Chinese cars: emblems, names and their hidden meanings - complete guide

The Chinese auto industry has undergone a real revolution over the past 10 years: from a manufacturer of budget “tin cans” for the domestic market, it has turned into a global player whose cars compete with European and Japanese brands. Today on Russian roads you can find Changan, Haval, Geely and dozens of other brands - but their emblems often remain a mystery to drivers. Why do BYD does the logo look like a battery? What does the stylized letter "G" mean? Great Wall? And how not to confuse Chery with Chery Tiggo?

In this article we will not only decipher emblem meanings and origin of names Chinese cars, but we will also tell you how to determine the class of a car (budget, premium, electric car) by the logo. You will learn which brands belong to the same holdings, why some brands change their logos every 5 years, and how Chinese manufacturers “borrow” designs from European competitors. And at the end, test yourself in a survey: can you guess the brand by its logo?

Why Chinese Emblems are So Difficult to Remember: 3 Key Reasons

European and Japanese brands have been shaping their visual image for decades: Mercedes associated with a star BMW - with a propeller, Toyota - with an oval badge. Chinese brands lack such historical reference and their logos often appear random. Here are the main reasons for the confusion:

• 🔄 Frequent rebrandings: For example, Great Wall in 2021 it was divided into 4 separate brands (Haval, Tank, Ora, Wey), each with a new logo.
• 📛 Similarities with European logos: Emblem Lynk & Co reminds Volvo (it is no coincidence - both brands belong to Geely), and Hongqi copies style Rolls-Royce.
• 📏 Lack of a unified style: U BYD the logo is minimalistic (blue and white battery), and FAW - complex coat of arms with Cyrillic alphabet.

In addition, many Chinese names are difficult to pronounce for Russian-speaking drivers: for example, Xpeng is read as "X-Peng" and NIO - like "Nio". Manufacturers are trying to adapt: Changan in Russia it is sometimes called “Changan”, and Haval - “Haval.” But this only adds to the confusion.

⚠️ Attention: Some Chinese brands specifically register names similar to European ones in order to take advantage of their reputation. For example, Landwind associated with Land Rover, and Lifan — with Lamborghini (although they have nothing to do with it).

Top 10 Chinese auto brands: emblems and their history

We have selected the most common brands on the Russian market and sorted their logos by composition. Please note: some brands belong to the same holdings (for example, Geely owns Volvo, Lotus and Lynk & Co), but are sold as separate brands.

An important nuance: the emblems of Chinese premium brands (for example, Hongqi or Wey) often copy European motifs - coats of arms, wreaths, wings. This is done specifically to be associated with luxury.

How to determine the class of a car by its emblem: budget vs premium

Chinese manufacturers clearly segment their brands by price categories, and this is reflected in the design of their emblems. Here are the key signs:

• 💰 Budget brands (Chery, Dongfeng, JAC): simple logos with minimalist shapes (ovals, letters), often in red or blue. For example, the logo JAC - it's just an abbreviation in an oval.
• 🚗 Middle class (Geely, Changan, Haval): metal or 3D emblems with abstract symbols (waves, shields). Colors: silver, black, blue.
• 👑 Premium and electric cars (Hongqi, Wey, Zeekr, NIO): complex coats of arms, gold or two-color logos, often with Cyrillic elements. For example, Hongqi (“Red Banner”) uses the red flag, the symbol of the Chinese Communist Party.

Separate category - electric cars. Their emblems often contain:

• ⚡ Lightning or batteries (BYD, Xpeng).
• 🌍 Abstract ecology symbols (Ora - emblem in the form of a leaf).
• 🔋 Geometric shapes reminiscent of batteries (Zeekr - the letter “Z” with a gap, like a charge icon).

⚠️ Attention: Some Chinese brands deliberately register emblems similar to European ones in order to deceive customers. For example, a logo Landwind reminds Land Rover, and Lifan — Lamborghini. Check your VIN before purchasing!

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If you see an unfamiliar emblem with Cyrillic letters on your car (for example, FAW or Dongfeng), most likely a Chinese brand. European brands never use Chinese characters or Latin characters in their logos.

Hidden meanings of names: what do they mean? Haval, Ora and others

Many Chinese car names are abbreviations or translations from English. Let's look at the most interesting ones:

• 📖 Haval = Have All (“To have everything”) The brand is positioned as “all inclusive” - reliability, comfort, safety.
• 🌍 Ora (electric cars from Great Wall) = abbreviation for Open, Reliable, Alternative (“Open, reliable, alternative”).
• 🚀 Zeekr (premium electric cars Geely) = pun on Geek (“geek”) + Zeal (“zeal”) Hints at technology.
• 🔋 BYD = Build Your Dreams (“Build Your Dreams”) Also coincides with the Chinese abbreviation "Bi Ya Di".
• 🏁 Tank (SUVs from Great Wall) - direct meaning: “tank”. Emphasizes strength and maneuverability.

Interestingly, some names have double meanings. For example, Hongqi (“Hongqi”) translates as “Red Banner” - this is a reference to communist symbols, but at the same time the brand positions itself as “Chinese Rolls-Royce" A Lynk & Co (co-brand Geely and Volvo) plays on the idea of "connection" (link) and cooperation (cooperation).

Why do Chinese cars have such strange model names?

Many Chinese car models have “digital” names (for example, Geely Atlas Pro, Haval Jolion, Changan CS75>). This is made specifically for the international market: numbers and neutral words are easier to pronounce for speakers of different languages. For example, Haval F7 easier to remember than Haval Red Rabbit (which also existed!).

How Chinese brands "copy" European logos (and why it's legal)

Many people notice that logos Lynk & Co and Volvo similar, but Hongqi reminds Rolls-Royce. This is not an accident - Chinese manufacturers use several legal tricks:

1. Buying European brands: Geely owns Volvo and Lotus, so it can borrow their designs for its sub-brands (for example, Lynk & Co uses the same grille style as Volvo).
2. Technology licensing: Changan collaborates with Ford, so some models (for example, Changan CS75) visually resemble Ford Kuga.
3. Using Shared Suppliers: Many Chinese brands order designs from the same studios as European brands. For example, the logo Wey (premium sub-brand Great Wall) was developed in Italy.

However, there are also outright “imitations” that cause courts:

• 🚨 Landwind X7 - almost an exact copy Range Rover Evoque (in 2019 Jaguar Land Rover won a lawsuit against Landwind in China).
• 🚨 Shuanghuan CEO - copy BMW X5 (production had to be stopped after the trial).
• 🚨 Zotye T600 - externally identical Audi Q5 (in 2021 Audi achieved a ban on sales of this model in Europe).

⚠️ Attention: If you see a Chinese car with an emblem similar to a European one, but the price tag is 2-3 times lower, this is a reason to be wary. Most likely, this is either a low-quality replica, or a model that was banned from sale in the EU due to patent violations.

Check the VIN code through the service vin.retail|Compare the emblem with the official one on the brand’s website|Pay attention to the build quality (gaps, plastic)|Check if the model is available from the official importer in Russia-->

The evolution of logos: how the emblems of Chinese cars changed

Chinese brands often update their logo designs to keep up with global trends. For example:

• 🔄 Geely: In the 2000s, the logo was blue with a yellow letter “G”, in 2014 it became silver, and in 2020 it acquired a 3D effect.
• 🔄 Chery: Until 2013, the emblem was red with a gold “A”, now it is chrome with a gradient.
• 🔄 BYD: Previously, the logo was just an abbreviation in an oval, now it is a stylized battery (emphasis on electric cars).

Reasons for frequent rebrandings:

1. Entering international markets (for example, Great Wall divided into Haval, Tank, Orato segment the audience more clearly).
2. Changing positioning (for example, Geely moved from the budget segment to the premium one and updated the logo).
3. Legal reasons (if the logo is too similar to the European one, it is changed to avoid courts).

Interesting fact: some Chinese brands are returning to old logos. For example, Hongqi in 2018, it brought back the 1950s emblem (a red flag with a gold star) to highlight the brand's history.

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If you see a Chinese car with an emblem that looks “retro” (coats of arms, flags, gold elements), it is most likely a premium brand aimed at the Chinese domestic market or export to countries with high demand for luxury (for example, the Middle East).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about Chinese emblems and names

Why do some Chinese cars have emblems with Cyrillic characters (for example, FAW)?

Cyrillic alphabet appears in logos if the brand is focused on the post-Soviet market. For example, FAW (“First Automobile Works”) is a state-owned manufacturer that actively worked with the USSR in the 1980s and 1990s. Some models (eg FAW Besturn) were even collected in Russia, so the Cyrillic alphabet was used to simplify perception.

How to remember which brand belongs to whom (e.g. Haval and Great Wall)?

Use associations:

• Great Wall (“Great Wall”) - a holding company that owned brands Haval (crossovers), Tank (SUVs), Ora (electric vehicles). In 2021, the brands have become independent, but historically they are connected.
• Geely - owns Volvo, Lotus, Lynk & Co, Zeekr. If you see a logo with the letter "G" or a style similar to Volvo, this is most likely a sub-brand Geely.
• SAIC Motor - a state holding that owns MG, Roewe, Maxus.

Is it true that Chinese logos are often stolen from European brands?

Yes, but it's not always illegal. There are 3 scenarios:

1. Legal borrowing: If a Chinese brand owns a European brand (e.g. Geely and Volvo), it may use similar design solutions.
2. Inspiration: Many emblems (eg Hongqi) are inspired by European motifs, but do not copy them directly.
3. Illegal copying: Some brands (eg. Landwind or Zotye) openly copy the design, which leads to lawsuits. Such machines are usually not certified for sale in the EU.

To avoid running into a fake, check the car by VIN and check the emblem with the official website of the brand.

Why do electric vehicles (BYD, NIO) such unusual emblems?

Electric vehicle emblems are designed taking into account several trends:

• Minimalism: Refusal of complex coats of arms in favor of simple symbols (for example, a battery BYD or the letter "N" NIO).
• Environmental friendliness: Use of green, blue or white colors (for example, Ora - green leaf).
• Manufacturability: Geometric shapes resembling microcircuits or charging icons (Xpeng, Zeekr).

In addition, Chinese electric vehicle brands often register names that are easy to pronounce in English (NIO, Xpeng) to facilitate entry into global markets.

Which Chinese emblems are most often confused with European ones?

Top 5 “doubles”:

1. Lynk & Co ↔ Volvo (same grille style and logo).
2. Landwind ↔ Land Rover (similar names and logos).
3. Hongqi ↔ Rolls-Royce (coat of arms with gold elements).
4. Lifan ↔ Lamborghini (similar sound and the letter “L” in the logo).
5. Brilliance ↔ BMW (early models Brilliance copied the design BMW 5-series).

When in doubt, use mobile logo recognition apps, e.g. Car Logo Quiz.