Beijing BJ212. The Chinese Beijing Automobile Works, formerly Beijing Jeep, BJ212 () and BAW BJ2020 is a  four-wheel drive, originally a 2.4 L (2445 cc) four-cylinder gas-engine powered (four-cylinder diesel engines were added in the 2000s) light-duty offroad utility vehicle in the half tonne class. The original design, depending in large part on Russian off-roaders from UAZ and possibly developed in conjunction with the UAZ-469, debuted in 1965 as the Beijing BJ212. It has been known as the BJ2020 series since the Chinese car classification system was changed in 1989. The BJ212 succeeded the BJ210 model 4x4, whose manufacturing continued and was transferred to Tianjin's First Auto Works which took over manufacturing under the name of TJ210 C. Tianjin's First Auto Works also produce variants with two metal half-doors and an extended wheelbase version with four metal doors.

History
It is commonly used by the Chinese government (particularly the armed forces), but is also commercially available. Various versions of the Jeep are today sold under the names of Zhanqi, Jinxuanfeng, City Cruiser, Kuangchao, and Ludi. The BJ212 was expressly developed for use by the Chinese military as well as by lower-level cadres. Semi-legal copies were also built by Xinkai in Hebei, beginning in 1984.

By the early 2000s, the Xinkai-built version was sold as the Lieying ("Falcon"), a copy of the Zhanqi four-door hardtop, equipped with the 2.2-liter GW491QE (a copy of the Toyota 4E engine, also built in Hebei by Great Wall).

Since 2012, the Beijing Automobile Works (北京汽车制造厂有限公司, Běijīng qìchē zhìzào chǎng yǒuxiàn gōngsī）has been producing the BJ212 and Zhanqi in Huanghua, Hebei（河北省黄骅市, equipped firstly with the 2.0 liter 4G20 engine (a copy of the Toyota 4Y engine, built by Brilliance Auto Xinchen XCE in Sichuan), then a turbocharged 1.5 liter Mitsubishi engine and a turbocharged 2.4 liter Mitsubishi engine (Built in Shenyang, Liaoning Province by Hangtian Mitsubishi, a joint venture of Mitsubishi and state owned Hangtian Group), because the 4G20 engine is unable to reach National VI Emission Standard.

Development

BJ212
 BJ212 - (1964–1986) Standard five-seat version
 BJ212A - Long wheelbase eight-seat version
 BJ212F - BJ212A with a solid tent
 BJ212E - Designed in 1986. With a Perkins diesel engine and a new transmission. Also used on a Jeep Cherokee-engined prototype with 15-inch wheels built the same year.
 BJ 121 - (1980–1986) two-wheel drive pickup and derivatives
 BJ 1021 - (1986-201?) a renamed version of the long wheelbase 2WD BJ 121
 BJ 222 - (1980–1986) four-wheel drive pickup and derivatives, originally called the BJ 211. Replaced by the BJ2032 series
The vehicle appeared in 1965 as the successor to the Beijing BJ210, a smaller vehicle. There is a similarity to the Soviet UAZ-469. The manufacturer was initially Beijing Automobile Works. From 1983 this company operated together with the American Motors Corporation the Beijing Jeep Corporation. According to a source, this Joint venture continued production. A source indicates that the model designation was abandoned in 1989 and the same model was released under two new model codes.

BJ2020

The BJ212 was renamed and renumbered as the BJ2020 and was produced from 1986 to 2005.

In 1989 the following models still used the original body: [2] 
 BJ2020 SAF1 as a convertible with three doors and eight seats, 2.2-liter engine with 102-103 hp power, all-wheel drive 
 BJ2020 SAU1 with 93 kW BJ492 engine displacement of 2.45, 12 liters fuel per 100 kilometers.
 BJ2020 SAQU1 with the same engine.
 BJ2020 SAQF1 with the first-mentioned engine. 
 BJ2023 S1CU1 as a convertible with four doors and five seats with the larger engine. 
 BJ2032 SAQ with four doors, five seats and all-wheel drive 
 BJ1021 SAQ as a two-door pick-up 
 BJ2032 SE pick-up with four doors, five seats and all-wheel drive 
 BJ2032 SA with all-wheel drive 
 BJ1021 SA as a convertible pick-up with two-wheel drive 
 BJ2032 S as a two-seat pick-up with all-wheel drive 
 BJ1021 S as a two-seater pick-up with two-wheel drive

Data is known for the BJ212 E from 1982 with a four-cylinder engine having 92 mm bore, 92 mm hub, 2445 cm³ displacement and 70 hp power. The wheelbase is 2300 mm. The vehicle is 3860 mm long, 1750 mm wide and 1910 mm high. The empty weight is given as 1520 kg.

In 1993 the model was modernized and BJ2020 S.

From 1997 to 2000 there was the Ludi BJ2020 T. it was also based on BJ212.

In 1998 the model appeared with the additional name Jinxuanfeng with a revised front that had a lot of plastic, in the following explanations:
 BJ2023 F as a convertible with five doors, five seats and the smaller engine and all -wheel drive
 BJ2023 Q1 as station wagon with five doors, four seats and the larger engine and all -wheel drive
 BJ2023 Q1F1 with the smaller engine
 BJ2020 Saqu1 as a station wagon with three doors and the larger engine
 BJ2020 SAQF1 with the smaller engine

Another source states that a variant Kuangchao appeared in 1998. A 2.5-liter engine and a 2.7-liter engine, each with 100 hp, are known for 2000. The model was available with two different buildings:
 BJ2020 SGZ as a Cabriolet with four doors and five seats
 BJ2020 SMZ as a station wagon with five doors and five seats

In 2000 the Zhanqi variant was presented on the Beijing Auto Show. The front design is similar to the Jeep Wrangler. The following explanations are known:
 BJ2024 Z2Q1F1 as a station wagon with five doors, five seats, all -wheel drive and the smaller engine
 BJ2024 Z2Q1E with a 2.8-liter-diesel engine and 92 hp power
 BJ2024 Z2Q1U1 with the larger engine
 BJ2023 Z2CKF1 as a convertible with four doors and five seats, all -wheel drive and the smaller engine
 BJ2023 Z2CKU1 with the larger engine
 BJ2023 Z2Q1E with the diesel engine
 BJ6460 ZHF1 with three doors and ten seats
 BJ5030  a station wagon with the smaller engine
 BJ2032 ZAQF1 with four doors, five seats and all -wheel drive
 BJ2032 ZAQH1
 BJ2032 ZAqu1 as a pick-up
 BJ2032 ZAF1 with four doors, five seats and all -wheel drive
 BJ2032 Zah1
 BJ2032 ZAU1 as a convertible pick-up
 BJ2032 ZU1 as a two-seater pick-up
 BJ2032 ZF1 as a two-seater Cabriolet pick-up

The City Cruiser BJ2020 V also appeared in 2000 as a replacement of the Ludi. The BJ2020 VT versions are known as a five-door station wagon as well as BJ2020 VA and BJ2020 VB as four -door convertible. There were two 2.5-liter engines with 100 hp and 106 hp.

The names Zhangqi, Zhanqi, Tieshuang and Jiao Dushi have been handed down for the 2008 model year. Motors are mentioned with 1997 cm³, 2237 cm³, 2771 cm³ and 2445 cm³ displacement as well as 85 kW, 75 kW, 68 kW and 68.5 kW, whereby a diesel engine is included. The BJ1021 as a pick-up was also available. The vehicles had either 2300 mm or 2500 mm wheelbase. The length was 4050 mm, 4080 mm or 4280 mm, the width 1828 mm or 1830 mm and the height 1840 mm or 1870 mm. The empty weight is specified at 1520 kg to 1720 kg.

The website of the Beijing brand led the model in four series in June 2020:
 Zhanqi with a long wheelbase as a station wagon with four doors, 
 Zhanqi CK with a short wheelbase and four doors, 
 Gladiator with a short wheelbase, two doors and folding roof and 
 classic version with the short wheelbase, Four doors and hood.

New BJ212

In 2023 BAW displayed a new BJ212 Sniper (BJ2023CHB2) at the 2023 Beijing Auto Show available in both four door station wagon and cabriolet variants.

Variants

BJ 2020
 BJ 2020 - (1986–2005) Upgraded with BJ492 engine displacement of 2.45, 12 liters fuel per 100 kilometers
 BJ2020N: BJ2020N, BJ2020NA, BJ2020NJ (military type), BJ2020NAJ (military type)
 BJ2020S: BJ2020S, BJ2020SA, BJ2020SAJ (military type), BJ2020SG, BJ2Q20SJ (military type), BJ2020ST
 BJ2020V "New City Cruiser": BJ2020VA, BJ2020VB, BJ2020VE, BJ2020VT (C498QA engine)
 BJ 2024 S "Jinxuanfeng" (2000–2001) redesigned with rectangular headlights and a Jeep Wrangler-like grille
 BJ 2023/2024 Z "Zhanqi" (2001–present) similar, but less angular and with round headlights copied from Jeep CJ.
 BAW2033 Series "BJ212"（2020–present）Fitted with a turbocharged 1.5 liter gasoline engine or a 2.4 liter gasoline engine manufactured by Hangtian Mitsubishi, which comply with National VI emission standard. The standard Version of the BAW2033 Series includes air conditioning and a restyled interior originated from BAW Yongshi (Gen 1).
 BJ 2032 (1986–2005) four-wheel drive long-wheelbase models, replacing the BJ 222
 BJ 2032 Z "Zhanqi" (2005–present) as BJ 2032 but redesigned on the Zhanqi lines

Military variants
 BJ212 HJ-8: HJ-8 ATGM mounted on BJ212 chassis.
 BJ2020 HJ-8: HJ-8 ATGM mounted on BJ2020SAJ chassis. It is used as a light and mobile fire support weapon platform by People's Liberation Army Ground Force.
 BJ2022: lightly armored vehicle upgrade of BJ2020.

Upgrades
The BJ2022 has a lengthened, widened, and strengthened chassis, a new squared off body, and more powerful engines and better transmissions.

Other variants
BAW not only sold the BJ212 under its own name they also sold it to any other Chinese automaker willing to pay for it. Some of whom only badge engineered and sold it on under their own brand while others made some sheet metal changes and badge engineered it. Other manufacturers acquired the platform and built their own station wagon, sedan, and pickup trucks bodies on them. Still others only installed their own engines under the bonnet. This led to all sorts of variations, made by many different automakers.

Great Wall Motors
Early Great Wall models includes a BJ212-based crew cab pickup called CC1020S and a BJ212-based station wagon the CC6490

Shuanghuan SHZHJ213
Sales of the BAW produced Jeep Cherokee XJ started to go up slowly in the early 1990s and it therefore aroused interest of China's copycat automakers with BAW then supplying BJ212 platforms to those copycat car makers, and one of whom was Shuanghuan.

Other manufacturers
Several other companies also made copies the joint venture Cherokee, while BJ, one of the partners of that joint venture, sold them the BJ212 frame for their copy.

Operators

Current Operators

Former Operators

Gallery

See also
 BJ2022
 UAZ-469

References

BAW vehicles
Off-road vehicles
Military vehicles of the People's Republic of China
Military light utility vehicles
Mid-size sport utility vehicles
Military trucks of China
Pickup trucks