June 1, the 2026 China Hinta International Rally concluded in Xinjiang. The 212 Off-road Team, making its debut, competed in a 7,500 km total distance and 3,400 km of special stages under extreme conditions, becoming the sole 100% finish brand in the T2.1 Production Group Manufacturer Team, ultimately securing the runner-up position in this category. Despite the displacement disadvantage of a 2.0T engine against 3.0T, the 212 T01 proved the mass-produced reliability of rugged Chinese off-road vehicles with a full team finish.
This Hinta Rally was called "the hardest in history," with desert stages accounting for over 60%. Extreme heat, no-man's land marathons, continuous knife-edge slopes, and "deep potholes" posed severe tests for vehicle power, chassis, and body rigidity. In the fiercely competitive T2.1 Production Group, the 212 T01 competed as a near-stock mass-produced vehicle—only equipped with safety gear such as roll cages and racing seats, while the core powertrain and chassis structure remained identical to the market version.
In the first stage SS1, the 212 T01 secured third place in the class; in the SS3 stage, amidst the dangerous situation of over 30 race cars suffering tire blowouts and more than ten withdrawals, it became the only 2.0T manufacturer team to complete the class. In the SS5 stage with the highest elimination rate, the team held its ground under pressure and secured 3rd and 4th place in the class with a 100% completion rate. Entering the devil stages in the second half, Car Groups 265 and 266 won the class championship in SS10 and SS11 consecutively, and secured the runner-up position in SS12 again. Finally, the 212 Team secured the runner-up position in the T2.1 Production Group Manufacturer Team and became the only brand in the entire event to achieve a full team finish in the T2.1 Production Group.
In off-road races with high intensity and long distance like Hinta, the completion rate itself is the most intuitive indicator of reliability. The T01's powertrain maintained stable output under alternating high temperatures and high loads; its suspension travel and tire grip withstood the test in river sections dense with cross-axles and "deep potholes". Under the impact of hidden holes in the gravel riverbed, the high anti-torsion rigidity body maintained postural stability. There were no involuntary vehicle entrapments throughout the journey, verifying the vehicle's mechanical quality and durability in extreme environments. The Explorer 01, which simultaneously undertook logistical support tasks, delivered maintenance equipment and spare parts on time after each race car returned daily, guaranteeing the team's sustained combat capability. This "racing as testing" model is becoming an accelerator for 212 technology iteration.
The 212 T01's mass-produced vehicle performance relies on the "Knight" and "Expedition" two technical platforms released by the brand at the Beijing Auto Show. The "Knight" platform adopts front and rear five-link solid axles with a body-on-frame structure, supporting gasoline, diesel, and hybrid systems; both T01 and Explorer 01 were born from this platform. The "Expedition" platform is positioned as an all-scenario intelligent off-road architecture. The release of these two platforms marks 212's shift from single-vehicle production to systematic technology output.
Outside of racing, 212's global layout is advancing simultaneously. Currently, its global sales network covers over 80 countries and regions, with overseas subsidiaries and offices established in the UAE, Mexico, Indonesia, etc. It has built 9 global parts distribution center warehouses and implemented multiple KD assembly projects in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It will continue to expand in Latin America and Africa in the future. From track verification to the global market, 212 is building a closed loop of "Events-Technology-Products-Service".
On the Hinta race track, the team once stopped voluntarily to rescue trapped opponents; a young boy who specially came from 200 km away received a cap gifted by the driver. These details convey the off-road spirit: Exploration, Passion, and Mutual Aid. In China, 212 cultivates off-road culture through activities such as the "Wild Joy Day" Music Party and G212 National Road Exploration Tour; overseas, from Dakar to Malaysia Sabah Rainforest Race, from Mille Miglia classic car rally to the US SEMA Show, 212 is bringing the Chinese off-road brand into the global perspective.
From full team finish to global layout, the 212's answer sheet at Hinta is not only a score sheet but also a public demonstration of mass-produced vehicle extreme reliability. When Chinese off-road brands dare to verify products with the harshest tracks and convert verification results into quality commitments perceivable by consumers, the trust assets of "Made in China" in the field of rugged off-road vehicles are accumulating.
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