Livan Automotive
A Geely-group automotive brand and joint venture focused in China on affordable electric vehicles and battery-swapping models, while selling selected combustion-engine vehicles in export markets.
Last updated October 9, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Livan Automotive is a Chinese automotive marque created through the combination of Lifan Technology and Geely's Maple business. The brand is associated with affordable vehicles, electric mobility, and battery-swapping services in China, although its international portfolio has also included petrol-powered vehicles derived from existing Geely models. The brand's immediate corporate background lies in the restructuring of Lifan Group under Zhejiang Geely Holding. Geely had previously developed the Maple name through its relationship with Shanghai Maple Automobile and later revived Maple as an electric-vehicle label. Lifan, meanwhile, became part of Geely's broader industrial structure after its acquisition and restructuring. On 24 January 2022, Geely consolidated the former Maple automobile operation into a new Livan joint venture involving Lifan Technology and Geely Qizheng. Maple ceased operating as an independent marque and was retained mainly as a model designation for vehicles based on earlier designs. In China, Livan's proposition has centered on comparatively accessible electric cars and practical vehicles that can use battery-swapping infrastructure. Rather than developing a completely separate platform family for every model, the brand has generally adapted Geely architectures and vehicles. This approach has allowed Livan to offer sedans, multipurpose vehicles, crossovers, and SUVs while keeping development and manufacturing closely connected to Geely's existing technology base. Models such as the Maple 60S, Maple 80V, Livan 7, Livan 8, and Livan 9 represent different applications of this strategy. The Livan 7 was presented as a new electric fastback crossover, while the Livan 9 used the foundations of Geely's Haoyue SUV. Livan's product lineage also includes the earlier revived Maple electric range. The Maple 30X, introduced in 2020, was an affordable battery-electric subcompact SUV derived from the Geely Vision X3. Later models extended the same rebadging and platform-sharing logic to the Emgrand, Jiaji, and other Geely products. In April 2025, the Livan marque was consolidated for the Chinese market and became a product line under Geely Auto, further reducing its separation from the parent group's mainstream vehicle operations. Outside China, Livan has been used more flexibly. The brand entered Russia in 2023 as a budget-oriented Geely marque, where its range emphasized older Geely-derived petrol vehicles with revised exterior and brand treatment rather than the battery-swapping focus associated with its Chinese business. Livan subsequently appeared in additional export markets, including Spain and the United Arab Emirates, with combustion-engine models. This split between Chinese electric products and selected international petrol vehicles reflects different infrastructure, regulatory, and market-positioning requirements. The company has also pursued regional partnerships. In October 2024, Livan agreed to work with Indonesia's Aletra Mobil Nusantara on right-hand-drive electric vehicles for Indonesia. Aletra's first vehicle, the Aletra L8, introduced in November 2024, was based on the Livan 8. The arrangement illustrates Livan's use of licensing, local branding, and adaptation rather than relying solely on direct export sales. Ownership and corporate control have continued to evolve. In February 2024, Geely Automobile Holdings transferred its 45 percent interest in Livan Automotive to Geely Qizheng. The reported shareholding thereafter was 45 percent for Geely Qizheng and 55 percent for Lifan Technology, with both entities connected to the Geely group. In March 2025, Lifan Technology changed its name to Chongqing Qianli Technology. Livan therefore remains a Geely-group-associated brand, but its operating identity has been subject to continuing consolidation and portfolio rationalization.
History
Livan's history combines the development of Shanghai Maple, Geely's budget-brand experiments, Lifan's restructuring, and the expansion of Geely's electric-vehicle portfolio. Shanghai Maple Automobile, also known as SMA, was established in 2000 and produced vehicles under the Maple or Huapu name. Geely acquired a strategic holding in the company in 2002 and fully consolidated it in 2008. The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in 2003 and was based on the Citroën ZX architecture. Geely later phased out Shanghai Maple in favor of the Englon budget brand, and Maple disappeared as an independent marque around 2010. The Maple name returned through Geely's electric-vehicle cooperation with Kandi Technologies. In March 2013, the parties established a 50:50 joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment, to develop, manufacture, market, and sell electric vehicles in mainland China. Maple was revived in 2020 as an affordable electric brand using existing Geely petrol-vehicle platforms. Its first major product in this phase was the Maple 30X, an electric subcompact SUV derived from the Geely Vision X3. Subsequent Maple products applied the same platform-sharing approach to sedans and multipurpose vehicles. Kandi Technologies exited its stake in the electric-vehicle venture in March 2021, transferring a reported 22 percent equity interest to Geely. This change helped place the revived Maple operation more directly within Geely's corporate structure. At the same time, Lifan Group was undergoing acquisition and reorganization under Zhejiang Geely Holding. On 24 January 2022, Geely merged its former Maple automobile subsidiary into a new Livan joint venture with Lifan Technology. The new brand was introduced in Chinese as Ruilan, or 睿蓝. Maple no longer functioned as a standalone marque, although the name remained attached to several models. Livan was designed to make use of Geely's existing vehicle platforms and to pursue electric mobility, including battery-swapping vehicles. The Maple Leaf 60S became an important early example: it was a battery-swapping electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand GL. During the brand launch in June 2022, Livan previewed the Livan 7, an electric fastback crossover. The Livan 9 was subsequently displayed at the 2022 Chongqing Auto Show as an electric midsize SUV related to the Geely Haoyue. Other vehicles, including the Maple 80V and later Livan 8, extended the product range into practical multipurpose vehicles. Livan's international strategy differed from its Chinese one. The brand entered Russia in 2023 as a budget Geely label, selling older Geely-derived petrol models with modified styling rather than limiting itself to electric vehicles. It later appeared in markets such as Spain and the United Arab Emirates with petrol-powered models including the Livan S6 Pro, X3 Pro, and X6 Pro. This made Livan a flexible export nameplate rather than a uniformly electric global brand. Corporate ownership changed again in February 2024, when Geely Automobile Holdings sold its reported 45 percent stake in Livan Automotive to Geely Qizheng. The reported post-transaction structure gave Geely Qizheng 45 percent and Lifan Technology 55 percent. Both shareholders remained connected to the wider Geely group. In October 2024, Livan partnered with Aletra Mobil Nusantara in Indonesia to develop right-hand-drive electric vehicles. Aletra's L8, launched in November 2024, was based on the Livan 8. In March 2025, Lifan Technology was renamed Chongqing Qianli Technology. The same year, in April, Geely consolidated Livan in the Chinese market as a product line under Geely Auto. The change suggests a continued move away from Livan as a fully separate Chinese marque while preserving the name for selected vehicles and international activities.
- 2025
Lifan Technology is renamed
[1]Lifan Technology changes its corporate name to Chongqing Qianli Technology.
- 2025
Livan is consolidated under Geely Auto in China
[1]Geely makes Livan a product line under Geely Auto for the Chinese market.
- 2024
Geely Qizheng acquires a 45 percent Livan stake
[1]Geely Automobile Holdings transfers its reported 45 percent interest to Geely Qizheng.
- 2024
Aletra partnership begins in Indonesia
[1]Livan partners with Aletra Mobil Nusantara to develop right-hand-drive electric vehicles for Indonesia.
- 2023
Livan enters Russia
[1]The brand begins selling Geely-derived petrol vehicles in Russia as a budget-oriented marque.
- 2022
Livan Automotive is formed
[1]Geely combines the former Maple operation with Lifan Technology in a new joint venture and launches the Livan brand.
- 2021
Kandi exits the electric-vehicle venture
[1]Kandi Technologies transfers its reported 22 percent interest to Geely, increasing Geely's control of the revived Maple operation.
- 2020
Maple is revived for affordable electric vehicles
[1]The Maple name returns with electric vehicles based on existing Geely platforms, including the Maple 30X.
- 2013
Geely and Kandi establish an electric-vehicle joint venture
[1]The partners form Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment to develop and commercialize electric vehicles in mainland China.
- 2010
Maple is phased out as an independent brand
[1]Geely phases out the Shanghai Maple marque and shifts budget-brand activity toward Englon.
Products and positioning
Affordable, Geely-derived mobility products, with a Chinese-market emphasis on electric vehicles and battery swapping and an export-market role as a budget-oriented brand.
Battery-electric subcompact SUV · 2020
Maple 30X
Introduced during the revived Maple phase, the Maple 30X was an affordable battery-electric subcompact SUV based on the Geely Vision X3. It represented the group's early effort to convert an existing petrol-vehicle architecture into a lower-cost electric product.
Battery-electric compact sedan · 2021
Maple 60S
The Maple 60S is a compact electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand EV Pro. It is associated with Livan's Chinese battery-swapping strategy and was positioned as a practical, relatively accessible electric vehicle rather than a premium technology product.
Battery-electric compact MPV · 2020
Maple 80V
The Maple 80V is a compact electric multipurpose vehicle derived from the Geely Jiaji. Its practical body style and shared platform reflect Livan's emphasis on adapting existing Geely vehicles for electric propulsion and everyday family or commercial use.
Battery-electric compact fastback SUV · 2022
Livan 7
The Livan 7 is an electric compact crossover with a fastback-oriented profile. It was teased at the Livan brand launch in 2022 and served as one of the marque's principal new designs rather than simply a legacy Maple model.
Battery-electric midsize SUV · 2022
Livan 9
The Livan 9 is a midsize electric SUV developed on the basis of the Geely Haoyue. It was first shown publicly at the 2022 Chongqing Auto Show and broadened Livan's electric range into a larger family-SUV segment.
Battery-electric compact MPV · 2024
Livan 8
The Livan 8 is a compact electric MPV related to the Geely Jiaji L. It also became the basis for the Aletra L8 introduced in Indonesia, demonstrating the model's use in a localized right-hand-drive market program.
Battery-electric city car · 2025
Livan Blue Balloon
The Livan Blue Balloon is a small city-oriented electric vehicle based on the Geely Panda Mini EV. It extends Livan's range toward compact urban transportation and lower-entry-price electric mobility.
Petrol compact sedan · 2023
Livan S6 Pro
The Livan S6 Pro is an export-market compact sedan derived from the Geely Emgrand L. It illustrates the brand's international use as a budget Geely nameplate, including markets where Livan sells combustion-engine vehicles rather than focusing exclusively on battery-electric models.
Petrol subcompact SUV · 2023
Livan X3 Pro
The Livan X3 Pro is an export-market subcompact SUV based on the Geely Yuanjing X3 Pro. It uses the Livan identity and revised styling to serve the brand's budget-oriented overseas portfolio.
Petrol midsize SUV · 2023
Livan X6 Pro
The Livan X6 Pro is a midsize export SUV related to the Geely Haoyue Pro. It forms part of Livan's international combustion-engine range and contrasts with the electric-focused positioning of the Chinese-market lineup.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 2022Livan brand launch
China
Livan was formally introduced as the successor structure combining Lifan and Maple activities, with electric vehicles and battery swapping emphasized as core areas.
Outcome. The launch established Livan as the operating marque while Maple continued as a model-related name.
Brand decisions
2025
Consolidate Livan under Geely Auto in ChinaStrategyBackground
Geely was rationalizing its increasingly overlapping family of automotive marques and product lines.
Action taken
For the Chinese market, Geely made Livan a product line under Geely Auto.
Aftermath
Livan's independent Chinese brand identity was reduced, although the name remained associated with selected products and overseas activities.
2024
Transfer Geely Automobile Holdings' Livan stakeM&ABackground
Geely continued to reorganize ownership of businesses connected with the Livan joint venture.
Action taken
Geely Automobile Holdings transferred its reported 45 percent interest in Livan Automotive to Geely Qizheng.
Aftermath
The reported shareholding became 45 percent for Geely Qizheng and 55 percent for Lifan Technology, with both shareholders remaining within the wider Geely group.
2023
Use Livan as a budget export brandStrategyBackground
International markets did not share China's battery-swapping infrastructure or electric-vehicle product mix.
Action taken
Livan entered Russia and other export markets with petrol-powered Geely-derived sedans and SUVs.
Aftermath
The brand developed separate Chinese electric and international combustion-engine positioning.
2022
Merge Maple operations with Lifan to create LivanM&ABackground
Geely was restructuring its Lifan interests while seeking a unified platform for electric vehicles and battery-swapping products.
Action taken
Geely folded its former Maple automobile subsidiary into a joint venture with Lifan Technology and launched the Livan brand.
Aftermath
Maple ceased to operate independently and remained as a model name attached to selected vehicles.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/livan-automotive · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled