 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2019) |
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| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003; 22 years ago (2003) |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Automobiles |
Number of employees | 800  |
| Parent | ZAP (51%) |
Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co., Ltd. (Chinese:浙江永源汽车有限公司;pinyin:Zhèjiāng yǒng yuán qìchē yǒuxiàn gōngsī),trading asJonway Automobile, is a Chineseautomobile manufacturer founded in 2003 and based inTaizhou,Zhejiang.
The Jonway Automobile represents the automotive division of the Jonway Group created in 2005. The first product launched on the market was the modelJonway UFO A380 a copy (not licensed) of the second generationToyota RAV4 (XA20) proposed in both three-door short wheelbase and five-door long wheelbase. The car immediately got high media exposure because of the similarity with the original Japanese model in every detail.[1]
The model was subsequently exported to many Asian markets and also appeared inEurope at theInternational Motor Show Germany 2007 inFrankfurt am Main. Also in 2007, Jonway andDR Motor Company signed an agreement for the assembly of the UFO three-door inMacchia d'Isernia inItaly in a restyled and re-homologated version for European standards; the car renamedDR3 was unveiled at theconcept car stage at theBologna Motor Show 2007.[2] However, the negotiations with DR Motor failed and the project for the European UFO/DR3 was abandoned.[3]
In July 2010, theAmerican manufacturerZAP acquired 51% of Jonway Automobile and the joint ventureZAP-Jonway was created, specializing in the construction ofelectric cars; the first product was the A380 EV launched on the Chinese market.[4][5]
In 2012, Jonway bought the historic "Viotti" name belonging toCarrozzeria Viotti and relaunched the company, establishing new headquarters inRivoli, in the province ofTurin. The new company represented the European division of Jonway as well as the research and development center specializing in the design of hybrid vehicles, and in the engineering of sports cars.[6] Emanuele Bomboi is hired as head of design.[7] It signed an agreement with theMaggiora coachbuilder to make a deep restyling of its UFO-A380 model.[8] The model exhibited at the concept car stadium was to go into production at the end of 2013.[9] In May of the same year, it launched aminivan called Wuxing on the Chinese market.[10]
In 2013, it presented a second SUV namedFalcon based on the mechanics and body of the A380 but with a completely new exterior and interior design.[11]
In 2014, it sold the shares of Viotti to the Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Maggiora S.r.l.
In April 2012, the Chinese automakerZhejiang Jonway Group purchased the intellectual property ofAptera Motors from creditors, and in May, it announced that it would start manufacturing the 2e at its factory in Shanghai and intended to ship chassis to a small assembly plant, initially employing 15-20 people, that it would set up in Santa Rosa, with sales commencing in early 2013. Jonway was a major investor inZap Jonway, which had been working on electric cars in Santa Rosa since the mid-1990s. The company planned to name the US company "Zaptera USA" and it displayed a prototype 2e next to a Zap Jonway car at the Beijing Motor Show. However, the close association with Zap was met with protest by electric-car enthusiasts and by May, the company said it would call the company Aptera USA and keep it independent of Zap Jonway.[12]
In June 2013, Zaptera USA said it would split into two companies: the existing Jonway-owned Zaptera USA, and an independent Aptera USA; Zaptera would make the all-electric 2e and Aptera would make a gasoline-powered version called the 2g.[13] However, by mid-May the following year, those new Aptera companies had gone silent.[14]
Jonway Automobile products are listed as follows:
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