Chine
Haval
Haval is a Chinese automaker specializing in sport utility vehicles (SUVs), a subsidiary of manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM). Great Wall Motor was founded in 1984 in Hebei province, China, and first made its name as one of China's leading pickup truck manufacturers. Under the leadership of Wei Jianjun, who was appointed director of the company in 1990, the company expanded its lineup toward recreational vehicles. The Haval name first appeared in April 2005 on the Great Wall Haval CUV, initially transcribed as "Hover" and later renamed the Haval H3, one of the first compact SUVs produced by a local Chinese manufacturer. The commercial success of the Haval H6, launched in 2011, propelled the brand's growth. In March 2013, Great Wall Motor established Haval as a standalone brand with its own logo, making it the group's second brand after Great Wall. Haval made the unusual strategic choice to focus almost exclusively on the SUV segment, a decision that coincided with the explosive growth in demand for this type of vehicle in China. The brand dominated SUV sales in China for several consecutive years and produced its five millionth vehicle in January 2019. Today, Haval is present in many international markets, including Australia, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Russia and Saudi Arabia. In North America, Haval's presence is essentially limited to Mexico, where GWM launched operations in 2023 with the Haval H6 hybrid, followed by the Jolion; the network there includes dozens of sales outlets. The brand is not, however, officially distributed in the United States or Canada, which makes parts and after-sales service difficult to obtain for a Quebec buyer.
ActiveÉlectrique / hybridePopulairesChinoises
History
History of Haval
Haval is a Chinese automaker specializing in sport utility vehicles (SUVs), a subsidiary of manufacturer Great Wall Motor (GWM). Great Wall Motor was founded in 1984 in Hebei province, China, and first made its name as one of China's leading pickup truck manufacturers. Under the leadership of Wei Jianjun, who was appointed director of the company in 1990, the company expanded its lineup toward recreational vehicles. The Haval name first appeared in April 2005 on the Great Wall Haval CUV, initially transcribed as "Hover" and later renamed the Haval H3, one of the first compact SUVs produced by a local Chinese manufacturer. The commercial success of the Haval H6, launched in 2011, propelled the brand's growth. In March 2013, Great Wall Motor established Haval as a standalone brand with its own logo, making it the group's second brand after Great Wall. Haval made the unusual strategic choice to focus almost exclusively on the SUV segment, a decision that coincided with the explosive growth in demand for this type of vehicle in China. The brand dominated SUV sales in China for several consecutive years and produced its five millionth vehicle in January 2019. Today, Haval is present in many international markets, including Australia, Brazil, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Russia and Saudi Arabia. In North America, Haval's presence is essentially limited to Mexico, where GWM launched operations in 2023 with the Haval H6 hybrid, followed by the Jolion; the network there includes dozens of sales outlets. The brand is not, however, officially distributed in the United States or Canada, which makes parts and after-sales service difficult to obtain for a Quebec buyer.
Public founding or origin of Haval.
Big Dog/Dargo: launch or first listed period.
H6: launch or first listed period.
H9: launch or first listed period.
Jolion: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Haval relies on Great Wall Motor's L.E.M.O.N. platform, a modular architecture designed to accommodate gasoline, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains. On the electrification front, the brand deploys its Lemon DHT hybrid system (dedicated hybrid transmission) on models such as the Jolion and the H6, combining a gasoline engine and an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption. The high-end plug-in hybrid versions use Hi4 technology. The combustion powertrains are based mainly on turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engines (1.5 L and 2.0 L), with turbodiesel versions on certain markets. Rugged SUVs like the H9 retain a ladder frame (body-on-frame) and all-wheel drive with selectable driving modes. On the safety side, recent models incorporate a suite of Level 2 driver-assistance features (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, emergency braking).
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A Chinese brand of affordable, well-equipped SUVs, from the urban compact to the ladder-frame off-roader, with growing electrification.
Reputation
Haval has built a reputation for affordable, well-equipped and safe SUVs. The Jolion and the H6 earned the maximum five-star rating in ANCAP safety tests (Australia), with excellent results in occupant protection and driver assistance. Reviews generally praise the equipment-to-price ratio. On the reliability side, the H6 and the Jolion show few reported breakdowns and parts that are easy to find on their markets, but the dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is often cited as the weak point. Resale value sits at an average level, comparable to SUVs in a similar category, as the brand's track record is still recent internationally.
Strengths
Haval's strengths: an excellent equipment-to-price ratio, modern SUVs with refined design that are well equipped with technology. The brand offers a rapidly expanding hybrid and plug-in hybrid lineup, five-star ANCAP safety ratings on its flagship models, and a ladder-frame SUV (H9) that is genuinely capable off-road. The lineup ranges from the small urban SUV to the large family off-roader.
Points to watch
Haval's limitations: the absence of an official network in the United States and Canada, which complicates access to parts, warranty and service for a Quebec buyer. The dual-clutch transmissions (DCT) are regularly pointed to as the weak link in reliability. The brand remains young internationally, with a still-short resale-value track record and limited brand awareness compared with established manufacturers.
Models
Haval models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Haval produces its vehicles in Great Wall Motor's plants, whose industrial heart is located in China, mainly in Hebei province (the Baoding region). The group has also developed assembly sites abroad to serve its export markets: a plant in Russia (Tula Oblast, in operation since June 2019) and a plant in Brazil (state of São Paulo, where production started in August 2025). In North America, Great Wall Motor sells Haval models in Mexico, but there is no Haval production in the United States or Canada. The vehicles sold in Mexico are imported. No Haval plant is established on North American soil to date.
Tires and wheels
Haval SUVs (Jolion, H6, Big Dog/Dargo, H9) use fitments typical of the SUV segment: generally 17- to 19-inch wheels on the urban and family models, and more modest diameters but taller-sidewall tires on the off-road-oriented H9. The most common bolt pattern on this type of Chinese SUV is 5x114.3 mm, to be verified on a case-by-case basis. Like any SUV in Quebec, these vehicles must be fitted with compliant winter tires (provincial law), often mounted on a second set of steel wheels to preserve the original wheels. Always confirm the exact size marked on the original tire before purchasing.