Qiantu Motor is a Chinese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Suzhou. It specializes in designing and developing electric vehicles.
History
In 2010, a Chinese engineer and manager, Lu Qun, who worked in the 1990s at a local automotive concern BAW, decided to establish, together with his business partners, Beijing Great Wall Huaguan Automobile Technology Co., Ltd. The goal was to construct the first sports car in Chinese automotive history with a purely electric drive.
| Website | www.qiantumotor.com |
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During the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show, the Qiantu brand presented its first production vehicle under the name of the 2-door, 2-seater coupé K50 in the form of a pre-production prototype. A year later, during the 2016 Shanghai Auto Show, the final production-ready version of the vehicle was presented, with production beginning in Suzhou in 2017.
At the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, Qiantu Motor unveiled two new prototypes: a luxury grand tourer called Concept 1 and a small sports car called K20. A year later, at the 2019 Beijing Auto Show, Qiantu presented two additional concept models, the K25 and Concept 2, aimed at expanding its product lineup.
In December 2018, Qiantu announced plans to expand beyond the Chinese market and enter the American market. In April 2019, the manufacturer revealed that the K50 would be offered in partnership with the Californian company Mullen Technologies. The vehicle, intended for the U.S. market, was to be sold under the name Mullen Dragonfly, pending the completion of production facilities in Brea, California. However, this plan was ultimately abandoned, and Qiantu Motors entered financial difficulties. In November 2020, the company ceased production of the K50 after two years and suspended operations.
In June 2022, Qiantu resumed operations after a two-year hiatus, introducing its second production model, an evolution of the 2018 K20 Concept prototype. The new vehicle, a fully electric city hatchback, was launched exclusively in China. The company also announced plans to restructure its operations, expand its model lineup, and re-enter foreign markets.
Bankruptcy
On January 20, 2024, Qiantu Motors (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. was declared bankrupt by the Suzhou High-tech Zone People’s Court in Jiangsu Province. The bankruptcy application was filed by Senter Group Co., Ltd. and China Electronics Engineering Second Construction Co., Ltd., citing Qiantu Motors’ inability to repay debts totaling approximately 72 million RMB and its insufficient assets to cover liabilities.
The court ruled that Qiantu Motors was insolvent, with no viable evidence to counter claims regarding its inability to repay debts. Although Qiantu Motors argued that it retained valuable assets, including its new energy vehicle license, vehicle models, and technical team, the court dismissed its objections. The company’s hopes for external financing and overseas market expansion were insufficient to avert bankruptcy.
On January 24, 2025, Qiantu’s parent company, CH-Auto, filed for bankruptcy liquidation after failing to launch an IPO in the United States.
Products
Production Models
- K50 (2018–2020) – Electric sports car
Cancelled Models
- K20 – Subcompact electric hatchback
Concept Vehicles
- Qiantu K50 Concept (2015)
- Qiantu Concept 1 (2018)
- Qiantu K20 Concept (2018)
- Qiantu Concept 2 (2019)
- Qiantu K25 Concept (2019)
