Kaiyi Auto

The origin of the Cowin name dates back to 2003 when it was introduced to identify the facelifted version of the Chery Fulwin (itself a licensed version of the first series of Seat Toledo as well as the first car produced by the Chery); subsequently, from 2009, Chery decided to reorganize its product range using this name to identify a sub-range of models that had reached end of the production cycle were still selling well; these were the Chery Cowin 1 (a facelifted QQ6), the Chery Cowin 2 (ex Chery Cowin / Fulwin), and Chery Cowin 3 (ex Chery A5).^[3]

Cowin Auto was established as a subsidiary of Chery in 2014 with the aim of developing a new niche in China's dynamically developing car market, targeting young buyers from medium-sized and small towns with low prices.^[4]

The first vehicle of Cowin as a standalone brand was the subcompact car C3 sedan and C3R hatchback, which went on sales in November 2014 - six months after its debut.^[5] In the following years, Cowin's lineup was expanded mainly in terms of SUVs and crossovers starting with the X3 in 2016.^[6] Then a year later, it was joined by the larger X5.^[7] In 2020, Cowin launched a more powerful car in the form of the E5,^[8]; at the same time, in an attempt to slow a decline in popularity of the brand, the Showjet were launched.^[9]

In July 2022, Cowin Auto announced a rebranding, changing its name to the more Chinese-sounding Kaiyi Auto, along with the design language of the models.^[10] The company presented a series of prototypes heralding a completely new model range.^[11] In December of the same year, the company's first new model after the rebranding went on sale in the form of a large SUV Kaiyi Kunlun.^[12] In January 2023, Kaiyi officially began distributing its cars in Russia, also starting local production of the Xuandu sedan under the name Kaiyi E5 at the Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad.^[13]

In October 2023, Kaiyi presented the first production model, an extension of the family of prototypes from the spring of the same year. A study of the i-EA 01 small electric hatchback evolved into the Kaiyi Shiyue.^[14]

Kaiyi Auto began its international market in 2022, exporting models like the X3, X3 Pro, X3 Pro EV, and E5 to various countries. Kaiyi have entered over 30 markets, including those in Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. In 2023, the company began producing cars locally in cooperation with Avitol in Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia.

In 2024, Kaiyi entered the Cambodian market, where its vehicles were rebadged and sold as the GTV Kain and GTV Soben by GTV Motor Cambodia.^[19][20] In April 2025, Kaiyi entered the Philippine market under Fortune Electricars Philippines Corp. They also announced their new global market strategy in May 2025, with plans for further expansion and a sales target of 300,000 units annually.^[21]