With the electric and intelligent transformation happening in the auto industry, China’s major automaker, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, rode the tide closely in 2021.

The automaker set up a premium EV brand, VOYAH, which has become more and more popular among consumers. In the meantime, Dongfeng Motor also partnered with several autonomous driving companies to expand its reach in the automotive intelligence field.

VOYAH FREE; photo credit: VOYAH

On the other hand, as one of the largest state-owned auto groups in China, Dongfeng Motor’s foreign joint venture brands have experienced several significant changes in 2021. For example, the company has officially withdrew from Dongfeng Yueda Kia.

Here is a list of big occasions of Dongfeng Motor Corporation in 2021.

Dongfeng Motor sells 3.3 million vehicles in 2021

China’s major automaker, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, released its 2021 annual sales report on January 5th, and its wholly-owned passenger vehicle sector achieved outstanding results.

According to the automaker, in 2021, it sold 3.275 million vehicles in total, notching down 5.28% from a year ago.

VOYAH’s 10,000th vehicle rolls off line, new sedan model coming in 2022

On January 21st, Dongfeng Motor’s high-end EV brand, VOYAH, celebrated its 10,000th vehicle rolling off the production line at the brand’s 4.0 digital factory.

It took VOYAH 205 days to hit the 10,000th mark, from June 30th, 2021, when its first VOYAH FREE vehicle rolled off the line, leading the industry in speed.

The 10,000th vehicle is VOYAH’s only mass-production model currently, the VOYAH FREE. The FREE hit the market in June 2021 and started delivery two months later, on August 8th, with its sales volume growing month after month.  

Dongfeng Motor, QCraft launch autonomous Sharing Bus in Wuhan

Dongfeng Motor Corporation's autonomous technology arm, Dongfeng Yuexiang, has co-developed and started trial operation of a driverless bus, the Sharing Bus, with autonomous driving developer QCraft.

The two companies also inked a cooperation agreement, building a long-term deep collaboration foundation. Per the agreement, the partners will cooperate in the mass production, customization, and iteration of the Sharing Bus, practicing the autonomous driving commercial operation 2.0, helping Wuhan become the first "autonomous driving city" in China.

Dongfeng Motor officially withdraws from Dongfeng Yueda Kia

Dongfeng Motor Corporation’s formerly reported transfer of its 25% stake in Dongfeng Yueda Kia, its joint venture with South Korea’s Kia Motors and China’s Yueda Group was completed, according to Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange (SUAEE).

SUAEE’s releasement showed that the said 25% stake of Dongfeng Yueda Kia was sold by RMB297 million, representing Dongfeng Group’s official withdrawal from the joint venture.

VOYAH unveils first electric MPV, showcasing at Guangzhou Auto Show

The premium EV brand of Dongfeng Motor, VOYAH, introduced the brand’s second vehicle model, also the world’s first luxury large-size battery-electric MPV model, at an event last night.

The VOYAH MPV has enriched the brand’s product lineup, given that the other existing model, the VOYAH FREE, is an SUV. The company plans to build its product lineup across SUVs, MPVs, and sedans in the next three years and introduce at least one new model every year.

Dongfeng’s light commercial vehicle sector cooperates with JD.com

Today, Dongfeng Automobile Co., Ltd. (DFAC), the light commercial vehicle arm of Dongfeng Group, announced its recently formed partnership with China’s e-commerce giant, JD.com, for smart logistics development.

Per the announcement, the two parties will pivot strategically, providing a comprehensive product and service integrated logistic experience to users.

Dongfeng to export 100,000 NEVs to Europe in 2022

Chairman of Dongfeng Motor, Zhu Yanfeng, said that Dongfeng plans to export 100,000 new energy vehicles to Europe next year as the automaker also set a target of realizing 100% electrification among its new passenger vehicle brands in 2024.  

The chairman said that to maintain a place in the diverse and competitive new energy automaking industry, Dongfeng Motor needs to replicate the advantages of the start-up auto manufacturers. The group will bring forward a brand-new customized new energy product, “M”, in 2022, under another new energy vehicle brand.

Dongfeng Motor aims to sell 1 million NEVs annually by 2025

Chairman of Dongfeng Motor, Zhu Yanfeng emphasized the importance of practical innovations in the industry during the 2021 WNEC (World New Energy Vehicle Congress). “It will be an undoing to fall behind or to come in advance prematurely,” said the chairman, as he urged all companies in the industry to be cautious when blindly pursuing untimely innovations.

Zhu Yanfeng believed that upon the arrival of the era of NEVs, all companies had to be down-to-earth and steady when trying to stand out. The influences of the creation need to be reflected in corporate performance and social responsibilities. Enterprises should keep a good grip on maintaining the balance of pushing new technology and actual market demands, not to be a “flash mob enterprise”.

Dongfeng Motor’s upscale EV brand VOYAH to tap into overseas market

VOYAH, the premium electric vehicle (EV) of Dongfeng Motor, announced on July 8 it will make inroads into overseas markets, the first NEV brand backed by Chinese state-owned automaker to go outside China.

“While exploiting the domestic market, VOAYH is engaged in a vigorous effort to break into the massive global new energy vehicle (NEV) market, aiming to be one of leaders for the premium electric vehicle segment,” said Lu Fang, CEO of VOYAH.

Dongfeng Motor partners with Aulton for battery swapping business

Dongfeng Motor Corporation Passenger Vehicle Company (DFPV) and Aulton, a leading Chinese battery swapping technology provider, recently formed a strategic partnership for battery swapping model.

Under the agreement, the duo will jointly develop the vehicle model equipped with swappable batteries, namely the Dongfeng Fengshen E70, expecting to complete the first volume production in June 2021.