Bestune

Bestune
Native name	一汽奔腾
Formerly	Besturn (2006-2018)
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Automotive
Founded	2006; 18 years ago
Headquarters	Changchun, China
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Automobiles
Parent	FAW Group (86.16%) FAW Equity Investment (11.87%) Jiangsu Yueda Automotive Group (1.97%)
Website	https://benteng.faw.cn/(in Chinese)

Bestune is a Chinese manufacturer of passenger cars and SUVs based in Changchun, operating since 2018. It belongs to the Chinese concern FAW Group.

History

FAW Besturn model line

In 2006, the Chinese automotive concern FAW Group created a new model line FAW Besturn,^[1] targeting upper-middle-class customers. The first model to join the sub-brand was the mid-size limousine Besturn B70, which gained great popularity among customers in the Chinese market.^[2]

The market success of the first model from the Besturn model line encouraged FAW to expand its offer with further models, including both sedans positioned below B70,^[3] as well as above his, as well as the first SUV in the form of the X80 model presented in 2013.^[4] The next and last premiere in the FAW Besturn model line was the small crossover X40, which hit the market in 2017.^[5] Despite the expansion of the range, the popularity of the Besturn series models did not meet the expected goals of the FAW Group concern and began to decline.^[6]

Brand Bestune

At the end of 2018, a decision was made to liquidate the Besturn model line under the FAW brand, creating a completely new brand Bestune.^[7] The manufacturer gave it its own logo, as well as a new stylistic language and a different naming order. The first model of the Bestune brand was presented in the fall of 2018 SUV T77 developed in partnership with the electronics giant Xiaomi,^[8] and in the following years, the offer was expanded to include further SUVs under the name T33,^[9] T55^[10] and T99.^[11]

In 2020, the range was completed by the B70 limousine^[12] being a continuation of the model from the former FAW Besturn B70 line, as well as the first electric car in the form of crossover E01.^[13] In 2021, the manufacturer expanded its presence in the range of electric cars with another vehicle - minivana E05, later renamed Bestune NAT.^[14] 2022 brought the presentation of a fastback based on the B70 as a response to models such as Citroën C5X or Ford Evos in the form of Bestune B70S.^[15]

At the end of 2022, Bestune rebranded, presenting a new company logo and a refreshed stylistic language of its models. The first vehicles covered by the new tactics were the modernized T77 and T99 SUVs.^[16] The third model from the revised range is a new design and the first premiere of 2023, a large minivan M9 developed together with the sister brand Hongqi.^[17] After the pre-production presentation of a family of personalized prototypes in April 2023, the market debut of the production Bestune Pony took place in August of the same year. The electric microcar was created as a response to, among others, Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.^[18]