Haval
Company History
Haval History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2013 in Baoding, China
When was Haval founded?
Haval was founded in 2013 in Baoding, China by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey), making it 13 years old.
- Founded
- 2013
- Founding place
- Baoding, China
- Founders
- Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey)
- Headquarters today
- Baoding, Hebei, China
- Milestones documented
- 10 (2002–2026)
- Current CEO
- Mu Feng
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Great Wall Safe (Saijun) SUV Launched |
| 2011 | Launch of the Revolutionary Haval H6 Crossover |
| 2013 | Haval Spun Off as Independent Dedicated SUV Brand |
| 2018 | Haval Cumulative Global Sales Surpasses 5 Million SUVs |
| 2020 | Launch of Haval Big Dog (DaGou) Rugged Lifestyle Crossover |
| 2022 | Mu Feng becomes CEO |
| 2023 | Launch of Proprietary Hi4 Intelligent Hybrid 4WD Technology |
| 2024 | Haval Expands Hybrid and Export Range |
| 2025 | About 758,000 Haval SUVs Sold |
| 2026 | Haval H6 Refresh and Brazil Plant Plan |
- Where was Haval founded?
- Haval was founded in Baoding, China in 2013.
- Who founded Haval?
- Haval was founded by Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey).
- When did Haval start?
- Haval was founded in 2013.
- How old is Haval?
- Haval is 13 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Great Wall Motor began as a small vehicle maker in Baoding in 1984 and grew on pickup trucks under Wei Jianjun, who took over in 1990. Its early SUVs, the Safe and the Hover (later Haval H3/H5), sold well in the 2000s. After the H6 launched in 2011, GWM decided its SUVs needed their own identity and made Haval an independent brand in March 2013 with separate branding and dealers.
Founders
Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey)
Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey), born in 1964, became head of Great Wall Motor in 1990 at age 26. He shifted the company toward pickups and SUVs instead of sedans, took it public in Hong Kong in 2003 and in Shanghai in 2011, and made Haval a standalone SUV brand in 2013. He remains GWM's chairman and controlling shareholder and is one of China's richest auto executives.
Key Milestones
Great Wall Safe (Saijun) SUV Launched
Launched China's first mass-market affordable SUV, igniting the domestic consumer SUV boom.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgLaunch of the Revolutionary Haval H6 Crossover
Introduced the unibody compact SUV that became China's best-selling SUV for over 100 consecutive months.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHaval Spun Off as Independent Dedicated SUV Brand
Wei Jianjun officially established Haval as an independent marque with its own brand logo and dealer network.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHaval Cumulative Global Sales Surpasses 5 Million SUVs
Celebrated 5 million cumulative SUV sales, solidifying its title as China's 'SUV King'.
Source: gwm-global.comLaunch of Haval Big Dog (DaGou) Rugged Lifestyle Crossover
Pioneered the popular 3/4-scale rugged lifestyle crossover segment, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMu Feng becomes CEO
Mu Feng became CEO of Haval in 2022. Mu Feng runs GWM's day-to-day operations across Haval, WEY, Tank, ORA and the pickup brand, with a focus on new-energy models and global production.
Source: en.ilsole24ore.comLaunch of Proprietary Hi4 Intelligent Hybrid 4WD Technology
Commercialized GWM's dual-motor hybrid system, offering 4WD capability at 2WD pricing and fuel efficiency.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHaval Expands Hybrid and Export Range
Expanded Hi4 and hybrid versions of the H6, Jolion and Raptor across China and export markets.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAbout 758,000 Haval SUVs Sold
Haval remained GWM's largest brand as group revenue rose 10.2% to ~$31 billion (RMB 222.82 billion).
Source: res.gwm.com.cnHaval H6 Refresh and Brazil Plant Plan
GWM launched a refreshed H6 in China in June 2026 and announced a new 200,000-unit factory in Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Source: carnewschina.comMajor Acquisitions
General Motors Rayong plant (Thailand)
2020Right-hand-drive production hub for ASEAN and Australia.
Mercedes-Benz Iracemápolis plant (Brazil)
2021Local production for Latin America.
General Motors Talegaon plant (India asset purchase)
2020Acquired manufacturing facility in Talegaon, Maharashtra from General Motors to establish localized Haval vehicle assembly in South Asia.
Keep researching Haval
Haval Company History FAQ
What are the major historical eras in the evolution of Haval?
Haval's history spans the early Great Wall SUV exploration era (2002-2010), the launch of the blockbuster Haval H6 and Dakar Rally campaigns (2011-2012), the independent brand establishment and 5-million sales boom (2013-2019), the international manufacturing expansion (2020-2022), and the modern Hi4 smart hybrid and new energy era (2023-present).
How did the Haval H6 achieve over 100 consecutive months as China's bestselling SUV?
Launched in 2011, the Haval H6 combined refined monocoque car-like chassis comfort, spacious interior room, reliable turbocharged powertrains, and unbeatable value, capturing the hearts of millions of Chinese families and dominating domestic sales charts for nearly a decade.
What was the significance of the 2019 opening of GWM's Tula factory in Russia?
In June 2019 GWM opened its plant in Tula, Russia, its first full-process overseas factory, building Haval SUVs such as the F7 and Jolion for the Russian market, where Haval became one of the top-selling Chinese brands.
How did the launch of the Haval Big Dog (DaGou) in 2020 disrupt urban SUV styling?
In 2020, Haval launched the 'Big Dog' (DaGou), pioneering the '3/4 scale' category bridging comfortable urban crossovers and rugged off-roaders. With bold round LED headlamps, boxy retro styling, and locking differentials, the Big Dog created a large consumer lifestyle trend.
When did Haval shift toward new energy vehicles?
From 2021 GWM set aggressive new-energy targets for its brands, and Haval rolled out hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs, followed by the Hi4 all-wheel-drive hybrid system in 2023. Most new Haval models now offer a hybrid option.
How has Haval expanded its brand presence in Australia and New Zealand?
GWM sells Haval models in Australia and New Zealand through its own local subsidiary, with the Jolion and H6 among its best sellers and a seven-year warranty to reassure buyers.
What was the impact of the launch of the Haval Raptor off-road plug-in hybrid in 2023?
Launched in late 2023, the Haval Raptor introduced the major Hi4 hybrid four-wheel-drive powertrain combined with rear electronic differential locks and boxy off-road styling, establishing the benchmark for affordable electrified off-road adventure SUVs.
What is Haval's ultimate corporate mission for the future of smart mobility?
Haval's mission is to be the world's most trusted, innovative, and green SUV brand, empowering drivers with intelligent four-wheel-drive hybrid performance, class-leading safety, and the freedom to explore any terrain sustainably.
How did Haval start?
Haval was officially launched as a standalone brand in 2013 by Great Wall Motor (GWM), one of China's massive legacy automakers. Prior to 2013, "Hover/Haval" was simply a model name for GWM's SUVs. Realizing that Chinese consumers were developing a massive obsession with SUVs, GWM brilliantly spun Haval out as an independent, premium SUV-only brand.
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