Xiali

FAW Tianjin is an automobile manufacturer in China. There are two different entities under Tianjin Xiali. One is a fully subsidiary division of First Automobile Works known as Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co. Ltd, while a joint venture between Toyota and First Automobile Works in 2000 known as Tianjin FAW Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. Before the Toyota joint venture, Tianjin produced the Tianjin Xiali TJ730 (based on the 1983 Daihatsu Charade) and then the TJ7100-TJ7131 hatchback and TJ7100U-TJ7131U sedan. Xiali (夏利) is Chinese for "Charade". The TJ7100-series cars, based on the 1987 Charade, are still very popular in China as taxicabs although they are gradually being replaced by larger Volkswagen and Hyundai cars. Nonetheless, production of the Daihatsu based Xiali N3 and A+ series continue today. Production at the Tianjin Xiali plant has now shifted to more modern Toyota vehicles, for example the Xiali 2000 is based on the Toyota Platz/Vitz. Toyota also builds and sells vehicles in China under its own brand.