Paris Motorshow 2026: BAW 212
-Founded in 1951, Beijing Auto Works (BAW) has become one of the largest Chinese carmakers , along with FAW (First Automobile Works), SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) and Dongfeng (formerly Second Automotive Works).
-One of the brand's iconic models was the BJ212 off-road vehicle, inspired by American Jeeps of the late 1940s and launched in the early 1950s.
-This model was used extensively by the Chinese army and was later marketed in China in a civilian version.
-The latest version of this civilian model (BAW 212) is currently available on the European market and will be on display at the 2026 Paris Motor Show. This model features a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine producing 166 hp, inherited from the Foton range of small trucks belonging to the BAIC group, of which BAW is a part. Its price is approximately €45,000, significantly less than a Land Rover Defender or an Ineos Grenadier.
-The carmaker BAIC almost disappeared in the early 2020s, due to a drop in sales that began in 2018. Its sales fell from 700,000 units in 2017 to 100,000 in 2021. It has recovered since 2022 and is projected to produce 400,000 passenger vehicles in 2025.