The story
Founded in 2000, Hawtai Motor Group is, as of May 2011, owned by Zhang Xiugen, a Chinese entrepreneur. Initially producing an SUV, a 2002 cooperation with Hyundai allowed it to manufacture Hyundai-branded SUVs starting in 2003, which it also started selling under its own name in 2004. Only the engines may have differentiated these Hawtai-branded offerings. The company added sedans to its product line in 2010, and these are probably the first vehicles it both designed and manufactured.
Failed Saab bailout
Although it was never consummated, in early May 2011, Hawtai agreed to provide EUR 150 million to Spyker Cars, the then-current owner of Saab, in exchange for Chinese manufacturing rights to the new Saab 9-3 and a 30% ownership of this Swedish vehicle maker. The deal quickly fell through.
Technology transfers
Hawtai appears eager to absorb foreign technology, and the company has sought such transfers repeatedly, in the process gaining access to diesel engine and vehicle platform technologies. Around the time of the 2009 Chrysler Chapter 11 reorganization, this American automaker discussed the possibility of an asset sale with Hawtai.
In the early 2000s, Hawtai purchased technology from Hyundai Motors including some used in the first generation Santa Fe. The company sells a Hawtai-branded version of this small SUV as well as one of the Hyundai Terracan. c. 2010, both models used the same names as their Hyundai-branded counterparts, but by 2014 the Hawtai Santa Fe was being referred to as a Hawtai C9. The company does not appear reluctant to divulge the source of the intellectual property that appears in these vehicles; it refers to the C9 as a "Korean classic".
Hawtai utilizes engine technologies that were developed by other companies including some created by Italian diesel engine experts VM Motori.
Hyundai joint venture
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In 2002, Hawtai began a licensing deal, partnership, or joint venture with Hyundai motors, but, as of late 2010, this has ceased. Hawtai continued to be referred to as a Hyundai partner as late as 2011, however. Regardless of the specific legal nature of the project, the Hyundai-Hawtai cooperation produced Chinese-market versions of several Hyundai models: the Hyundai Matrix, a people carrier, the Hyundai Santa Fe, and the Hyundai Terracan. The Santa Fe was the fifth most-purchased SUV in China in 2010, and at least some Hawtai versions of the car may differ significantly from those sold in other markets. Both Hyundai SUVs have experienced continued popularity in China. Hawtai's newest SUV, the B35 Bolgheri (Baolige in Chinese) utilizes Hyundai platform technology.
Proposed Proton collaboration
Between 2011 and 2012, a tie-up between Malaysian Proton and Hawtai was touted. This as-yet-incomplete deal may have originated at an ASEAN-sponsored business conference.
From Wikipedia’s article on Hawtai, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4