Qingyuan Auto
Qingyuan Auto is a Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer based in Tianjin.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Qingyuan Auto, also known as Qingyuan and QYEV, is a Chinese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Tianjin that specializes in electric vehicles. Founded in 2001, the company presents itself as an early participant in China’s electric-vehicle industry and is described as the first Chinese automotive brand to export vehicles. Its activities have included private passenger cars, compact electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, autonomous-driving demonstrators, and purpose-built municipal vehicles. The company’s early product history relied heavily on licensed or rebadged vehicles. Its first car, the Bende, appeared in 2001 and was based on licensed production of the Chrysler Neon LS. In 2005, Qingyuan introduced the S60, which was essentially a rebadged Miles ZS40S. Between 2006 and 2014, it attempted additional licensed products based on Hafei models, including the B6 and T5, as well as the A0, derived from a Miles Electric Vehicles product. These efforts were not successful as sustained production programs. Qingyuan established its first production-line factory in 2008. The company also claims an early role in electric-vehicle safety development: in 2006, it conducted what is described as the world’s first electric-vehicle crash test. Its domestic distribution network has been described as comprising approximately 100 city service centers and 200 dealerships across Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, and Chongqing. It has also exported vehicles to other Asian countries and to Britain. A more significant product milestone came with the Xiaozun, a small electric hatchback presented at the 2019 Auto Shanghai. The model uses a lithium-ion battery and is described as having a range of approximately 400 kilometers. Its listed driver-assistance features include a low-speed pedestrian warning, driver-fatigue warning, and tire-pressure monitoring. Qingyuan also displayed the Qingyuan Zun, or Zunzhe, at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show as a concept vehicle. The large concept was presented with Level 4 automated-driving capability. Autonomous and specialized vehicles have been an important part of Qingyuan’s public product narrative. The company has explored self-driving minibuses, tour buses, shuttles, sterilization vehicles, distribution vehicles, and street sweepers. The W01 is described as a compact autonomous hatchback without a steering wheel, pedals, or conventional gear selection, and is associated with Level 4 automated driving. Qingyuan has additionally listed electric vans, garbage trucks, and maintenance trucks using Chinese vehicle designation codes. The available reference material provides limited information about Qingyuan Auto’s ownership, executive leadership, financial performance, current production volumes, and corporate structure. Its documented identity is therefore best understood as a Tianjin-based Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer with a history spanning licensed passenger vehicles, independent electric-car development, autonomous-driving concepts, and commercial-use electric vehicles.
History
Qingyuan Auto was founded in 2001 in China and is headquartered in Tianjin. The company entered the automotive market through licensed and rebadged products before developing a broader electric-vehicle portfolio. Its first reported vehicle was the Bende, introduced in 2001 as a licensed production version of the Chrysler Neon LS. In 2005, the company introduced the Qingyuan S60, which was based on the Miles ZS40S. From 2006 through 2014, Qingyuan attempted to broaden its passenger-car range through additional licensed rebadges associated with Hafei and Miles Electric Vehicles. These programs included the B6, based on the Hafei Saibao, the T5, another Hafei-derived vehicle, and the A0, derived from a Miles product. The available account characterizes these efforts as unsuccessful. In 2006, Qingyuan also carried out an electric-vehicle crash test described as the first of its kind worldwide. The company established its first production-line factory in 2008. Qingyuan has been described as the first Chinese automotive brand to export vehicles. Its overseas activity included exports to other Asian countries and Britain. Within China, its service and sales footprint was reported to include around 100 city service centers and 200 dealerships across several provinces and municipalities, including Tianjin, Hebei, Shandong, Henan, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Shanxi, and Chongqing. The company later concentrated more visibly on electric vehicles and automated-driving applications. The Y01A SUV entered production from 2018 to 2019. Qingyuan’s Xiaozun compact hatchback was shown at Auto Shanghai in 2019. It used a lithium-ion battery and was described as having a 400-kilometer range, with features including low-speed pedestrian warning, driver-fatigue warning, and tire-pressure monitoring. The model represented a move away from the company’s earlier emphasis on licensed derivatives toward a more distinct electric-vehicle offering. At the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, Qingyuan also introduced the Zun, or Zunzhe, as an autonomous-driving concept. The vehicle was described as having Level 4 automated driving and a large body designed for future autonomous transport applications. Another concept, the W01, was described as a compact self-driving hatchback without a steering wheel, pedals, or conventional shifting controls, also associated with Level 4 autonomy. Qingyuan’s autonomous-vehicle work has extended beyond private cars. The company has explored autonomous minibuses, tour buses, shuttles, sterilization vehicles, distribution vehicles, and street sweepers. It has also listed electric commercial vehicles for vans, refuse collection, and maintenance operations. The reference material does not establish detailed production totals, current ownership, leadership, financial results, or the precise status of every listed model. Accordingly, the company’s documented history supports a profile centered on Chinese electric mobility, experimental autonomy, and specialized commercial vehicles, while leaving several corporate and operational details unresolved.
- 2019
Xiaozun shown at Auto Shanghai
[1]Qingyuan presented the Xiaozun compact electric hatchback, described as having a lithium-ion battery and an approximately 400-kilometer range.
- 2019
Zun autonomous concept shown
[1]The Qingyuan Zun, also known as the Zunzhe, was displayed as a Level 4 autonomous-driving concept at the Shanghai Auto Show.
- 2018
Y01A SUV production
[1]The Qingyuan Y01A SUV entered production during the 2018–2019 period.
- 2008
First production-line factory
[1]Qingyuan built its first production-line factory.
- 2006
Electric-vehicle crash testing
[1]Qingyuan conducted an electric-vehicle crash test described in the reference material as the world’s first.
- 2005
Qingyuan S60 introduced
[1]The company introduced the Qingyuan S60, described as a rebadged Miles ZS40S.
- 2001
Company founded and Bende introduced
[1]Qingyuan Auto was founded and introduced the Bende, a licensed production vehicle based on the Chrysler Neon LS.
Products and positioning
An early Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer combining low-speed and compact passenger vehicles with autonomous-driving concepts and specialized commercial electric vehicles.
Licensed passenger car · 2001
Bende
Qingyuan’s first reported vehicle, introduced in 2001. It was a licensed production and rebadged version of the Chrysler Neon LS, reflecting the company’s early reliance on externally derived passenger-car designs.
Electric passenger car · 2005
Qingyuan S60
Introduced in 2005, the S60 was described as a rebadged Miles ZS40S. It formed part of Qingyuan’s early attempt to establish an electric-oriented passenger-vehicle range through licensed products.
Electric passenger car · 2006
B6
A Qingyuan vehicle based on the Hafei Saibao. It was among several licensed or rebadged products attempted by the company between 2006 and 2014, although the available reference describes those programs as unsuccessful.
Electric passenger vehicle · 2006
T5
Another Hafei-derived Qingyuan product from the company’s 2006–2014 licensed-vehicle efforts. Detailed specifications and sustained production information are not established in the available reference.
Electric passenger car · 2006
A0
A Qingyuan model described as a rebadged Miles Electric Vehicles product. It belonged to the company’s earlier licensed-product strategy.
Electric SUV · 2018
Y01A
An electric SUV reported as entering production from 2018 to 2019. The available material does not provide detailed powertrain, pricing, or volume information.
Compact electric hatchback · 2019
Xiaozun
A small electric hatchback shown at Auto Shanghai in 2019. It uses a lithium-ion battery and is described as offering a range of approximately 400 kilometers. Listed assistance and safety functions include low-speed pedestrian warning, driver-fatigue warning, and tire-pressure monitoring. Its stated dimensions are 3400 mm long, 1695 mm wide, and 1560 mm high, with a 2250 mm wheelbase.
Autonomous electric concept vehicle · 2019
Qingyuan Zun
Also called the Qingyuan Zunzhe, this large concept vehicle was shown at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show. It was presented with Level 4 automated driving and stated dimensions of 5500 mm by 2150 mm by 1650 mm, with a 3500 mm wheelbase.
Autonomous electric hatchback
W01
A compact self-driving hatchback concept described as having no steering wheel, pedals, or conventional shifting controls. It is associated with Level 4 autonomous driving.
Commercial and municipal electric vehicles
Qingyuan commercial electric vehicles
Qingyuan has listed electric vans, garbage trucks, and maintenance trucks under a range of Chinese vehicle designation codes, including QY5030XXYBEVYL, QY5022XXYBEVYL, QY5020ZLJBEVYL, QY5030ZZZBEVYL, QY5031TYHBEVYL, and related variants. The source does not provide individual specifications or production volumes for these codes.
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