(Yicai Global) Dec. 4 -- The former chairman of Chinese carmaker Brilliance Auto Group, which was declared insolvent last month, is under investigation on suspicion of breaking the law, according to the government’s anti-corruption commission.

61-year-old Qi Yumin, who was head of Brilliance Auto from 2005 until his retirement in March last year, is undergoing disciplinary review and supervisory investigation, according to a statement by China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Brilliance Auto was declared insolvent on Nov. 20 with liabilities of CNY52.4 billion (USD8 billion). The group has defaulted on CNY6.5 billion (USD992.5 million) in loans and amassed CNY144 million (USD22 million) in unpaid interest, the Shenyang, Liaoning province-based firm said on Nov. 16.

Brilliance Auto runs joint ventures with German carmaker BMW and France's Groupe Renault through its unit Brilliance China Automotive Holding. It has three car marques of its own, Zhonghua, Jinbei and Huasong. Around 75 percent of its passenger car sales last year were Brilliance-BMW ones, according to Brilliance China’s 2019 annual report.

Editor: Kim Taylor