Maple Automobiles
A Chinese automobile marque established as Shanghai Maple, later revived by Geely for affordable electric vehicles before being absorbed into the Livan brand.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
Maple was a Chinese automobile marque associated with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and used in two distinct phases. The first phase began with the establishment of Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd. in 2000. The company operated from Fengjing in Shanghai and developed vehicles under the Maple and Huapu names, with some vehicles listed under the Langfeng designation. Its creation was linked to Li Shutong, the younger brother of Geely founder Li Shufu. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002 and later brought the company fully into the group. Shanghai Maple functioned as a value-oriented passenger-car operation and became part of Geely's effort to build a broader portfolio of Chinese automobile brands. The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in 2003 and was derived from the Citroën ZX platform and engineering architecture of the 1990s. Subsequent products included the Hisoon, Marindo or Haifeng, Haiyu, Hysoul, and Haijing. These vehicles were generally sedans or hatchbacks aimed at budget-conscious buyers. The brand also sought export opportunities. From 2007, vehicles were exported to Egypt under the C51 and C52 names, while the R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were offered in markets that included Russia and Chile. A revised Citroën-based Maple Marindo was displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, indicating an effort to raise the marque's international visibility. Geely gradually repositioned its brand portfolio during the late 2000s. Shanghai Maple was consolidated into Geely as a budget brand in 2008, and the original marque was subsequently phased out around 2010. Englon became the principal successor brand for part of Geely's budget-market strategy. This first Maple operation therefore ended as an independent mainstream passenger-car marque, although its name later returned in a different technological and corporate context. Maple was revived around 2020 through the activities of Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, associated with Geely and Kandi Technologies. The revived marque was intended to concentrate on affordable electric vehicles, vehicle components, leasing, sales, and after-sales services. Rather than developing an entirely separate vehicle architecture, Maple initially used existing Geely models as the basis for electric products. The Maple 30X was derived from the Geely Vision X3, while the Maple 80V used an electric adaptation of the Geely Jiaji. The Maple 60S was a compact electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand L. This approach allowed the brand to compete in China's emerging electric-vehicle market with comparatively accessible products and shared group technology. The ownership structure of the revived operation changed during its short life. Geely held a majority interest in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, while Kandi-related interests held the minority position. Kandi Technologies exited its stake in March 2021, transferring its 22 percent interest to Geely. In 2022, Geely established the Livan joint venture with Lifan after the acquisition and restructuring of Lifan Group. Maple products were subsequently marketed under the Livan name, including the Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S as Livan-branded or Livan-associated vehicles. The Maple brand was merged into Livan and ceased to operate as an independent marque. Its final role was therefore as a transitional name within Geely's electric-vehicle and battery-swapping strategy rather than as a continuing standalone brand. Shanghai Maple, also known as Huapu Automobile or Maple, was a Chinese passenger-car brand and manufacturing company based in Fengjing, Shanghai. The business was established in 2000 and was associated with Li Shufu's Geely group. It initially operated as Shanghai Maple Automobiles, commonly abbreviated as SMA, and sold vehicles under the Huapu name in China. Some vehicles were listed under the Langfeng name while being marketed as Huapu products. The original Shanghai Maple range was positioned toward the value end of China's passenger-car market. Its early vehicles used a platform derived from the 1990s Citroën ZX, reflecting a broader strategy of adapting existing technology to produce relatively affordable sedans and hatchbacks for domestic buyers. The first vehicle was produced in the summer of 2003. The range subsequently expanded to include the Hisoon, Marindo or Haifeng, Haiyu, Hysoul and Haijing. The Marindo, a revised model on the same general Citroën-derived basis, was displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, giving the marque some international visibility. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002 and fully consolidated the company in 2008. Under Geely ownership, Shanghai Maple functioned as a budget-oriented brand. The company also pursued exports. In Egypt, vehicles began arriving in 2007 under the C51 and C52 designations, while the R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were exported to markets including Russia and Chile. These activities made Shanghai Maple an early example of a Chinese low-cost passenger-car marque seeking both domestic scale and overseas distribution. Geely began phasing out the original Shanghai Maple marque in 2010, replacing much of its budget-brand role with Englon. The name later returned in a different technological and corporate setting. In 2013, Shanghai Maple and Kandi Technologies agreed to create a 50:50 electric-vehicle joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment, intended to develop, manufacture, market and sell electric vehicles and related services in mainland China. A later Geely-Kandi structure placed the Maple activity within Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, with Geely holding the controlling interest. The revived Maple brand appeared from 2020 as an electric-vehicle label using existing Geely vehicle architectures. Its first major product was the Maple 30X, an electric subcompact SUV based on the Geely Vision X3. Other announced or marketed models included the Maple 80V electric MPV, related to the Geely Jiaji, and the Maple 60S electric sedan, related to the Geely Emgrand L. The vehicles were intended to offer comparatively accessible electric mobility and were later associated with Livan branding. Kandi Technologies transferred its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng to Geely in March 2021. In 2022, Geely established the Livan joint venture with Lifan and introduced the Maple Leaf 60S as a battery-swappable vehicle under the Livan ecosystem. Following Geely's acquisition of Lifan and the subsequent organizational consolidation, Maple was merged into Livan. This ended Shanghai Maple's existence as an independent marque, although Maple names continued to appear as model or product designations within the Livan range.
History
Maple's history is best understood as the history of a marque that appeared in two successive forms within Geely's expanding automobile portfolio. The original operation was Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd., commonly known as Shanghai Maple or Shanghai Maple Automobiles. It was established in 2000 in Fengjing, Shanghai, and was associated with Li Shutong, the younger brother of Geely founder Li Shufu. The company produced vehicles using Maple, Huapu, and related naming conventions. Some vehicles were listed under the Langfeng name while being sold as Huapu products, reflecting the fragmented branding practices common among Chinese automakers during the period. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002 and progressively increased its control. Shanghai Maple's first vehicle entered production in 2003. The car was based on the 1990s Citroën ZX, giving the young Chinese manufacturer access to an established front-wheel-drive passenger-car design. The company expanded the range with the Hisoon, Marindo or Haifeng, Haiyu, Hysoul, and Haijing. Most of these models were sedans or hatchbacks positioned toward the lower-priced end of China's passenger-car market. The Marindo received an updated presentation and appeared at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, while export activity later broadened the marque's reach beyond China. In 2007, Shanghai Maple vehicles were exported to Egypt as the C51 and C52. The R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were also sold in export markets including Russia and Chile. These activities gave Maple a limited international presence, but the marque remained primarily associated with affordable Chinese passenger vehicles. Geely's subsequent portfolio rationalization reduced Shanghai Maple's independence. The operation was fully consolidated into Geely as a budget brand in 2008, and the original Maple marque was phased out around 2010 as Geely developed Englon as a replacement budget-oriented identity. The Maple name returned in a new setting around 2020. Geely's partnership with Kandi Technologies was connected to Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group, an operation intended to develop and market affordable electric vehicles and related services. Geely held the majority of Fengsheng, while Kandi-related interests held a minority stake. The revived Maple strategy emphasized speed to market and cost control by electrifying or adapting existing Geely vehicles rather than building an entirely independent platform family. The first products included the Maple 30X, based on the Geely Vision X3, and the Maple 80V, an electric MPV related to the Geely Jiaji. The Maple 60S followed as an electric compact sedan associated with the Geely Emgrand L. The revived brand's corporate structure changed when Kandi Technologies transferred its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng to Geely in March 2021. In 2022, Geely's acquisition and restructuring of Lifan Group led to the creation of Livan, also known as Ruilan, as a new electric-vehicle joint-venture brand. Maple products were moved into the Livan portfolio. The Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S continued in associated form under the Livan name, and Maple ceased to exist as an independent marque. The later Maple identity was consequently a short-lived Geely electric-vehicle sub-brand whose principal importance was as a bridge between Geely's earlier budget-car branding and Livan's battery-swapping and electric-mobility program. Shanghai Maple was established in 2000 as a Chinese automobile manufacturing business associated with Li Shufu's Geely network. Its founder was Li Shutong, Li Shufu's younger brother. The company operated from Fengjing in Shanghai and initially produced vehicles under the Huapu, or Maple, name. The vehicles were sometimes listed under the Langfeng name, creating a distinction between their registered product identity and their consumer-facing Huapu branding. The original business focused on affordable passenger cars. Geely obtained a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002, and the company produced its first vehicle in the summer of 2003. That vehicle and several successors were based on technology derived from the 1990s Citroën ZX. Shanghai Maple developed a small range of sedans and hatchbacks, including the Hisoon, Marindo, Haiyu, Hysoul and Haijing. The Marindo, also known as Haifeng, represented a revision of the Citroën-based product concept and was displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show. Shanghai Maple also pursued international distribution. Exports to Egypt started in 2007, where the cars were sold as the C51 and C52. The R80 hatchback and R81 sedan were distributed in additional overseas markets, including Russia and Chile. These exports formed part of the early international activity of a Chinese budget-car brand before the large-scale global expansion of later Geely marques. In 2008, Geely fully consolidated Shanghai Maple. The marque served as a budget brand within the group, but Geely began to phase it out in 2010 and moved that market position toward Englon. The name subsequently returned through an electric-mobility initiative. In February 2013, Shanghai Maple and Kandi Technologies announced plans for a 50:50 joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment. The venture was designed to cover electric-vehicle research and development, manufacturing, marketing, sales, leasing and related after-sales services. The formal agreement was signed on 22 March 2013. By 2020, Maple had been revived as an electric-vehicle label connected to Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group. The renewed product strategy emphasized affordable battery-electric cars derived from existing Geely models rather than an entirely separate vehicle architecture. The Maple 30X was based on the Geely Vision X3, while the Maple 80V was an electric MPV related to the Geely Jiaji. The Maple 60S was a compact electric sedan related to the Geely Emgrand L. The program also contemplated additional electric SUVs and hatchbacks. Kandi Technologies left the Maple-related ownership structure in March 2021 by transferring its 22 percent stake in Fengsheng to Geely. In 2022, Geely created the Livan venture with Lifan and introduced the Maple Leaf 60S as a battery-swapping vehicle under the new brand structure. After Geely acquired Lifan, the group reorganized Maple into Livan. Maple therefore ceased to operate as an independent brand, although some Maple designations continued as model names associated with Livan.
- 2022
Maple is merged into Livan
[1]Maple products are incorporated into the newly established Livan brand, ending Maple's independent existence. The independent Maple marque is ended and its activities are reorganized under Livan.
- 2021
Geely assumes Kandi's Fengsheng interest
[1]Kandi transfers its 22 percent interest in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group to Geely.
- 2020
Maple is revived for electric vehicles
[1]The Maple name returns under the Geely-associated Fengsheng operation with an affordable electric-vehicle focus.
- 2020
Maple returns as an electric brand
[1]Maple is revived with a range of affordable electric vehicles based on Geely products.
- 2013
Geely and Kandi form an electric-vehicle venture
[1]The companies agree to establish Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 electric-vehicle joint venture. The companies agree to establish Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 electric-vehicle joint venture, with reported initial registered capital of 1 billion yuan (approximately US$160 million at the time). The formal agreement was signed on 22 March 2013.
- 2010
Original Maple marque is phased out
[1]Geely phases out the original Shanghai Maple marque and shifts budget-brand activity toward Englon.
- 2008
Shanghai Maple is consolidated into Geely
[1]Geely fully consolidates Shanghai Maple as a budget-oriented brand operation.
- 2008
Full Geely consolidation
[1]Shanghai Maple becomes fully consolidated within Geely.
- 2007
Export program expands
[1]Shanghai Maple vehicles begin exports to Egypt as the C51 and C52, and the R80 hatchback and R81 sedan are offered in markets including Russia and Chile.
- 2005
Maple Marindo appears at Frankfurt
[1]A revised Maple Marindo is displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented Chinese automobile marque that first sold affordable conventionally powered passenger cars and was later revived for accessible electric vehicles based substantially on existing Geely products.
Sedan and hatchback · 2003
Maple Hisoon
The Hisoon was one of Shanghai Maple's early passenger-car products. It belonged to the original conventionally powered range and was offered in sedan and hatchback forms during the brand's first operating period, using the company's broader Citroën ZX-derived technical foundation.
Sedan · 2004
Maple Marindo / Haifeng
The Marindo, also known as the Haifeng, was a sedan derived from the Citroën ZX technical basis. A revised version was shown at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, giving the model and the marque a degree of international exposure.
Sedan and hatchback · 2005
Maple Haiyu
The Haiyu formed part of Shanghai Maple's budget passenger-car lineup and was offered in sedan and hatchback body styles. It was sold during the original Maple production era before the brand was phased out.
Sedan · 2005
Maple Hysoul
The Hysoul was a sedan in the original Shanghai Maple range. Like the marque's other early models, it targeted the accessible end of the Chinese passenger-car market and was discontinued when the original brand identity was retired.
Sedan · 2009
Maple Haijing
The Haijing was one of the final conventional Shanghai Maple models introduced before the original marque was phased out. It extended the brand's sedan lineup into the late 2000s.
Subcompact electric SUV · 2020
Maple 30X
The Maple 30X was the first principal product of the revived electric-vehicle marque. It was based on the Geely Vision X3 and used an existing Geely vehicle as the foundation for an affordable electric SUV. From 2022, the model was associated with the Livan brand. The Maple 30X was the revived brand's first prominent electric product. It was derived from the Geely Vision X3 and targeted accessible electric mobility in the Chinese market. From 2022, it was associated with the Livan Maple 30X designation.
Electric MPV · 2020
Maple 80V
The Maple 80V was an electric MPV derived from the Geely Jiaji. It represented the revived brand's strategy of adapting existing Geely passenger vehicles for lower-cost electric mobility rather than developing a separate platform from scratch. It was subsequently associated with Livan. The Maple 80V was an electric MPV based on the Geely Jiaji. It belonged to the revived Maple program, which emphasized relatively affordable electrified versions of existing Geely vehicle architectures. It was later associated with Livan branding.
Compact electric sedan · 2021
Maple 60S
The Maple 60S was an electric compact sedan related to the Geely Emgrand L. The vehicle was subsequently incorporated into the Livan product structure, where the Maple name was no longer an independent brand identity.
Brand decisions
2022
Merger of Maple into LivanStrategyBackground
Geely launched Livan with Lifan and later acquired Lifan Group, creating a new organizational home for its battery-electric and battery-swapping activities.
Action taken
Geely merged Maple into Livan and repositioned Maple vehicles as Livan-associated products.
Aftermath
Maple ceased to operate as an independent automobile brand, although model names linked to Maple continued in the Livan portfolio. Maple survived only as a model or product designation associated with Livan rather than as a standalone marque.
2021
Geely takes over Kandi's Fengsheng interestM&ABackground
Kandi Technologies decided to exit its minority position in Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group.
Action taken
Kandi transferred its 22 percent equity interest in Fengsheng to Geely.
Aftermath
Geely obtained full ownership of the transferred interest before the subsequent Maple-to-Livan brand consolidation.
2020
Revival of Maple as an electric-vehicle marqueStrategyBackground
Geely and its partners sought an affordable electric-vehicle marque using existing vehicle platforms and components.
Action taken
Maple was relaunched under the Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group structure with products based on existing Geely models. Maple was relaunched with electric vehicles including the 30X, 80V and later 60S.
Aftermath
The Maple 30X, Maple 80V, and Maple 60S formed the core of the short-lived revived lineup. The models were subsequently absorbed into the Livan structure.
2013
Creation of the Geely–Kandi electric-vehicle ventureM&ABackground
Geely and Kandi Technologies sought a dedicated structure for developing and commercializing electric vehicles in mainland China.
Action taken
The parties agreed to create Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 joint venture. The reported initial registered capital was 1 billion yuan, or approximately US$160 million at the time. The parties agreed to establish Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment as a 50:50 joint venture focused on research, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and related services. The reported initial registered capital was 1 billion yuan, or approximately US$160 million at the time. The formal agreement was signed on 22 March 2013.
Aftermath
The partnership later supported the corporate setting in which the Maple name was revived for affordable electric vehicles. The structure later evolved into a Geely-controlled Maple electric-vehicle business, and Kandi ultimately transferred its interest to Geely in 2021.
Initial registered capital. 1 billion yuan (2013 joint-venture agreement)
2010
Phase-out of the original Maple marqueStrategyBackground
Geely reorganized its portfolio of Chinese passenger-car brands after Shanghai Maple had served as a budget-oriented label.
Action taken
Geely began replacing Shanghai Maple with Englon.
Aftermath
The original Shanghai Maple vehicle range was discontinued, although the name later returned in electric vehicles.
2008
Consolidation of Shanghai Maple as a Geely budget brandStrategyBackground
Geely was rationalizing its expanding portfolio of Chinese automobile marques and brought Shanghai Maple fully into the group as a budget-oriented operation.
Action taken
Shanghai Maple was consolidated into Geely, followed by the eventual retirement of the original independent Maple identity. Geely fully consolidated Shanghai Maple and used it as a value-oriented passenger-car marque.
Aftermath
The budget-brand role was increasingly associated with Englon, and Shanghai Maple was phased out around 2010.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Maple Leaf Auto announces brand launch[5]
Maple Leaf Auto is reported to be scheduled for a formal brand launch on April 10, with the Maple Leaf 30X also scheduled to open for presale.
Sources5 sources
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