Aeolus (Dongfeng Fengshen) is an automobile brand owned by the Chinese automaker Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company, a division of Dongfeng Motor Group. The brand was launched in July 2009 using the Fengshen name,[1] and was later renamed to Aeolus as the English name, while the Chinese name remained the same (Chinese: 风神; pinyin: Fēngshén).

Aeolus
Product typeAutomobile brand
OwnerDongfeng Motor Group
CountryChina
IntroducedJuly 2009
MarketsChina
South America
Algeria
Websitedfpv.com.cn
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese东风风神
Traditional Chinese東風風神
Literal meaningEasterly wind, wind god
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDōngfēng Fēngshén

Some of its products are based on those of PSA Peugeot Citroën, such as Fengshen L60, launched by Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën in 2015.[2]

History

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Dongfeng Fengshen H30 as racing cars

The Fengshen name was first used as a vehicle model name by Yunbao Automobile, a joint-venture set up by the Taiwanese Yulon Motor. During the late 1990s, Nissan of Japan was formally added as a partner in the Yunbao joint-venture which resulted in the first Fengshen, the Yunbao Fengshen 7200, a rebadged model line based on the Nissan Bluebird U13 that was launched in the Chinese market in 1998. Later in 2003, Nissan bought Yulon's share in the joint-venture which became Dongfeng-Nissan, and later the Fengshen name was chosen to become the name of the new sub-brand.[3]

The first Fengshen production model, an A-class four-door sedan called the Fengshen S30, was unveiled at the Auto Shanghai motor show in April 2009[4] and went on sale in China in July 2009.[1]

 
The logo of Dongfeng Fengshen before 2020[5]

In June 2010, Dongfeng began the construction of an engine plant in Hebei province for the manufacture of self-developed engines for Fengshen vehicles.[6]

The Fengshen H30, a mid-sized five-door hatchback, was officially launched in January 2011.[citation needed] The Fengshen H30 Cross, a compact five-door SUV, made its debut at the Auto Shanghai motor show in April 2011[7] and went on sale in China in the same month.[8] The Fengshen A60, a compact sedan based on the Nissan Sylphy, made its debut at the Auto Guangzhou motor show in November 2011[9] and went on sale in China in March 2012.[10]

In April 2012, Dongfeng announced that it would establish a multi-brand dealership network across China selling Fengshen, Dongfeng Fengxing and Zhengzhou Nissan vehicles.[11]

Fengshen vehicles went on sale outside China for the first time in August 2012, when the brand was launched in Venezuela.[12]

In August 2023, Dongfeng motor announced restructure of its subsidiary brands Aeolus (Dongfeng Fengshen), Dongfeng Nammi and Dongfeng eπ. The three brands were consolidated into one "Dongfeng" brand, which unified in marketing and production management. The three brands became sub-brands and remained using independent brands.[13]

Products

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Current model

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Discontinued models

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Sales

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Fengshen products are currently sold in China and Venezuela.

Global sales data of Aeolus(Fengshen)[16]
Year Total
2009 22,000[1]
2010 28,188[17]
2011 28,000
2012 60,200[18]
2013 80,077[19][note 1]
2014 80,107
2015 100,417
2016 150,077
2017 125,018
2018 95,641
2019 78,107
2020 70,519
2021 121,570
2022 190,587[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ China only.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Dongfeng offering own-brand sedans". China Daily. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. ^ "PSA Peugeot Citroën in China (a PSA Press Kit)". groupe-psa.com. PSA Peugeot Citroën. April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  3. ^ "China Car History: Yunbao YB6470". 3 April 2012.
  4. ^ "Dongfeng set to roll out Fengshen S30 car". Gasgoo. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  5. ^ "【图】悄然换标 东风乘用车的"七年之痒"_汽车之家". www.autohome.com.cn. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Dongfeng Motor starts to build engine plant". Gasgoo. 27 June 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Premiere Showroom". China Daily. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Dongfeng-Fengshen H30 Cross Listed & Priced in China". Car News China. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Dongfeng-Fengshen A60 debuts at the Guangzhou Auto Show". Car News China. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Dongfeng Fengshen A60 listed & priced in China". Car News China. 29 March 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. ^ "Dongfeng planning to set up multi-brand dealers". Gasgoo. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Dongfeng begins export of self-developed Fengshen". China Daily. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  13. ^ "东风公司实施东风乘用车新能源"跃迁行动" 集团一体化管理"东风"三大产品品牌-新华网". www.news.cn. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  14. ^ Pappas, Thanos. "carscoops". www.carscoops.com.
  15. ^ "Dongfeng AX7 SUV". China Auto Web. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  16. ^ "今年冲刺20万辆_懂车帝". www.dongchedi.com (in Chinese (China)). Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  17. ^ "2011:东风风神在稳健中突破". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Majority of manufacturers in Chinese automobile market fail to meet sales targets for 2012". Gasgoo. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  19. ^ "2013 Passenger Vehicle Sales by Brand". China Auto Web. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  20. ^ "东风公司2022年销量数据呈现"四个上升"-国务院国有资产监督管理委员会". wap.sasac.gov.cn. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
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