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Min'an Motor is a Chinese new energy pure electric vehicle brand, affiliated with Jiangsu Min'an Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. The company was founded in 2013, with its headquarters in Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province. It has a registered capital of $130 million and a total project investment of 8.3 billion yuan. Min'an Auto is a new energy vehicle development and manufacturing company that integrates product R&D, production manufacturing, sales and after-sales services, and the mobility ecosystem. The factory features ten major functional areas, including stamping, welding, painting, assembly, PACK (battery packaging), and testing and inspection, with an annual production capacity of 50,000 to 80,000 units.
Min'an has a dual background of Taiwanese and state-owned capital. Its parent company is the Taiwan Minshi Group, a globally well-known auto parts supplier famous for high-end exterior parts. Major customers include BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota, and other international car companies. The group operates 41 factories globally, distributed across 29 countries. The Min'an Auto brand logo consists of a set of irregular graphics, with an inverted triangle in the middle filled with pale blue. The soft lines convey a sense of design, symbolizing the brand's green, intelligent, and innovative nature. The brand's mission is "Technology Creates New Value," and it is committed to becoming a leading domestic automotive brand with international competitiveness.
Min'an's car manufacturing journey began with the earlier layout of its parent company, Minshi Group. As early as 2008, Minshi Group established a new energy vehicle strategic research group to conduct research on industrial development direction and technology. In 2010, it established a new energy vehicle business division to fully launch the R&D of new energy vehicles and core components. In the same year, Minshi Group set up a new energy vehicle technology research and development group in Germany, laying the foundation for subsequent international cooperation.
In 2013, Jiangsu Min'an Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. was officially registered in Huai'an. In February 2015, the company completed its industrial and commercial registration with a registered capital of $130 million. In January 2016, the Min'an Auto Research Institute was completed in the Huai'an Economic and Technological Development Zone. Possessing full vehicle R&D, prototyping, testing, and small-batch production capabilities, this marked the completion of Huai'an's first full vehicle R&D center.
November 2016 was a highlight moment for Min'an. The company successfully obtained the fifth pure electric passenger car construction project license nationwide, becoming the fifth enterprise to receive pure electric passenger car production qualifications from the National Development and Reform Commission, following BAIC New Energy, Changjiang Auto, Qiantu Auto, and Chery New Energy. Notably, Min'an obtained these qualifications earlier than head new force car companies like NIO, Xpeng, and WM Motors. In April 2019, Min'an obtained approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to establish itself as a pure electric passenger car production enterprise, officially becoming a new force car manufacturer with "dual qualifications." At that time, only 12 car companies nationwide held this dual certification.
However, after entering 2019, Min'an began to face severe operational crises. On October 31 of that year, a document titled "Notice on Implementing Phased Leave" was exposed, announcing that the company would implement phased leave starting November 1, 2019. The reasons cited included impacts from national policies, the new energy vehicle consumer market environment, and changes in subsidy policies. The company's operations became difficult, and losses continued to mount. Subsequently, Min'an was exposed for mass layoffs, arrears to suppliers, and other issues.
Entering the 2020s, although Min'an did not completely stop production, its market influence dropped significantly. In 2022, the brand launched the micro electric vehicle "Minwei ET1," forming a contrast with its initial "Lantu" mid-to-high-end strategic route. As of 2025, the number of vehicles for sale on automotive websites for the brand has significantly shrunk.
Min'an's product line planning has undergone multiple adjustments, with its early positioning covering multiple platform models.
According to the 2016 product planning, Min'an had five major product platforms in total, with an annual production plan of 150,000 units: Type A cars were electric vehicles developed in cooperation with Toyota, mainly supplying European, American, and Japanese markets; Type B cars were positioned as light urban commuter micro pure electric vehicles; Type D cars were positioned as fashion pure electric vehicles with a mid-to-high-end market positioning and a pre-sale price of 350,000–550,000 yuan; and Type E cars were positioned as SUV electric vehicles.
In terms of mass-produced models, Min'an has launched the following products:
Min'an "Lantu" Series (Originally A2001): This was the brand's first mass-produced pure electric SUV, with the internal code name A2001. It debuted at the Min'an factory completion ceremony on November 2, 2018, and entered the experimental verification stage that same year. Originally planned for market sales at the end of 2019 or early 2020, the new car debuted using the new brand logo "Lantu" and was positioned as an A+ pure electric SUV. According to the plan, by 2023 Min'an intended to have two independent full vehicle platforms and eight models, covering electric SUVs, electric sports cars, and pure electric logistics vehicles. However, the "Lantu" ultimately failed to be launched on a large scale.
Min'an MX-6: As the brand's first model, exposure of its application drawings occurred as early as 2019, but there was no news of mass production or launch.
Minwei ET1 (2022): A pure electric micro car launched by Min'an in 2022, this is the only model in recent years to achieve terminal sales. The car features a 3-door, 2-seat layout and is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 27 horsepower and peak torque of 85 Newton-meters, reaching a maximum speed of 100 km/h. For batteries, it uses Gotion High-Tech lithium iron phosphate battery packs with a capacity of 10.08 kWh, offering a comprehensive range of 102 km and a slow charging time of 6–8 hours. The guide price for the Minwei ET1 is 39,800 yuan, focusing on the urban short-distance commuting market.
Minwei ET3 (2023): Min'an's first mass-produced right-hand drive export model, which debuted at the Huai'an New Year Consumption Festival in January 2023. This car marks an important step in Min'an's international market expansion capabilities.
Enchi Auto (Associated Brand): Enchi Auto was formed with 50% capital contributed by Min'an Group and Huzhou Ruichi each, with a total investment of 2 billion yuan. Its product line covers new energy buses, pure electric logistics vehicles, mid-to-high-end RVs, and other series of products.
Min'an's market performance showed a distinct characteristic of "rise first, then fall." During the initial period of obtaining production qualifications, the brand received high market attention. When the factory was completed in 2018, it attracted more than 200 supplier representatives to attend, and signed multiple industry layout agreements including Phase II projects, ride-hailing platform projects, and unmanned driving test site projects.
However, after entering the actual sales phase, Min'an's market performance was far from expectations. According to terminal sales data from 2022 to 2024, Minwei ET1 monthly sales remained at single-digit levels for a long time: sales peaked at 33 units in September 2022, after which most months' sales were only 1-3 units. Sales were 7 units in March 2024, and subsequent months averaged only 1 unit per month. In contrast, the same-level competitor Wuling MINI EV had a single-month sales volume of 18,526 units in December 2025. Some analysis points out that Minwei ET1's pricing and configuration could not gain market recognition. The brand's overall sales data has long shown "no data" in mainstream sales lists.
Regarding financing, Min'an initially claimed not to be optimistic about the external financing model, with development funds mainly coming from the parent company Minshi Group's own funds. Until now, a total of about 3 billion yuan has been actually invested, all through enterprise self-investment, with no external financing or loans. However, accompanied by operational difficulties, in October 2019, Huaian Development Holding Co., Ltd., which held 50% equity of Min'an, exited the company, causing the brand to lose important state-owned capital background support.
Min'an's technical accumulation stems from the parent company Minshi Group's years of industry experience and independent innovation investment. Relying on independent R&D, the brand has successively obtained over 40 national patents, such as those for power battery module integration, mastering core new energy technologies including motors, batteries, and electronic control systems. As of the latest statistics, Min'an's cumulative patent count reaches 180 items.
Min'an's core technology is reflected in the following aspects:
Electric Powertrain: Min'an has established an R&D, production, sales, and after-sales service system for core components such as full vehicle electrical installation, drive motors, power batteries, battery PACK, full vehicle electronic control systems, and body lightweighting in Ningbo, Jiaxing, and Huzhou in Zhejiang province, with cumulative investment exceeding 1 billion yuan.
Vehicle Network Topology Technology: Min'an has developed advanced vehicle network topology structures, including chassis CAN network segments, power CAN network segments, infotainment CAN network segments, body comfort CAN network segments, and T-Box CAN network segments. Each network segment achieves communication through a central gateway.
International Cooperation Technology: Min'an commissioned a German team for model R&D, acquired all-aluminum body technology and full vehicle intellectual property rights from Italy's Grecav, and reached cooperation with a Swedish company in dual motor system R&D. In 2017, Min'an signed a strategic cooperation intention with a well-known German enterprise, involving the introduction of core electric vehicle technologies.
Body Lightweighting: Relying on Minshi Group's specialization in spare parts production, Min'an has technical advantages in lightweight material applications, such as aluminum alloy hoods and carbon fiber bodies.
Unmanned Driving Technology: Min'an early on planned and built a national unmanned driving test demonstration base, leading core components, internet of vehicles, intelligent transportation, and other industries, forming an unmanned driving vehicle industrial cluster.
Min'an's overseas layout has inherent advantages. The parent company, Minshi Group, operates 59 factories and research and development centers in 29 countries worldwide, providing products and services to internationally renowned companies such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, and Toyota. Min'an fully utilizes these global supply chain resources to promote its own internationalization.
At the technology R&D level, as early as 2010, Min'an established a new energy vehicle technology research and development group in Germany. Based on this foundation, it carried out in-depth exchanges and cooperation with Germany's engineering testing company ARRK and Germany's emerging electric vehicle company SONO.
At the export market level, according to the 2016 product planning, Min'an's products were mainly intended for European, American, and Japanese markets. In 2023, Min'an launched its first mass-produced right-hand drive export model, the Minwei ET3, marking the brand's capability to expand its business in the international market.
Min'an is currently at a critical stage of strategic adjustment and repositioning. After the shareholder change in 2019, the brand's scale shrunk significantly, from nearly 800 employees to less than 300. Entering the 2020s, Min'an's main business has shifted from its initial focus on mid-to-high-end pure electric SUVs to low-threshold micro electric vehicles (such as the Minwei ET1), forming a significant contrast with the early mid-to-high-end positioning of "350,000–550,000 RMB."
It is worth noting that an Environmental Impact Assessment report from 2025 shows that the Min'an Electric Vehicle Production Project is still under planning, with a total project investment of about 10 billion yuan and an estimated annual production capacity of 300,000 units. Products will cover A0-level to B-level car markets, including SUVs, sedans, micro cars, and other models. However, whether the project can eventually materialize and how funding sources will be resolved still require further observation.
In summary, Min'an's future trend faces multiple uncertainties. On one hand, Minshi Group's global parts supply chain advantages and the brand's accumulated patent technology reserves (180 patents) constitute a certain development foundation. On the other hand, continued low sales, shareholder changes, and multiple contract disputes and legal litigations since 2019 all indicate that the brand is unlikely to return to a high-speed development track in the short term. Whether Min'an can break out of the situation of "starting early but finishing late" depends on the implementation strength of new strategies and capital support.
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