Shanghai Maple Automobile

Shanghai Maple Guorun Automobile Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Maple) was a Chinese automobile manufacturing company based in Fengjing, Shanghai, and a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

History

Originally Shanghai Maple (SMA, Shanghai Maple Automobiles), the brand was established in 2000, producing Huapu (Maple) branded vehicles. It was founded by Li Shufu's younger brother, Li Shutong. The vehicles are listed under the Langfeng (朗风) brand while being sold as Huapu (华普) products. Geely acquired a strategic holding in Shanghai Maple in 2002, and in 2008, Shanghai Maple was fully consolidated into Geely as their budget brand before phasing it out in 2010.

The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in the summer of 2003, based on the 1990s-era Citroën ZX.

The Maple Marindo, a revised version still on Citroën basis, was displayed at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The export of Shanghai Maple vehicles to Egypt began in 2007, where they were marketed as the C51 (saloon) and C52 (saloon with Audi style grille). A sportier R80 hatchback and R81 saloon were exported to markets including Russia and Chile. In 2010, Geely partially phased out the Shanghai Maple marque, replacing it with the Englon budget brand.

In February 2013, Shanghai Maple and Kandi Technologies announced that they had agreed to establish a 50:50 joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment, with an initial registered capital of 1 billion yuan (US$160 million), focused on the research and development, production, marketing, and sale of electric vehicles in the Chinese mainland. The joint venture agreement was signed on 22 March 2013.

Rebirth

As of 2020, the Maple brand was revived as a result of the partnership between Geely and Kandi Technologies. Geely holds 78 percent of Fengsheng Automotive Technology Group while the remaining 22 percent is owned by Zhejiang Kandi Vehicle or Kandi Technologies. The new brand was said to focus on research, development, and sales of electric vehicles and vehicle parts, vehicle leasing services, and relevant after-sales services. The revived Maple brand was to make a series of affordable electric cars based on existing Geely petrol cars. The first Maple product was the Maple 30X, based on the Geely Vision X3. An SUV and two hatchbacks were planned for launch in 2021; the manufacturer also announced it was working on several electric vehicles.

In March 2021, Kandi Technologies exited its stake in Maple, transferring its 22 percent equity interest in Fengsheng to Geely.

In 2022, Geely launched a new joint venture between Lifan and Maple called Livan (Ruilan, 睿蓝). Geely announced the launch of the Maple Leaf 60S, Geely's first battery swap car under the Livan brand, produced in association with Lifan and based on the Geely Emgrand GL.

In 2022, after the Lifan Group, Geely reconsolidated and merged the Maple brand into the Livan brand, ending Maple's existence as an independent brand and making it a model name under the Livan brand.

Products

Shanghai Maple

* 2003–2010: Maple Hisoon (海迅), sedan/hatchback
* 2004–2010: Maple Marindo/Haifeng (海锋), sedan
* 2005–2010: Maple Haiyu (海域) (2005–2010), sedan/hatchback
* 2005–2010: Maple Hysoul (海尚) (2005–2010), sedan
* 2009–2010: Maple Haijing (海景) (2009–2010), sedan

File:Shanghai Maple Biaofeng 01 China 2012-08-09.jpg, Maple Whirlwind (Biaofeng)
File:Shanghai Maple Haiyu hatch 01 China 2016-04-13.jpg, Maple Marindo hatch
File:Shanghai Maple 01 China 2012-04-21.JPG, Maple Marindo sedan
File:Shanghai Maple Haixun hatch 01 China 2015-04-17.jpg, Maple Hisoon hatch
File:Shanghai Maple Haixun sedan 01 China 2012-08-09.jpg, Maple Hisoon sedan
File:Shanghai Maple Haishang 01 China 2017-03-29.jpg, Maple Hysoul (Haishang)
File:Shanghai Maple Haifeng 01 China 2012-07-14.JPG, Maple Haifeng

Maple (electric)

* 2020–2022: Maple 30X, subcompact SUV, rebadged Geely Vision X3 - sold as Livan Maple 30X as of 2022
* 2020–2022: Maple 80V, MPV, rebadged electric variant of Geely Jiaji - sold as Livan Maple 80V as of 2022
* 2021–2022: Maple 60S, compact sedan, rebadged electric variant of Geely Emgrand L - sold as Livan Maple 60S as of 2022

File:Maple 30x on display.jpg, Maple 30x
File:Maple 60S IMG01.jpg, Maple 60S
File:Maple 80V 001.jpg, Maple 80V

References

External links

{{Automotive industry in China

Geely brands
Geely divisions and subsidiaries
Car manufacturers of China