Home Part 2: The Last 100 years 8: Car Manufacturers by Country 8.3 China 8.3.5. Brilliance China Group History of Brilliance China Group / Automobiles 8.3.5.  Brilliance China Auto Brilliance China Auto, also known as Huachen, was formed ...When? Information required. In August 2002 the Jinbei Automotive Company, a subsidiary of Brilliance China Auto, launched their first car; the ‘Zhonghua’ (China). Two versions were produced for the Chinese market, the ‘Junjie’ and the more expensive ‘Zunchi’. On which date was each car launched? Zunchi first in 2002? For the European market the “Junjie” was called the BS4 Splendor, a mid-sized saloon and the “Zunchi” the BS6, an executive saloon. The Zunchi/BS6, supplied with either a 122 hp 1,997 cc or a 130 hp 2,378 cc petrol engine, has a top speed of either 118 mph (189 kph) or 121mph (194 kph). It accelerates to 62 mph (100 kph) in about 11 seconds. The 1.8 litre Junjie/BS4 can be supplied with a Mitsubishi engine or one produced by Brilliance. The 134 hp car, which has a five-speed manual gearbox, has a top speed of 115 mph (184 kph). In 2003 Brilliance China Auto formed a joint venture production agreement with BMW to produce their 3 and 5 series cars. In 2004 they sold 10,982 Zhonghua cars and 8,708 BMW cars. About 100,000 cars were manufactured in 2006, of which 22,000 were BMWs.  The company produced the 1.8 litre Zhonghua M3 concept car in November 2006, a car with a top speed of 138 mph (220 kph).     [ Back ]