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ZX Auto
Hebei Zhongxing Automobile Co Ltd, branded as ZX Auto, is a Chinese producer of SUVs and pick-up trucks.[1] Co-owned by Tianye Automobile Group Co Ltd and Taiwan Unite Leading Co, it was established in 1999[2] and exports to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. The company claims a per year production capacity of 110,000 units[3] – a figure that could conflate engines and whole vehicles. HistoryIn the latter half of the 2000s, the company sought access to the US market[4] with the help of US company Capital Corp,[5] and it participated in the 2007 National Automobile Dealers Association convention.[6] While US sales were touted as late as 2008,[1] the company has yet to sell its models in developed countries. Products are available in some EU member states, however.[7] During the Libyan civil war, only 6 ZX Auto Grand Tiger pick-up trucks[8] found their way into rebel hands[9] and were turned into technicals replete with mounted guns.[10] As the conflict progressed, pro-Qaddafi forces also began using pick-ups after NATO aerial bombing raids disabled their armoured vehicles.[8] Some of the ZX Auto Grand Tiger pickups used in this civil war may have been branded as Tayo Auto Grandhiland.[citation needed] When fighting commenced in 2011, there were at least 15,000 ZX Auto pick-ups already in the country.[11] Some sales are to Chinese state organizations.[12] In 2014, the company removed a reference to co-ownership by Taiwan Unite Leading Co and Hebei Tianye Automobile Group Co Ltd from its website.[13] Website modifications also included changing the year of the company's formation from 1999 to 1949 although 1999 remained referenced as the year ZX Auto was "transformed into a joint venture company."[13] Production bases and facilitiesZX Auto has two vehicle factories and a R&D center.[3] While one factory and the R&D center are likely located in Baoding, Hebei, where the company is based,[citation needed] the second factory may be in Changchun as ZX Auto has part-ownership of a production base in this city with Changling Group Co Ltd.[14] In late 2010, it started construction of a new plant in Yichang, Hubei, that will build SUVs and sedans.[15] As of late 2014, the company does reference a Baoding production base on its website claiming a production capacity of 50,000 units.[16] Some of its products are assembled in small, overseas factories from knock-down kits, and ZX Auto states that the majority of its exports are in the form of these kits.[17] The companies that own these factories and do the final assembly are not necessarily affiliated with ZX Auto. Such assembly has commenced in Egypt, Iran, and Jordan, where a 5,000 unit/year factory was under construction as of 2008.[18] As of 2011, the company hopes new knock-down factories will spring up in Mexico and Malaysia.[19] In Poland, a pick-up, the Grand Tiger, is produced and sold by Polish company POL-MOT Warfama.[7] Probably assembled from knock-down kits,[citation needed] Polish models sport an engine that complies with EU regulations.[7] ModelsCurrent
Former
See alsoReferences
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to ZX Auto vehicles.
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