Haval

Automotive ManufacturingFounded 2013

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

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Haval

Automotive ManufacturingFounded 2013

Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya

Last reviewed: September 12, 2026

Market Data Current As Of: September 12, 2026

Company History

Haval: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones

Founded 2013 in Baoding, Hebei, China

Founding Story

In 1990, a 26-year-old automotive enthusiast named Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey) took over the struggling Great Wall Industry Company in Baoding, Hebei, which was then a tiny rural workshop with just 60 workers. Wei transformed Great Wall into China's undisputed leader in affordable pickup trucks. In 2002, Wei noticed that ordinary Chinese families were yearning for spacious, comfortable passenger vehicles but could not afford expensive imported European or Japanese sedans. Great Wall launched its first SUV, the Great Wall Safe (Saijun), pricing it at just 80,000 RMB ($10,000 USD)—half the price of imported rivals—igniting China's SUV boom. In 2011, GWM introduced the Haval H6 unibody compact crossover, which became an instant phenomenon. On March 29, 2013, with cumulative SUV sales exceeding 1 million units, Wei Jianjun made the historic decision to spin off Haval into an independent, standalone brand with its own logo and dealer network, dedicating the entire organization to becoming the world's leading specialist SUV brand.

Founders

Wei Jianjun (Jack Wey)

Wei Jianjun is the Chairman and driving visionary of Great Wall Motor (GWM) and the founder of the Haval brand. In 1990, Wei took over the indebted Great Wall workshop and turned it into China's pickup truck and SUV leader. Wei made the bold decision to spin off Haval into a dedicated SUV brand in 2013, creating the best-selling Haval H6, investing billions in in-house transmission and battery R&D, and building GWM into a global automotive empire.

Key Milestones

2002

Great Wall Safe (Saijun) SUV Launched

Launched China's first mass-market affordable SUV, igniting the domestic consumer SUV boom.

2011

Launch of the Revolutionary Haval H6 Crossover

Introduced the unibody compact SUV that became China's best-selling SUV for over 100 consecutive months.

2013

Haval Spun Off as Independent Dedicated SUV Brand

Wei Jianjun officially established Haval as an independent marque with its own brand logo and dealer network.

2018

Haval Cumulative Global Sales Surpasses 5 Million SUVs

Celebrated 5 million cumulative SUV sales, solidifying its title as China's 'SUV King'.

2020

Launch of Haval Big Dog (DaGou) Rugged Lifestyle Crossover

Pioneered the popular 3/4-scale rugged lifestyle crossover segment, appealing to outdoor enthusiasts.

2023

Launch of Proprietary Hi4 Intelligent Hybrid 4WD Technology

Commercialized GWM's dual-motor hybrid system, offering 4WD capability at 2WD pricing and fuel efficiency.

2024

Global Export Sales Crosses 300,000 Units in 60+ Countries

Achieved record international market penetration across Australia, South Africa, and Southeast Asia.

2026

Surpasses $25.0B in Annual Revenue Across 750,000+ Vehicle Sales

Achieved annual vehicle revenue exceeding $25.0 billion in USD with full Hi4 hybrid standardization.

Haval Company History FAQ

What are the defining historical milestones for Haval?

Since its establishment in 2013, Haval expanded from an early-stage venture into a recognized leader in Automotive Manufacturing, Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV), Crossover Vehicles, Hybrid Intelligent 4WD (Hi4) & Off-Road Mobility, overcoming key market challenges.

What major strategic pivots shaped Haval's evolution?

Over its history, Haval executed decisive strategic pivots toward scalable monetization and digital distribution, securing its current market leadership.

How has Haval adapted to recent industry disruptions?

By continually modernizing operations and embracing workflow automation, Haval maintains resilience through changing technological and economic cycles.

Related Companies

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Compare Haval History With Competitors

Over its history, Haval executed decisive strategic pivots toward scalable monetization and digital distribution, securing its current market leadership.

How has Haval adapted to recent industry disruptions?

By continually modernizing operations and embracing workflow automation, Haval maintains resilience through changing technological and economic cycles.