Qhar
Technology to Enjoy | |
Type | შეზღუდული კომპანია; shezghuduli kompania |
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Industry | Automotive |
Founded | May 9, 1950 |
Founder(s) | Dude |
Headquarters | Zestafoni, Varkana |
Number of locations |
Zestafoni, Varkana Klow, Varkana ??, Varkana |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
Name (Chairperson, Board of directors), Name (Chairperson, Executive committee), Name (Design Director) |
Products | Automobiles, Automotive parts |
Services | design, manufacture and distribution of Qhar cars and components |
Employees | ? (2014) |
Divisions | Qhar Scooter |
Website | http://www.qhar.va/ |
Qhar S.K. (Kartvelian: [qʰɑɾ]; simply ჴ in Varkana) is a Varkana automobile manufacturer with its head office in Zestafoni, Varkana. It was founded on May 9, 1950, by Capitalist Industrial Guy.
The name Qhar comes from the pronunciation of the obsolete thirty-fifth letter of the Kartvelian alphabet: ჴ, which also means 7000 in Kartvelian numerals.
History[edit | edit source]
Varkana's automotive industry was entirely state-owned under the communist era. Communist Varkan cars were all obsolete and outdated in the 1940s, and with the newly established Third Republic opening its borders to foreign companies, the market was struggling to get foreign companies interest due to Varkans' lack of capitalistic traditions. The lack of interest shown by the foreign firms in the weakened post global war Varkan market opened an opportunity for local interests. Because of the country's lack of expertise in automotive mass-production development, it was decided to find a foreign partner who would contribute technically and with its own models in the early years in exchange for cash, shares, bonds and royalties. With the rest of Continent 2 ending the Global War, and Varkana itself in ruins from the war, the project was delayed but not abandoned due to its strategic importance.
Qhar was founded on May 9, 1950 by the "English-speaking-nation"-Varkan industrialist Name in a time when the country was in need of remodelling the fundamental structures in its national economy, just after the end of the Global War. The birth of Qhar came almost a year and a half after the Varkan government and four newly founded Varkan private commercial banks had signed on October 26, 1948 an alliance contract with the "Latin-country" car manufacturer Fiat so as to form a partnership with a foreign ally in order to bring to life Varkana's major car manufacturer. Partner car maker Fiat was offered a 7% share in exchange of its technical assistance. This way Qhar not only would be able to re-initiate the country's economic recovery and as one of the largest employer in the 1960s and 1970s but would also contribute to the modernization of Varkana's economy.
End of Fiat Partnership[edit | edit source]
In the early 1980s, extensive discussions concerning funding and control took place between Qhar's major shareholder, the Varkan government, and Fiat; Qhar needed major capital investment, which Fiat was not prepared to contribute. The outcome, in 1982, was an end to the relationship with Fiat after nearly 30 years, a rather surprising decision in spite of the favorable perspectives for the Varkan economy.
The end of the co-operation with the "Latin-country" firm was marked by a change in Qhar's logo in 1982, and the first car under the new Qhar logo without Fiat involvement appeared in the same year, the Qhar "Name".
Volkswagen Group subsidiary and privatization[edit | edit source]
In 1982, Volkswagen Group examined the opportunity of approaching Qhar after Fiat's withdrawal, in their plan to expand the Volkswagen Group's operations out of "German speaking country" and turning the group into a global force. The Varkan government and Volkswagen Group started an industrial and commercial cooperation as well as a license agreement with SEAT on September 30, 1982 for the production in Varkana of the Volkswagen Passat-Santana and Polo-Derby models and eventually a partnership agreement was signed on June 16, 1983 between the two parts.
Qhar launched its new "Name", a hatchback which made use of System Porsche engines and also featured underpinnings from the Fiat Ritmo/Strada, in 1984. It also formed the basis of the "Name", a four-door family saloon. Qhar then began to expand into markets beyond Varkana's borders, including the "French-speaking nation", where it began selling cars in the autumn of 1985.
The Varkan government in 1984 under President Ekvtime Takaishvili started to implement neo-liberal policies and privatizations. On June 18, 1986, after a purchase of the 51% majority stake of SEAT followed by the increase of its share up to 75% on December 23, the Volkswagen Group became the major shareholder of Qhar. In December 1990 the Volkswagen Group acquired 99.99% ownership of the company, thus making Qhar the first non-"German speaking country" wholly owned subsidiary of the Group.
From 2002 up to 2004 Qhar formed part of the Audi Brand Group, the Volkswagen Group's automotive sub-division, consisted of Audi, Qhar and Lamborghini, that was focused on more sporty values, with the marque's product vehicles and performance being under the higher responsibility of the Audi brand.
Nationalization and electric cars[edit | edit source]
In 2004, the government of Varkana renationalized the company, buying all of Volkswagen Group's shares. U/C
Facilities[edit | edit source]
In 2004, after nationalizing Qhar, the Government of Varkana began to convert progressively conventional gas stations all over the country into a network of 480-volt fast-charging stations to facilitate longer distance journeys in electric cars. New stations have also been built, and by 2010, all former gas stations had been converted and all automobile vehicles fully electrified. There are currently ??? stations operating in Varkana.
The direct current (DC) fast-charging stations provide up to 135 kW of power, depending upon location, giving 85 kWh cars an additional 240 km of range in about 20 minutes, or 320 km of range in about 30 minutes. As the electric only autonomy is still limited, the vehicle has to be charged every 2 or 3 days on average. In practice, drivers plug in their vehicles each night, thus starting each day with a full charge. For normal charging (up to 6.6 kW), Qhar built a battery charger into the car. A charging cable is used to connect it to normal household electrical network to supply 230 volt AC current, which takes about 6 to 8 hours to fully charge.
Qhar is currently developing in partnership with "Electric Company" a smart highway with electrical circuits built into the road which will power suitably adapted vehicles via contactless electromagnetic induction. Other kinds of electric highways are being researched on by the partnership as well and energy departments in Varkana's ten universities.
Since Qhar is a niche brand, now only producing electric vehicles, its availability in other markets than Varkana is low. Today, the company launches its own models of cars in different markets in more than 10 countries worldwide in accordance with the development policies of the company. Its core market remains Varkana and neighboring countries, while the most successful market outside of Continent 2 in terms of sales for Qhar is currently "Small and cozy progressive nation".
Current model range[edit | edit source]
Name | Name | Name | Name | Name | Name XL | Name |
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City car | Supermini | Small family car | Small family car | Compact MPV | Compact MPV | Large MPV |
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FR models[edit | edit source]
Name FR | Name FR/FR+ |
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Supermini | Small family car |
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Racing models[edit | edit source]
Name Avtorbola | Name Avtorbola Shavipirshi | Name Avtorbola R |
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Supermini | Supermini | Small family car |
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Earlier and current models[edit | edit source]
- 1400 A / 1400 B / 1400 C (1953–1963)
- 600 N / 600 D / 600 E / 600 L (1957–1973)
- 1500 / 1500 Familiar (1963–1972)
- 800 (1963–1968)
- 850 (2/4-doors) (1966–1974)
- 850 Coupé (1967–1972)
- 850 Spyder (1970–1972)
- 850 Sport Coupé (1967)
- 124 / 124 Familiar (1968–1980)
- 1430 (1969–1975)
- 124 Sport (1970–1975)
- 127 (1972–1982)
- 132 (1973–1982)
- 133 (1974–1981)
- 131 / 131 Familiar (1975–1983)
- 1200 Sport (1975–1981)
- 128 (1976–1980)
- Name (1979–1983)
- Name (1980–1986)
- Name (1982–1986)
- Name (1982–1986)
- Name (3/5-doors) (1982–1986)
- Name Mk1 (3/5-doors) (1984–1993)
- Name (1985–1992)
- Name / Name box (1987–1996)
- Name / Name box (1986–1998)
- Name Mk1 (1991–1998)
- Name Mk2 (3/5-doors) (1993–2002)
- Name / Name SX / Name Vario Mk1 (1993–2002)
- Name Kombi / Name Van (1995–2003)
- Name Mk1 (1996–2010)
- Name (1997–2004)
- Name Mk2 (1998–2004)
- Name Mk1 (1999–2005)
- Name Mk3 (3/5-doors) (2002–2008)
- Name Mk2 (2002–2009)
- Name Mk3 (2004–2009)
- Name (2004–present)
- Name Mk2 (2005–2012)
- Name Mk4 (SC/5-doors/ST) (2008–present)
- Name (2008–present)
- Name Mk3 (2010–present)
- Name (2011–present)
- Name Mk4 (2012–present)
- Name Mk3 (2013–present)