DFSK Motor

DFSK Motor
Native name	东风小康
Romanized name	Dongfeng Xiaokang
Industry	Automotive
Founded	27 June 2003; 18 years ago
Founders	Chongqing Sokon Industry Group; Dongfeng Motor Corporation
Products	Automobiles, commercial vehicles, auto parts
Brands	DFSK; DFSK Glory; Dongfeng Fengguang
Parent	Chongqing Sokon Industry Group
Website	https://www.dfdongfeng.com.cn/

Dongfeng Sokon Automobile (Chinese: 东风小康; pinyin: Dongfeng Xiaokang) known internationally as DFSK Motor, is a joint venture between Dongfeng and Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co Ltd., formed on June 27th, 2003.^[1]

DFSK produces microvans, flat-bed commercial trucks and passenger vehicles under the Xiaokang brand and sport utility vehicle under the Fengguang (Fengon in English) and Glory brands.^[2] Manufacturing for DFSK takes place in a total of four different facilities, two of which are located in Hubei Shiyan and two in Chongqing.^[3]

History[]

At the beginning of 2000, Chongqing Yu'an Innovation Technology (Group), a manufacturer of motorcycles and automotive components, and Dongfeng Motor are evaluating the possibility of entering the automotive sector by studying microvans intended for small Chinese businesses. Dongfeng was already producing cars for the French group PSA but was absent from light commercial production and approves this project.

In 2003, the joint venture Dongfeng Yu'an Automobile with headquarters in Chongqing was formed and work began on the construction of a new factory. Yu'an Group acquires from Japan Suzuki the license for the production of chassis, engines and components for microvans and later develops them in just style, Dongfeng takes care of the engineering and testing phase. In 2005, the first vehicle called C-Series officially debuted, a small van offered in multiple configurations (paneled, passenger minibus and pick-up) with Suzuki engines and rear-wheel drive. At its debut, the Yu'an Group changes its name to Chongquin Sokon Industry Group (abbreviated to Sokon in English or Xiaokang in Chinese) and the joint venture consequently becomes Dongfeng Sokon Automobile (abbreviated to DFSK).

In the Chinese market the vehicles are sold as Dongfeng Sokon while in the export markets the name DFSK is used. In both cases, the brand on the grille is Dongfeng's “Dual Wings”.

Subsequently DFSK presents numerous other models of minivans and starts exporting them also in Europe; in the UK they will be distributed by subsidiary Sokon Automobile while in Italy by Giotti Victoria.^[4]

In 2013, DFSK decided to enter the lucrative SUV market by starting the design of a seven-seater mid-size vehicle using Dongfeng technologies; this vehicle was designed so that it could have an aggressive price classifying itself as a low-cost family car and had to be sold both in China and abroad. The project debuted in 2016 called Dongfeng Fengguang 580, a five and seven-seater front-wheel or four-wheel drive SUV with Mitsubishi engines. The brand name Fengguang (translated into Fengon in English) is used to distinguish them from the production of minivans called Sokon. On foreign markets, this vehicle will be renamed DFSK Glory (easier to pronounce) using the Dongfeng Dual Wings emblem on the grille, interior and rear.

In the same years, the production of the minivan range was started in Indonesia and Thailand and exports also to South America and Eastern Europe.

DFSK began to assemble and market products in Indonesia in 2015.^[5] Plans at the time of launch included an expected production of 50,000 units/year.^[5]

Total sales in 2017 reached 402,000 vehicles and in November 2018 Chongqing Sokon Group acquires the remaining 50% of the DFSK joint venture from Dongfeng for 621 million euros, becoming 100% owner. ^[6]

List of vehicle[]

Dongfeng Xiaokang (东风小康)/ DFSK (Sokon)[]

The DFSK (Sokon) or Dongfeng Xiaokang brand is the sub-brand of Dongfeng Xiaokang that produces light commercial vehicles. Currently available products include:

C-Series
- Sokon C37/C36
- Sokon C31/C32
K-Series
- Sokon K05
- Sokon K07
- Sokon K09
- Sokon K05S
- Sokon K07S
- Sokon K01/K02
- Sokon V07S- microvan
- Sokon V21- single cab pickup
- Sokon V22- crew cab pickup
- Sokon V25- microvan
- Sokon V26- microvan
- Sokon V27- microvan
- Sokon V29- microvan/ pickup
EV
- EC35- mid-size van
- EC31- small box truck

Sokon C37
Sokon K07S
Sokon K07/K17
Sokon New K07
Sokon V29
Sokon V07S
Sokon V27 Cargo
Sokon V22 Crew Cab
Sokon V21
Sokon V21 (2013)

Dongfeng Fengguang/Fengon[]

Dongfeng Fengguang/Fengon (or DFSK Glory for foreign markets) is the sub-brand of Dongfeng Xiaokang that produces passenger vehicles. Established in 2008, Dongfeng Fengguang has a series of affordable compact MPVs and CUVs. Currently available products include: