Key facts
- Years active
- 2003–2013
- Country
- China
- Headquarters
- Shenyang, China
- Legal name
- Polarsun Motor Holdings Ltd.
- Famous models
- Century
Brand History
Polarsun Automobile began as Songliao Automobile and was reconstructed in 2003 as Shenyang Zhongshun Automobile, also known as Polarsun Automobile. The English name of the company is Polarsun Automobile Company while its Chinese pinyin is Zhōngshùn Qìchē. Its final corporate name before dissolution was Polarsun Motor Holdings Ltd.
The company established its first North American R&D center in Los Angeles in 2002. In 2003 it opened a second R&D center in Detroit, Michigan. Headquarters remained in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China throughout its existence. Production of minibuses and other vehicles ran from 2003 until 2010 with the brand ceasing production in 2013 due to slow sales.
Polarsun Logo Evolution
2006 – 2008: Revolutionary Logo
The Polarsun logo first appeared prominently in 2006 during the Beijing Auto Show. This period aligned with the company’s peak production years and major model expansion. The emblem was used on MPV models including the SZS6430.
- Design: Unique stylized revolutionary design
- Colors: Not documented in available sources
- Changes: First major logo introduction after company reconstruction
- Context: Introduced at the height of design investment and international exhibition activity
Production volumes grew steadily after the 2006 logo introduction, reaching 18,024 minibuses in 2007 before declining sharply. The company displayed multiple concept and production vehicles at Shanghai and Beijing auto shows between 2005 and 2007 featuring various MPVs, SUVs, and pickups.
Production and Legacy
Early production centered on the Polarsun Century minibus based on the fourth-generation Toyota HiAce, carrying model codes SLQ6503 and SZS6503. Annual minibus output rose from 216 units in 2003 to a peak of 18,024 units in 2007, then fell to 2,540 units in 2009 with zero production recorded in 2010. Only 26 MPVs and 8 SUVs were produced between 2006 and 2009, contributing to financial difficulties.
The Polarsun car logo appeared during this active period of vehicle development and exhibition. One notable model, the 2007 Polarsun Business MPV, was a rebadged version of the FAW Free Wind. Slow sales eventually led to the end of manufacturing in 2013.
In 2018 all stocks were transferred to WM Motors, also known as Weltmeister. This acquisition provided a path forward through the manufacturing license and transformed the company into a NEV-focused entity. WM Motors therefore stands as the direct successor to Polarsun Automobile.
The limited visual documentation of the Polarsun emblem reflects the relatively short commercial lifespan of the brand. Its history illustrates the challenges faced by smaller Chinese manufacturers during the late 2000s as market conditions shifted. The 2006 revolutionary logo remains the primary documented visual identity tied to the company’s most active years.
