BAW

BAW (Beijing Automobile Works) is a private automotive manufacturer under Weiqiao Pioneer Group. The company was founded in 1951, and in 1958, its factory name was personally inscribed by Chairman Zhu De. It was the second major automobile enterprise established after the founding of the People's Republic of China, earning the reputation of "military quality, off‑road dynasty" in China's automotive history. BAW is headquartered at 17 Shengda Road, Jiangshan Town, Laixi, Qingdao, Shandong. The chairman and legal representative is Lu Fujun. The company currently employs around 5,000 people and has an annual production capacity of 100,000 vehicles.

Development History

The company's roots go back to 1951, when it was set up as the Sixth Automotive Manufacturing and Parts Factory of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. In 1958, the First Automobile Accessories Factory was renamed Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Factory. That year, Beijing's first car—the "Jinggangshan" sedan—was built and driven into Zhongnanhai to report the news to central leaders. In 1959, three Beijing‑brand luxury sedans followed. In 1961, the company formally moved into off‑road vehicle production. In 1963, the BJ210C light off‑roader was officially named "Beijing Brand." In 1965, the BJ212 four‑door military off‑road command vehicle was developed—a model that would go on to sell over 2 million units and become a legend that shaped generations of Chinese drivers. In 1978, the first BJ121 light truck was developed.

In May 1983, Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Factory set up China's first Sino‑foreign automotive joint venture. In 1987, it merged with Beijing Motorcycle Manufacturing Factory to form Beijing Automobile Motorcycle United Manufacturing Company. In November 2001, that entity and Beijing Automobile Assembly Factory were restructured into Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Factory Co., Ltd., with the assembly factory as the controlling shareholder. In 2004, a new plant in Beijing's Shunyi district was built and went into operation. In 2007, the second‑generation military light off‑roader, the "Warrior," rolled off the line. In December 2013, the Huanghua Automotive Industrial Park was completed.

In 2015, at the request of the Beijing SASAC, BAIC Group transferred its entire 51% stake in Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Factory Co., Ltd. to a listed entity. The factory was thus fully separated from BAIC Group and became a private enterprise. In May 2020, Shandong Fulu Group completed its acquisition of BAW Manufacturing, moving the headquarters from Beijing to Qingdao, where it was completed and put into production in January 2022. In February 2023, Weiqiao Pioneer Group took control, becoming the largest shareholder.

In June 2024, BAIC Group issued a clarification, stating that Beijing Automobile Manufacturing Factory Co., Ltd. is a private enterprise with production bases mainly in Qingdao, Shandong, and has no equity or property ties to BAIC Group. In September 2025, BAW's Ruisheng Automobile debuted as an independent brand focused on MPVs.

Brand Portfolio

BAW operates multiple product lines and sub‑brands. The 212 brand carries the legacy of the BJ212, the original Chinese off‑road vehicle. In 2024, it launched a new 212 brand with its first model, the T01, built on the WY professional off‑road platform. Priced from 139,900 to 188,800 RMB, it is compatible with both traditional fuel and hybrid powertrains, and can be extended to three‑door and pickup variants.

The main BAW brand focuses on "create wealth and leisure" vehicles, covering MPVs, pickups, and micro trucks. Key models include the Wangpai MPV (mid‑to‑large MPV, 59,800–88,800 RMB) and the Calorie F7 Pickup (a 60,000‑RMB‑class wide‑cab all‑round pickup). The brand spans five niche segments: home and business dual‑use, urban logistics, passenger transport, leisure travel, and battery‑swap markets.

The REACH (Leichi) sub‑brand targets the commercial sector, entering the urban last‑mile delivery electrification space with new energy mini trucks. Additionally, BAW previously launched the "Three Treasures" micro‑EV line—Yuanbao, Yuanbao Plus, and Jiabao—to cover the pure electric micro‑vehicle market.

Market Performance

In recent years, BAW has carved out a differentiated niche in the MPV and pickup markets. As of July 2025, the Ruisheng King M7 had sold nearly 7,000 units in the customised passenger transport segment, topping the niche market chart within six months of launch. In 2025, BAW posted total sales of 41,657 vehicles, with 790 units sold in February 2026. The company is actively pushing its transition to commercial new energy vehicles, targeting a 60% electrification penetration rate in 2025, while rolling out pure electric and CNG powertrain variants.

Core Technologies

BAW has formed a strategic partnership with Harbin Dongan Automotive Power Co., Ltd. in the powertrain space. In December 2025, the two companies jointly unveiled the "New Power Joint Innovation Laboratory," focused on powertrain innovation for off‑road models and the joint development of next‑gen off‑road vehicle systems. On the new energy and commercial vehicle front, the Ruisheng King M7 is spearheading commercial vehicle electrification, with three powertrain variants covering a 300‑500 km travel radius. BAW also owns subsidiary Yuanqi New Power Technology, which specialises in range‑extender hybrid technology R&D. As of 2023, BAW had established two national‑level testing centres and held 66 patents.

Global Footprint

In 2024, BAW signed a commercial agreement with Goyang City in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, planning to build approximately 2 million square metres of electric vehicle production and sales facilities in the Goyang Economic Free Zone. The investment is estimated at 4 trillion Korean won (roughly 3.01 billion USD), with an annual production target of over 200,000 vehicles, around 90% of which are slated for export. This overseas base marks a significant step in BAW's global production and export expansion.

Future Outlook

Backed by Weiqiao Pioneer Group's strong financial resources, BAW is pushing forward with its new energy transformation and brand upgrade. On the product front, the company will continue to strengthen its NEV commercial vehicle lineup, anchored by the Ruisheng King M7, while deepening technology development on the 212 brand's off‑road platform. In July 2025, BAW was named a leading enterprise in Shandong Province's intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry chain. In December, it received the "2025 Qingdao City Private Enterprise Leading Benchmark" award.

BAW aims to carve out a differentiated position in three niche markets—MPV, pickup, and micro truck—with a gap‑filling strategy, while maintaining a dual‑use product portfolio covering both commercial and passenger segments. The goal is to gradually increase electrification penetration and evolve from a regional manufacturer into a fully qualified innovative technology enterprise.