Sehol
A Chinese automobile brand launched as Sol through the JAC Volkswagen joint venture and later licensed to JAC Motors as Sehol.
Last updated October 9, 2026
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Overview
Sehol, originally introduced as Sol and known in Chinese as 思皓, is a Chinese automobile brand associated with JAC Motors and the former JAC Volkswagen Automotive joint venture. The brand was launched on April 24, 2018, during a period when Volkswagen Group and JAC were developing a dedicated electric-vehicle partnership in China. Its original name, Sol, referred to the Spanish word for “sun,” linking the project to Volkswagen’s Spanish automotive heritage through SEAT and to the partners’ stated interest in vehicles powered by renewable energy. The brand’s creation reflected both industrial and regulatory compromise. The initial concept contemplated using the SEAT name in China, but local authorities required a separate domestic brand instead. Sol therefore became a locally established marque intended to combine Volkswagen Group design and technology participation with JAC’s manufacturing and market presence. The launch was closely connected to the JAC Volkswagen joint venture, which was established to develop and produce new-energy vehicles for the Chinese market. The ownership structure changed substantially in 2020. Following changes that allowed foreign automakers to take majority control of electric-vehicle joint ventures in China, Volkswagen Group increased its stake in JAC Volkswagen to 75 percent. The joint venture was subsequently renamed Volkswagen Anhui. Sehol was licensed for use by JAC, making the brand less directly dependent on the original joint-venture identity. In practical terms, JAC continued to use the marque for vehicles derived from its own product range. From 2020 onward, JAC began rebadging models from its Jiayue range as Sol vehicles. This strategy extended the name across sedans and sport-utility vehicles, while JAC’s Refine marque was positioned primarily around multipurpose vehicles. Products associated with this period included the Sol A5 sedan, Sol X4 compact SUV, Sol X7 and X8 larger SUVs, and several battery-electric derivatives. The range also included the E20X, an electric subcompact SUV based on the JAC Refine S2, and later E-series models such as the E10X, E40X and E50A. In 2021, the brand name was retransliterated from Sol to Sehol. The revised name was used across a growing range of combustion, hybrid or electric-derived passenger vehicles, depending on the model. The portfolio generally targeted mainstream Chinese consumers rather than the premium segment, emphasizing accessible sedans, compact SUVs, midsize SUVs and urban electric cars. Many of the vehicles were closely related to JAC products, with the Sehol identity serving as a branding and product-positioning layer rather than representing an entirely separate manufacturing system. The brand’s longer-term direction became less certain in the early 2020s. In 2023, several models, including the QX, A5 and X8, were reportedly rebadged back to the JAC brand. JAC also indicated that it intended to phase out Sehol in the future. Consequently, Sehol is best understood as a transitional Chinese passenger-vehicle marque whose role evolved from a proposed JAC-Volkswagen new-energy brand into a JAC-controlled or JAC-licensed badge applied to existing vehicles. Publicly available information does not establish a definitive final closure date for all Sehol activities or model production.
History
Sehol began as Sol, a vehicle brand created in the context of the JAC Volkswagen Automotive joint venture in China. It was launched on April 24, 2018, at a time when JAC and Volkswagen Group were developing a partnership centered on electric and other new-energy passenger vehicles. The name Sol was derived from the Spanish word for “sun.” This choice acknowledged the Spanish roots associated with SEAT, whose brand had initially been considered for use in the Chinese project, while also evoking solar power and the partners’ interest in renewable-energy mobility. The separate brand was created after Chinese authorities did not approve the direct use of the SEAT name for the project. Sol therefore functioned as a locally created marque intended to reconcile Volkswagen Group’s participation with JAC’s domestic industrial and commercial role. Rather than simply importing an established European badge, the partners developed a new identity for vehicles aimed at the Chinese market. A major structural change occurred in 2020. As regulatory restrictions on foreign ownership of electric-vehicle joint ventures were relaxed, Volkswagen Group increased its stake in JAC Volkswagen to 75 percent. The joint venture was then renamed Volkswagen Anhui. Sehol was licensed to JAC, separating the name from the original joint venture’s direct corporate identity and allowing JAC to continue applying it to vehicles within its own passenger-car portfolio. JAC subsequently used Sol as a badge for vehicles that had previously been sold in its Jiayue series. The approach covered the Sol A5 sedan and the Sol X4, X7 and X8 sport-utility vehicles. It formed part of a wider brand-management plan in which sedans and SUVs were grouped under the Sol name, while the Refine brand was more closely associated with multipurpose vehicles. The practice also meant that Sehol products were often closely related to existing JAC models in platform, body structure and engineering. The range expanded with electric derivatives and additional battery-electric vehicles. The E20X, sold from 2018 to 2022, was a subcompact electric SUV based on the JAC Refine S2. Later products included the E10X city car, the E40X electric compact SUV and the E50A electric version of the A5 sedan. The combustion or non-electric range included the A5 and A5 Plus sedans, the X4 and X6 compact SUVs, the X7 and X8 midsize SUVs, and the QX compact SUV. The line therefore combined conventional passenger vehicles with electrified derivatives rather than representing a purely electric brand. In 2021, the English brand name was retransliterated as Sehol. The change created a more distinctive international spelling while retaining the Chinese 思皓 identity. During this period the brand was positioned as a mainstream JAC-associated passenger-car marque, with particular emphasis on compact and midsize SUVs, affordable sedans and urban electric vehicles. By 2023, JAC had begun moving several products, including the QX, A5 and X8, back under the JAC name. The company also stated that it planned to phase out Sehol in the future. This marked a reversal of the earlier strategy to use Sehol as a broad passenger-vehicle badge. Available reference material does not establish whether every model ended production simultaneously or provide a single formal termination date for the brand. Sehol’s history is consequently characterized by three stages: its creation as a JAC Volkswagen new-energy brand, its transformation into a JAC-licensed badge for rebadged products, and its subsequent retreat as JAC consolidated vehicles under its principal corporate name.
- 2023
JAC begins reversing the Sehol strategy
[1]Several Sehol models were returned to the JAC brand, and JAC indicated that it intended to phase out Sehol.
- 2021
Sol name changed to Sehol
[1]The English transliteration of the brand was changed from Sol to Sehol.
- 2020
Volkswagen Anhui structure established
[1]Volkswagen Group raised its stake in JAC Volkswagen to 75 percent, and the joint venture was renamed Volkswagen Anhui. Sehol was licensed to JAC.
- 2020
Jiayue vehicles rebadged as Sol models
[1]JAC began moving Jiayue-derived sedans and SUVs into the Sol range, including the A5, X4, X7 and X8.
- 2018
Sol brand launched
[1]The Sol brand was launched on April 24, 2018, through the JAC Volkswagen joint-venture context, with an initial focus on new-energy vehicles.
- 2018
Sehol E20X introduced
[1]The E20X entered the range as a subcompact electric SUV based on the JAC Refine S2.
Products and positioning
A mainstream Chinese passenger-vehicle brand focused on sedans, SUVs and new-energy vehicles, with products largely derived from JAC platforms and positioned below premium international marques.
Subcompact electric SUV · 2018
Sehol E20X
The E20X was an early Sehol electric vehicle, sold from 2018 to 2022. It was based on the JAC Refine S2 and represented the brand’s original connection to the JAC Volkswagen new-energy-vehicle program.
City electric car · 2021
Sehol E10X
The E10X is a small urban electric vehicle introduced in the early Sehol period. It is based on a restyled version of the JAC iEV6E and was intended for compact-city mobility rather than long-distance or premium use.
Compact sedan · 2019
Sehol A5
The A5 is a compact sedan derived from the Jiayue A5. It formed part of JAC’s effort to group passenger sedans under the Sol and later Sehol identity, although the model was subsequently reported as returning to the JAC brand.
Electric compact sedan · 2021
Sehol E50A
The E50A is the electric version of the A5 sedan. It extended Sehol’s sedan offering into battery-electric mobility while retaining the general positioning of an accessible compact passenger car.
Sportier compact sedan · 2021
Sehol A5 Plus
The A5 Plus is described as a sportier variant of the A5. It occupied the upper or more dynamic end of the compact sedan line and was paired with the E50A Pro electric derivative.
Electric compact sedan · 2022
Sehol E50A Pro
The E50A Pro is the electric counterpart associated with the A5 Plus. It continued Sehol’s practice of offering battery-electric versions alongside conventionally powered sedan products.
Compact SUV · 2020
Sehol X4
The X4 is a compact SUV rebadged from the Jiayue X4 and based on the JAC Refine S4. It was part of the brand’s core crossover expansion and was accompanied by the electric E40X derivative.
Electric compact SUV · 2021
Sehol E40X
The E40X is the battery-electric variant of the X4 compact SUV. It broadened the Sehol electric range beyond small city cars and sedans into the popular compact-SUV segment.
Compact SUV · 2022
Sehol X6
The X6 is a compact SUV based on the JAC Refine S5. It represented a larger crossover option within the Sehol portfolio than the X4, while remaining positioned in the mainstream passenger-vehicle market.
Midsize SUV · 2020
Sehol X7
The X7 is a midsize SUV rebadged from the Jiayue X7 and based on the JAC Refine S7. It was among the vehicles used to establish Sehol as a broad sedan-and-SUV brand rather than a narrowly electric marque.
Midsize SUV · 2020
Sehol X8
The X8 is a midsize SUV introduced during the expansion of the Sehol range. It was later among the models reportedly rebadged back to JAC as the company reconsidered the future of the Sehol identity.
Compact SUV · 2021
Sehol QX
The QX is a compact SUV launched during the Sehol period. It was one of the models later identified as being moved back to the JAC brand in connection with the planned phase-out of Sehol.
Brand decisions
2023
Begin phasing out the Sehol marqueStrategyBackground
JAC reassessed its multi-brand passenger-car strategy after using Sehol for a range of rebadged sedans and SUVs.
Action taken
Several models, including the QX, A5 and X8, were reportedly returned to the JAC brand, and JAC stated that it planned to phase out Sehol.
Aftermath
The future status of the remaining Sehol models and the exact end date of the brand remain unclear in the available reference material.
2021
Retransliterate the brand as SeholStrategyBackground
The brand had originally been marketed internationally as Sol.
Action taken
JAC changed the English transliteration to Sehol while continuing to use the Chinese name 思皓.
Aftermath
New and existing products were increasingly identified with the Sehol name.
2020
Volkswagen Group increases its JAC joint-venture stakeM&ABackground
Changes to foreign ownership rules for electric-vehicle joint ventures enabled Volkswagen Group to take majority control of JAC Volkswagen.
Action taken
Volkswagen Group raised its stake to 75 percent, and the joint venture was renamed Volkswagen Anhui. The Sehol name was licensed to JAC.
Aftermath
Sehol continued as a JAC-associated brand rather than remaining solely identified with the original JAC Volkswagen joint venture.
Volkswagen Group ownership stake. 75% (2020)
2020
Rebadge Jiayue passenger vehicles under SolStrategyBackground
JAC sought to reorganize its passenger-vehicle brands and place sedans and SUVs under the Sol identity while leaving Refine focused more on multipurpose vehicles.
Action taken
JAC introduced Sol versions of the Jiayue A5, X4, X7 and X8.
Aftermath
The brand’s range expanded rapidly, but the strategy also made Sehol heavily dependent on rebadged or closely related JAC products.
2018
Create a dedicated local automobile brandStrategyBackground
The original plan considered using the SEAT name in China, but local authorities required a separate local marque for the JAC Volkswagen project.
Action taken
The partners launched Sol as a new brand rather than directly applying the SEAT identity.
Aftermath
Sol became the public-facing identity for the project’s initial new-energy passenger-vehicle ambitions.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Sihao X7 adds a 1.5T flagship model[2]
Sihao added a 1.5T Flagship Zhizun model to the X7 lineup, priced at RMB 179,800, with configuration upgrades including an electronic gear selector, keyless entry, push-button start and automatic parking.
Sihao passenger-car brand launches and Sihao X8 goes on sale in Heze[3]
The Sihao passenger-car brand was unveiled in Heze, where the Sihao X8 SUV officially went on sale. The report gives an official guide-price range of 89,800 to 135,800 yuan and states a cash discount of 6,000 yuan.
Reported
JAC Volkswagen, Suning Auto and Botai Yezhen launch Sihao strategic alliance[4]
JAC Volkswagen, Suning Auto and Botai Yezhen launched a strategic alliance for the Sihao brand to develop smart retail for electric vehicles and cooperate across multiple business areas.
Sources4 sources
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