JAC Motors Refine MPV (M5) History

JAC entered the passenger vehicle market on March 18, 2002 with the Ruifeng MPV — a van derived from the first-generation Hyundai Starex built under license and powered by Mitsubishi engines. It was the company's first foray beyond commercial trucks and immediately established the 'Refine' (Ruifeng) sub-brand that would eventually encompass JAC's entire MPV and SUV lineup.

Renamed Refine M5 in late 2012 when JAC introduced a full alphanumeric naming scheme for its MPV range, the model underwent a second-generation redesign in April 2011 (launched as Refine II Hechang) that began to differentiate the van's appearance from its Hyundai roots. It remained in production as a commercial and fleet-oriented people-mover, supplemented over the years by smaller Refine M2, M3, and M4 variants.