Farizon resumes operations in France

Farizon, a Chinese company that makes light commercial vehicles and is owned by Geely, has restarted its operations in France after a six-month delay. The company is now setting up a subsidiary in the country, with Fan Zhang as director and Romain Rodier overseeing sales and operations.

Company structure and growth targets

The new French subsidiary will have around twenty employees by the end of 2026, working in areas such as sales, after-sales, marketing, and cross-functional services. Farizon aims to open 20 sales and service points by the end of 2026, with plans to expand to 40 by 2027 and eventually reach 60 locations.

Potential distributor and partnership criteria

Emil Frey, who imports Farizon vehicles in Switzerland, is mentioned as a possible distributor, though no formal agreement has been confirmed. Farizon is targeting partners who specialize in light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks. The company does not require large investments from its partners, asking for only four vehicles to be displayed and offering flexibility on indoor space and sales staff requirements.

Farizon's electric vehicle models

For its debut in France, Farizon is introducing two electric light commercial vehicles. The V7E is similar to a Renault Trafic, with a 3,200 mm wheelbase and a maximum loading volume of 6.95 m³. It has a range of up to 328 km. The larger SV model, in its L3H3 cargo version, offers up to 13 m³ of loading space and a range of 375 km when equipped with a 100 kWh battery.

Vehicle features and future plans

The SV model includes features like heated and ventilated seats, a 12.3-inch screen, a 360° camera, and a real-time charging indicator. It also has a wide lateral opening of 1.3 meters and a low loading threshold of 520 mm. Farizon plans to complete its product line in 2027 with a chassis-cab version and will introduce a 4 m³ light commercial vehicle in 2028 to compete in the van market.

Partnerships and financial incentives

Farizon has partnered with several companies for financing, telematics, fittings, and logistics. However, its Chinese-made vehicles do not qualify for enhanced financial incentives, only receiving bonuses of about 1,000 euros. The company also benefits from the Geely group's parts center in Germany, ensuring parts can be delivered within 72 hours.