The mian bao che (aka bread van in Chinese, due to its loaf like appearance) or the super mini van as we think its called in English is pretty much the modern day backbone of the Chinese economy. This van, come super cheap MPV is everywhere in China, its used as delivery vans for everykind of produce imaginable – including big vats full of live fish swimming in seawater, as taxis, as MPV’s for collecting workers, and sometimes as mobile discos. Astute readers may notice that mian bao che‘s are the same as the Bedford Rascal/Holden Scurry – aka the Suzuki Super Carry

The mian bao che market seems to have been cornered by two giants in China, Dongfeng and Chang’an, sure Suzuki used to be in on the mian bao che but the Chinese giants beat them at their own game in China. Some mian bao che are modified for performance by their owners, despite their tiny 1.3 engines these mian bao che really do pack a performance punch. Some mian bao che‘s owners even get sexy girls to sit in their cars, which is more than what can be said for the China Car Times staff cars. Chang’ans mian bao che costs a tiny 30,000rmb for the cheapest model and Dongfengs offering is similarly priced
Regardless, mian bao che, we salute you.