joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...
company between
Lifan Group
Lifan Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (Lifan Group or Lifan,Zhejiang Geely Holding (ZGH). The brand was founded in 2022 following a merger between Geely-owned
Maple
''Acer'' is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the soapberry family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated si ...
and Lifan Technology.
In China, Livan targeted the battery-swapping electric vehicle market. The joint venture manufactures electric vehicles using Geely's existing platforms under Livan and Maple brands. In export markets such as Russia, Livan became Geely's budget brand selling
internal combustion
An internal combustion engine (ICE or IC engine) is a heat engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber that is an integral part of the working fluid flow circuit. In an internal comb ...
vehicles.
On January 24, 2022, after
Lifan Group
Lifan Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. (Lifan Group or Lifan,Shanghai Maple
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 Autom ...
(SMA, Shanghai Maple Automobiles), the brand was established in 2000, producing Huapu (Maple) branded vehicles. The first Shanghai Maple vehicle was produced in the summer of 2003, based on the 1990s-era
Citroën ZX
The Citroën ZX is a Compact car, small family car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën between 1991 and 1998.
At the beginning of the 1990s, the ZX was Citroën's entry in the class traditionally dominated in Europe by the Ford Escort ( ...
. 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 it was phased out in 2010 in favor of the
Englon
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. (ZGH), commonly known as Geely Holding ( ; ), is a Chinese multinational automotive conglomerate headquartered in Hangzhou, China. The company was founded by, and is privately owned by Chinese entrepren ...
budget brand.
In March 2013, Geely and
Kandi Technologies
Kandi Technology Group, Inc. (Simplified Chinese characters, Chinese: 康迪) is a Chinese manufacturer of Electric vehicle battery, batteries and electric vehicles. The company is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol KNDI. ...
established a 50:50 joint venture, Zhejiang Kandi Electric Vehicles Investment, focused on the research and development, production, marketing, and sale of electric vehicles in the Chinese mainland. As a result of this partnership, the
Maple
''Acer'' is a genus of trees and shrubs commonly known as maples. The genus is placed in the soapberry family Sapindaceae.Stevens, P. F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008 nd more or less continuously updated si ...
brand was revived in 2020. The revived Maple brand began producing a series of affordable electric cars based on existing Geely petrol cars, beginning with the Maple 30X, based on the Geely Vision X3.
In March 2021, Kandi Technologies exited its stake, transferring its 22 percent equity interest to Geely. In 2022, Geely launched a 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 early 2022 the Maple brand was folded into the new Livan brand, becoming a model name used on legacy designs.
During the Livan brand launch later in June 2022, a brand new model, the Livan 7 electric fastback crossover was teased, while a few days later at the 2022 Chongqing Auto Show, the Livan 9 electric mid-size crossover SUV was shown for the first time being developed based on the Geely Haoyue.
Livan entered the Russian market in mid-2023. Instead of being an electric vehicle brand, Livan in Russia became Geely's budget brand, selling older Geely models with modified styling. Livan also entered several markets in 2025 with petrol-powered models, such as Spain and United Arab Emirates.
In February 2024, Geely Automobile Holdings sold its 45% stake in Livan Automotive to Geely Qizheng, another company under Zhejiang Geely Holding. Currently, Geely Qizheng and Lifan Technology hold 45% and 55% of Livan respectively, both are holding subsidiaries of Geely Group and still retained within the Geely Group.
In October 2024, Livan entered a partnership with Aletra Mobil Nusantara, an Indonesian company, to develop and market right-hand drive electric vehicles in Indonesia under the Aletra brand. Aletra introduced its first vehicle, the Aletra L8 (a rebadged
Livan 8
The Geely Jiaji () is a compact MPV built by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto as the company's first MPV. The concept named "VF11" was shown at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. The Geely Jiaji officially went on sale on 11 March 2019.
Overview
G ...
) in November 2024.
In March 2025, the major shareholder Lifan Technology was renamed to Chongqing Qianli Technology.
In April 2025, for the Chinese market, the Livan marque was consolidated and became a product line under Geely Auto.
Product
Current models
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Maple 60S
The Geely Emgrand L and the previous Geely Emgrand GL are small family cars produced by Chinese auto brand Geely Auto under the Emgrand product series. The Emgrand GL was produced from 2016 and the Emgrand L was produced from 2022 as an heavily up ...
compact SUV
Compact as used in politics may refer broadly to a pact or treaty; in more specific cases it may refer to:
* Interstate compact, a type of agreement used by U.S. states
* Blood compact, an ancient ritual of the Philippines
* Compact government, a ...
mid-size SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definition ...
Maple 80V
The Geely Jiaji () is a compact MPV built by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto as the company's first MPV. The concept named "VF11" was shown at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. The Geely Jiaji officially went on sale on 11 March 2019.
Overview
G ...
(2020–present), compact MPV, rebadged BEV variant of
Geely Jiaji
The Geely Jiaji () is a compact MPV built by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto as the company's first MPV. The concept named "VF11" was shown at the 2017 Auto Shanghai, Shanghai Auto Show. The Geely Jiaji officially went on sale on 11 March 2019. ...
**
Livan 8
The Geely Jiaji () is a compact MPV built by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto as the company's first MPV. The concept named "VF11" was shown at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. The Geely Jiaji officially went on sale on 11 March 2019.
Overview
G ...
(2024–present), compact MPV, rebadged BEV variant of Geely Jiaji L
File:Maple 60S IMG01.jpg, Maple 60S
File:Maple 80V 001.jpg, Maple 80V
File:2023 Livan 7 (front).jpg, Livan 7
File:Livan 8 001.jpg, Livan 8
File:Livan 9 01 China 2023-04-23.jpg, Livan 9
Export models
* Livan S6 Pro (2023–present), compact sedan, rebadged
Geely Emgrand L
The Geely Emgrand L and the previous Geely Emgrand GL are small family cars produced by Chinese auto brand Geely Auto under the Emgrand product series. The Emgrand GL was produced from 2016 and the Emgrand L was produced from 2022 as an heavily up ...
*
Livan X3 Pro
The Geely Yuanjing X3 is a subcompact CUV produced by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto. An electric variant featuring a special color and trim redesign was rebadged as the Geometry EX3 or Kungfu Cow under the Geometry brand from 2021.
Overview
...
Geely Haoyue Pro
The Geely Yuanjing X6 is a Subcompact crossover SUV produced by Chinese auto maker Geely Auto
Geely Automobile Holdings Limited, commonly known as Geely Auto ( ; ), is a publicly traded automotive company predominantly owned by the Geely Holdi ...
SUV
A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive.
There is no commonly agreed-upon definition ...
, BEV, rebadged
Geely Yuanjing X3
The Geely Yuanjing X3 is a subcompact CUV produced by Chinese manufacturer Geely Auto. An electric variant featuring a special color and trim redesign was rebadged as the Geometry EX3 or Kungfu Cow under the Geometry brand from 2021.
Overview
...
File:Maple 30x on display.jpg, Maple 30X
See also
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Automobile manufacturers and brands of China
There are currently about 150 active brands in the Chinese automobile market. Among them are 97 Chinese domestic brands and 43 joint venture (JV) brands. Before 2010, the traditional "Big Four" refers to the four major state-owned car manufacturers ...
*
List of automobile manufacturers of China
There are hundreds of automobile manufacturers operating in China, the country with the largest automotive industry in the world. It includes state-owned manufacturers, privately owned manufacturers, foreign manufacturers, and joint ventures betw ...