Who is DFM?
DFM is the Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Dongfeng means "East Wind". The company was founded at the behest of Chairman Mao Zedong in 1968 as part of his "Third Front" strategy. Located in Hubei Province, far inland, with the idea to protect it from foreign invasion.
Since then along with China as a whole It has become the second-largest automobile manufacturer in the country. The company made an Initial Public Offering in December 2005, allthough it remains 70% owned by the central government. DFM make a whole range of cars, trucks and other machinary.
Up until a few years ago the UK had several what we refer to as "Mini Trucks" such as the Bedford Rascal, Daihatsu HiJet and the Susuki Super Carry imported into the country but all of these have now stopped. Their problem was simply a limited payload.
The DFM range of mini trucks is about to change all that. Many will still be unsure as they have never heard of DFM and the main reason for that is they are more in the background in joint ventures with companies you will recongnise. The DFM range of mini trucks is sold world wide, 240,000 DFM mini trucks were sold world wide in 2009 with DFM have a target of 300,000 in 2010.
Joint ventures
Dongfeng operates many joint venture manufacturing concerns in China:
Dongfeng Motor Group Company: the listed company of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.
Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile — With the PSA Group produces the Citroën ZX, Xsara, Picasso, and Elysée, and Peugeot 307
Dongfeng Motor Company — With Nissan produces the Nissan Sunny, Bluebird, Teana, and Tiida
Dongfeng Honda Automobile Company — With the Honda Motor Company produces the Honda CRV
Dongfeng Nissan-Diesel Company — With Nissan Diesel produces heavy trucks
Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company — Dongfeng has a 25% share with Kia and Yueda to produce the Hyundai Accent, Kia Optima, and Kia Carnival/Cerato
Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Company — Wholly owned subsidiary which produces the Dongfeng Future minivan
Honda Automobile (China) Company — Dongfeng owns 10% of Honda's importer in Guangdong Province
Dongfeng Automobile Company Limited — A joint venture with Cummins to produce Diesel trucks and engine
