Soueast

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd.
(trading as Soueast)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1995
HeadquartersFuzhou, Fujian, China
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Zi-Sheng Zuo (President)[1]
ProductsAutomobiles
OwnerChery (100%)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
Traditional Chinese東南(福建)汽車工業有限公司
Websitewww.soueast-motor.com

South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd., trading as Soueast, is a Chinese automobile manufacturer based in Fuzhou, Fujian, and was a joint venture between China Motor Corporation (25%), Fujian Motor Industry Group (50%) and Mitsubishi Motors (25%).[2][3][4][5] Its principal activity is the design, development, production and sale of passenger cars and minibuses sold under the Soueast marque.[6] It also manufactures Mitsubishi brand passenger cars for sale in mainland China.[7]

As of early 2011, Soueast had an annual production capacity of around 180,000 units, but this was set to rise to 300,000 with the completion of current construction,[8] which may have been finished by early 2012.[note 1]

The company was acquired by Chery in 2024 and is currently producing Jetour vehicles.[9][10]

History[edit]

Soueast was founded in November 1995 as a joint venture between China Motor Corporation and Fujian Motor Industry Group.[11][3] Mitsubishi became a partner in the joint venture in 2006.[3]

In April 2008, Soueast was awarded a contract to supply 5,700 Delica minibuses to the Iranian Mehreghan Co.[12][13] In the same year, Jackie Chan was signed on as a Mitsubishi brand ambassador for Mainland China markets.[14]

Products[edit]

Soueast Motors produces Soueast-branded models including the V3 and V5 sedans, and a range of Mitsubishi models for the Chinese market.

Soueast marque[edit]

Soueast produces the following models under the Soueast marque:

Discontinued:

Mitsubishi marque[edit]

Soueast produces the following models under the Mitsubishi marque:

Dodge marque[edit]

Operations[edit]

Soueast has at least one production base in Qingkou city, Minhou County, Fuzhou, Fujian province.[11] This location has probably been expanded three times[8] with the second phase possibly completed c. 2009 as that year saw a 150% increase in units produced.[15] As of early 2011, total yearly production capacity for all sites was forecast to soon reach 300,000 with the completion of the base's third phase.[8] February 2012 production was 37% higher than that of the previous year,[16] which may reflect this additional capacity coming online.

Sales[edit]

A total of 96,553 Soueast brand passenger cars were sold in China in 2013, making it the 38th largest-selling car brand in the country in that year (and the 21st largest-selling Chinese brand).[17]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Production capacity figures may consider engines and vehicles as discrete.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Company Overview of South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd". Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ Affiliated Companies - China Motor Corporation Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine Yulon Group Official Site
  3. ^ a b c Mitsubishi Motors to invest in South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd. of China Archived 2012-06-16 at the Wayback Machine Mitsubishi Official Site, April 12, 2006
  4. ^ Activities by Region, Asia, 2009 Archived 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Mitsubishi Official Site
  5. ^ Affiliated Companies - South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd. Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine Yulon Group Official Site
  6. ^ Soueast Motor wins Iranian export deal chinadaily.com.cn, 2008-01-04]
  7. ^ Lagging far behind, Mitsubishi looks to new joint partnership chinadaily.com.cn, 2010-11-15
  8. ^ a b c "CHINA'S SOUEST MOTORS TO BEGIN THIRD-PHASE PLANT AFTER FESTIVAL". Asia Pulse. Rhodes. Jan 25, 2011.
  9. ^ sina_mobile (2024-03-10). "奇瑞汽车完成收购东南汽车". finance.sina.cn. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  10. ^ "奇瑞"吞掉"东南汽车". auto.gasgoo.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
  11. ^ a b About Us - History Archived 2010-12-03 at the Wayback Machine South East Motor Official Site
  12. ^ 1.6 Mitsubishi ASX flying into China soon chinacartimes.com, December 6, 2010
  13. ^ "Soueast Motor wins Iranian export deal". China Daily. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  14. ^ Business in brief - Mar. 25 people.com.cn, March 25, 2008
  15. ^ Activities by Region: Asia, ASEAN and other regions (PDF). Mitsubishi Motors. 2010. pp. 2 (18). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 2, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  16. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors announces production, sales and export figures for February 2012". Mitsubishi Motors. March 29, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  17. ^ "2013 Passenger Vehicle Sales by Brand". China Auto Web. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.

External links[edit]

Soueast, a marque of Fuijan Motors Group, vehicle timeline
1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s
7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
sedan subcompact Lioncel V3
compact V5
hatchback V6
crossover V Cross
midsize DX7
subcompact DX3
van Veryca C1
Delica
MPV compact Freeca