Geely Haoyue Pro^[29]

Discontinued models

• Maple 30X (2020–2021), subcompact SUV, BEV, rebadged Geely Yuanjing X3

See also

• Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
• List of automobile manufacturers of China

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chuan Geely's acquisition of Lifan plus Southwest Market may be the main reason . SMM: Shanghai Metals Market . SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. . https://web.archive.org/web/20230517001811/https://news.metal.com/newscontent/101239307/chuan-geelys-acquisition-of-lifan-plus-southwest-market-may-be-the-main-reason . 2023-05-17 . 2020-08-13 . Michael . Jiang .
2. Web site: "枫叶"汽车或退出市场 . 2023-05-17 . www.sohu.com .
3. Web site: 睿蓝汽车官方网站-换电轻出行普及者 . 2023-05-17 . www.livanauto.com.
4. Web site: 网易 . 2022-01-24 . 独家"枫叶"汽车或退出市场 吉利、力帆合资公司将推新品牌、新车定位5-8万元 . 2023-05-17 . www.163.com.
5. Web site: Shanghai Maple Automobile Co. Ltd.. Investing.businessweek.com. 16 February 2022.
6. Web site: 9968,com-【用心服务】-9499,com_9499,com. Chinacartimes.com. 16 February 2022.
7. Web site: Englon brand to get major boost in 2011 . ChinaCarTimes.com . 2010-10-29 .
8. Web site: Automotive World. Automotiveworld.com. 3 July 2008. 16 February 2022. 13 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120513204833/http://www.automotiveworld.com/news/emerging-markets/69286-china-industry-consolidation-picks-up-speed-as-geely-takes-over-shanghai-maple. dead.
9. News: Geely subsidiary signs joint EV venture deal. 17 February 2013. The China Post. 6 February 2013.
10. News: Kandi Technologies Corp's Zhejiang Kandi Vehicles Co Ltd Enters Into Joint Venture Agreement With Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd's Guorun Automobile Co Ltd. 1 April 2013. Reuters. 25 March 2013.
11. Web site: Maple 30x is a new low-cost EV from China. https://web.archive.org/web/20221206142744/https://www.electrive.com/2020/04/20/maple-30x-is-a-new-low-cost-ev-from-china/ . 2022-12-06 . Electrive.com. Chris . Randall . 20 April 2020.
12. Kandi Technologies Exits Geely Affiliation . https://web.archive.org/web/20230704014922/https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/kandi-technologies-exits-geely-affiliation-2021-03-15 . 2023-07-04 . Nasdaq, Inc. . 2021-03-15 .
13. Web site: Maple Leaf 60S To Launch in February - With Battery Swap in 60 seconds. 21 January 2022. CarNewsChina.com. 16 February 2022.
14. Web site: Geely-backed Maple Leaf 60S leaked ahead of Feb. debut, with 60 sec. battery swap. Jo. Borrás. Electrek.co. 22 January 2022. 16 February 2022.
15. Web site: Maple Leaf 60S electric sedan to debut in February – 136 hp/230 Nm, 60-second battery swap, 415 km range . Mick . Chan . 2022-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230220103422/https://paultan.org/2022/01/24/maple-leaf-60s-electric-sedan-to-debut-in-february-136-hp-230-nm-60-second-battery-swap-415-km-range/ . 2023-02-20 .
16. Web site: 睿蓝7概念车首发亮相.
17. Web site: 2022重庆车展探馆：睿蓝9实车将亮相.
18. Web site: 2023-05-17 . Livan в России: цена объявлена, но дилеры не готовы . Livan in Russia: Price announced, but dealers not ready . 2024-11-28 . autoreview.ru . Russian.
19. Web site: 2023-06-15 . Кросс-хэтчбек Livan X3 Pro: старт продаж в России . https://autoreview.ru/news/kross-hetchbek-livan-x3-pro-start-prodazh-v-rossii . 2024-11-28 . autoreview.ru . Russian.
20. Web site: Monika . 2024-02-21 . Geely Automobile to transfer equity in Livan Automotive . 2024-05-22 . autonews.gasgoo.com.
21. Web site: 吉利汽车，大动作 . 2024-03-11 . www.stcn.com.
22. Web site: 网易 . 2024-05-17 . 华普发展史（上）：李书福胞弟为啥没能做出第二个吉利？ . 2024-11-28 . www.163.com.
23. Web site: 浙江康迪电动汽车有限公司正式成立 . 2024-11-28 . www.caam.org.cn.
24. Web site: 吉利将康迪电动收归麾下，持股增加到78% - 第一电动网 . 2024-11-28 . www.d1ev.com.
25. Web site: 汽势焦点：吉利整合力帆收尾步正轨 娄源发领衔新高管团队_车家号_发现车生活_汽车之家 . 2024-11-28 . chejiahao.autohome.com.cn . zh-CN.
26. Web site: 连线出行 . 2024-11-28 . 子公司卖给理想、自己卖身吉利，谁还记得力帆？-36氪 . 2024-11-28 . 36kr.com.
27. Web site: 2023-10-02 . The Livan S6 Pro sedan will appear in Russia in October . 2024-06-21 . eng.autostat.ru . en.
28. Web site: 2023-06-27 . Первый тест Livan X3 Pro: самого доступного в России нового кроссовера с двумя педалями . First test of Livan X3 Pro: the most affordable new crossover with two pedals in Russia . 2024-09-08 . auto.ru . en.
29. Web site: 2023-10-18 . В Россию приехали седан Livan S6 Pro и кроссовер Livan X6 Pro . 2024-06-20 . Autoreview.ru . ru.