JAC Sunray - will a Chinese bus be profitable for Russian business?

More than 10 years ago, the Chinese company JAC Motors launched the production of a model called the Sunray. This happened in 2011, and the name of the car can be translated as "Ray of the sun." Well, in the East they have always liked to express themselves colorfully and with deep meaning. It had a number of modifications, including a cargo all-metal van and several variants of passenger minibuses.


Traditionally, inexpensive Chinese technology began to rapidly conquer the markets of third countries and the expanses of the CIS. A promising family of light commercial vehicles did not just enter foreign markets. A deeper task was set - the opening of branches for the production of JAC Sunray in other countries.


Such a steady demand for the model is due to its versatility. Minibuses and vans find their application in all areas of business: construction, agriculture, small manufacturing enterprises and much more.

Minivan with diesel engine

Although some guides call Sunray a copy of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, in fact, everything is a little different. In appearance, a rather large similarity is noticeable, even in the side dark strip at the level of the wheels. But the filling of the "Chinese" is completely different. On the other hand, in terms of the shape of the front headlights, the minibus is somewhat reminiscent of the old models of our GAZelle. One way or another, but the bus has its own index - HFC5049.

Chinese automakers give ironclad arguments to direct accusations of plagiarism. According to the responsible persons of the enterprise, their own specialists worked on the external and internal appearance of the minibus. The interior was provided by the Japanese branch of JAC Motors, and the exterior was worked on in Italy. Of course, this cannot be verified. Only now our eyes, comparing the appearance of Sunray and Sprinter, are ready to convince us of the opposite.



It also comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox. It was manufactured at the enterprise independently, providing the index LC6T32. By the way, the diesel engine is also its own - JAC HFC4DE1-1D. Sometimes Cummins D19TDIE11 was also used. They are presented in three variations:

✅ 120-horsepower, displacement of 1,9 liters
✅ 2,7 liter engine
✅ 153-horsepower with a volume of 2,8 liters

True, after the opening of production in Kazakhstan, an exception was made from the "diesel" rule. Since 2020, cars assembled at the Kazakh enterprise are also equipped with 2-liter turbocharged gasoline engines. Its power is noticeably higher - 190 hp. With.

How the production of minibuses was opened in the CIS

If they “entered” the territory of Kazakhstan, with which the Chinese have common borders, four years ago, then they “entered” Belarus a year later. At the facilities of the Brest Machine-Building Plant, the production of Sunray started in 2019. True, the Belarusians remained in their repertoire. They absolutely do not like foreign, especially Chinese, names. Therefore, cars assembled in Belarus received names familiar to the Russian ear: MAZ-3650 and MAZ-281.


The first of them is a Chinese van in a Belarusian sweatshirt, and the second is a passenger minibus. All of them are assembled from a set of components supplied from China. Despite this, Brest cars have the MAZ logo and the corresponding name, which we mentioned earlier. This is where the differences with the classic Chinese minibus JAC Sunray end.

Even at the turn of 2016/2017, the prospect of a Chinese-Belarusian project was first announced. It was mutually beneficial. China expanded production, and Belarus used idle capacities. November 2017 became decisive in the choice of location (Brest) and the original model (JAC Sunray).

Under an agreement between the two parties, the products manufactured here are sold under a local brand and sold through their customer network. In the future, the Belarusian side is considering the option of expanded localization of production, with the release of individual components and entire structural units on the territory of Belarus.


For the first time, a finished model with the "Mazov" emblem was shown at the end of May at the Minsk exhibition "BAMAP-2019". From the same time, deliveries of minibuses for the domestic market began. Surprisingly, a month earlier, a Chinese-Belarusian car entered the market of a neighboring country - Ukraine. Its price at that time, taking into account all the necessary fees, was approximately 32 thousand euros (meaning the modification "281040"). Despite the fact that Belarus had already tried to launch the production of MAZ-9 and MAZ-181 182 years before, the Chinese copy is often referred to in the local media as “the first Belarusian minibus”.

"Pros" and "cons" JAC Sunray

Some especially zealous forecasters are sure that this minibus will “bury” the GAZelle, but I think not everything is so simple. Of course, the new model for the post-Soviet market has its advantages:

✅ load-bearing body
✅ comprehensive security system
✅ more advanced design
✅ low total cost of ownership

However, do not jump to conclusions. With negative points, JAC Sunray is also all right. And they are spoken about not just by theoretical experts, but by those who have already had the opportunity to sit at the “steering wheel of this vacuum cleaner”:

“After the “van” encounters a couple of good rains, the electronics begin to glitch terribly. And then you can not do without the help of a competent electrician. And that is not all. If the rewiring is needed only over time, then the box will again “spoil” you with the rumble of the clutch release. Here is such a "Chinese quality!".

“If you take something from the Chinese, then some separate unit or technical development. But, if you take the whole structure, then trouble cannot be avoided. It seems to me that the JAC Sunray is a disposable Chinese minibus. After a short run and failure of the wiring, clutch and gearbox (thousands after 70), it can be safely scrapped. And buy a new one. Although, if during this time it has already paid for itself (it seems to be not very expensive), it may be normal. It seems that many carriers operate the same GAZelles in this way - to the point of complete staggering.


For our and neighboring markets, engine power was artificially reduced in order to achieve an indicator of less than 150 hp. With. This was done to “please” tax requirements, which are much softer for lower power. Now diesel minibuses produced in Kazakhstan and Belarus have 149,5 liters. With. at 3200 rpm and a volume of 2,8 liters. These are quite reliable and time-tested motors created using Isuzu technology. Previously, they have already been used on many models of JAC trucks. The maximum speed, for safety reasons, is electronically limited to 100 km / h. The bodies will be produced in standard and shortened (with fewer seats) versions:

✅ length - 6 m / 4,9 m
✅ height - 2,8 m / 2,34 m
✅ wheelbase - 3570 mm / 2800 mm

It is technically possible to mount various superstructures on the JAC Sunray chassis, convert it into a manufactured goods van. There are also ambulances and electric vehicles at its base.

Conquest of the Russian market

I think everyone understands that the opening of production in Belarus and Kazakhstan is aimed primarily not at the domestic markets of the states. They are quite modest, while the neighboring Russian one looks much more promising. Therefore, the activity of both countries in this matter is very noticeable.


For example, Belarusians have already presented MAZ minibuses with Chinese filling at the Moscow exhibition. And with the Kazakhs, there is a preliminary agreement on deliveries. Although in 2020 the company's management, receiving OTTS, announced sales in the domestic market of Kazakhstan, the situation has changed. Minibuses produced by SaryarkaAvtoProm, after certification, will be delivered to Russia. Already now, the corporation plans to increase their number to 500-1000 pieces annually.

Everything goes to the fact that the Russian market will gradually be saturated with such equipment. And, most likely, from both neighboring countries. True, while there is no information about the price of the issue. If in Kazakhstan it is equivalent to 2,2-2,5 million rubles, then what can Russians expect? And will JAC Sunray be able to push domestic minibuses? Questions remain open, and only the future will give answers to them.