History
The company was founded in January 1992 as Hainan Mazda Motor, a joint venture between the Hainan provincial government and Mazda to produce Mazda models for sale in China.[6] The joint venture arrangement lasted until 2006, when Mazda's share of Hainan Mazda was acquired by FAW Group,[7][8] and the company became a subsidiary of FAW. While Haima retained the right to make and sell older Mazda models as well as use Mazda technology to underpin self-designed products, it was prohibited from using the Mazda marque.[8]
In 2005, Haima Automobile landed on the A-share capital market.[9][10] In August 2008 Haima began construction of a third assembly plant in Hainan, with a capacity to build of 100,000 units per year.[11] Its other two plants are located in Haikou, Hainan, and the city of Zhengzhou; both have production capacities of 150,000 whole vehicles per year.[12]
In April 2009 Reuters reported that the company's partnership with Mazda, by then ended, had been established "to receive technological help" and that Haima was selling a car that seemed similar one of Mazda's offerings without consent.[13]
In November 2010 a plant for the assembly of knock-down kits of the Haima 3 was opened in Cherkessk, Russia by Derways Automobile Company.[14]
Announced in December 2016 that Haima to build a manufacturing plant in Bulgaria starting 2018. It will be the second Chinese company to build a factory in Europe following those of Litex Motors, the official distributor of Great Wall Motor.
In 2019, due to the accumulated losses over the past few years, Haima Group successively sold its real estate assets, transferred the equity of Shanghai Haima Automobile Research Institute and Haima Property, etc.[15] Although the company worked hard to control losses in 2020, sales also declined and it once faced a delisting crisis.[16]
In July 2021, FAW transferred 49% of the shares of FAW Haima to Hainan Development Holdings Co., Ltd. (Hainan Holdings) at no charge. Haima Automobile holds 51% of the shares in FAW Haima, while Hainan Holdings hold 49% of the shares.[5]
In 2023, Toyota and Haima Automobile cooperate on fuel cell vehicles,[17] and also launched car rental business in Hainan.[18]
Corporate Leadership
- Ming Qin (Chief Executive Officer since March 2023)[19]
- Zhu Jing (Chairmen since June 2019)
Past Chairmens
- Zhu Jing (1998–2013)[20][21]
- Qin Quanquan (2013–2019)
