Mercedes opens advanced design studio in Beijing

BEIJING -- Mercedes-Benz on Thursday opened an advanced design studio in Beijing, the first premium automaker to do so in the world's largest auto market.

The 1,000 square-meter studio will help design Mercedes-Benz vehicles along with the existing facilities in Germany, the United States, Italy and Japan, a senior Daimler AG executive said.

"Design influences from this region will become more important in the cars of tomorrow," Ulrich Walker, CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, told reporters on the sidelines of an event to mark the studio's opening.

In the first half, Mercedes-Benz sold 95,030 cars in China, up 59 percent year-on-year, outpacing a 5.8 percent gain in the country's car market.

Annual sales in China are expected to rise more than 20 percent this year, Walker said, and to exceed 300,000 units by 2015, when it is expected to be Mercedes' largest market.



Audi opens design studio in Beijing

BEIJING -- Audi AG on Tuesday opened a design studio in Beijing, a move the German luxury brand says will help it incorporate Chinese culture into its product design.

The studio will have separate teams assigned to design vehicle exteriors and interiors.

Audi's Beijing design studio is its fifth. Others are in Munich and Ingolstadt, Germany; Turin, Italy; and Santa Monica, Calif.

Audi, the largest luxury brand in China, sold 139,130 vehicles in the first half of this year, up 28 percent year-on-year.

BYD establishes EV R&D center in Hong Kong

HONG KONG -- BYD Co. says it set up a research and development center this month in Hong Kong to collaborate with two local organizations to develop electric vehicles for Hong Kong's public transportation system.

The two organizations are the Hong Kong Automotive Parts and Accessory Systems R&D Centre (APAS) and the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC).

Three components developed in Hong Kong will be installed onto BYD's electric vehicles for demonstration later this year, according to BYD. Further details on the EVs are not available.

BYD is headquartered in the south China city of Shenzhen, which is near Hong Kong. The automaker has led domestic Chinese companies in EV development.

BYD markets the F3DM plug-in hybrid, the e6 electric car, and the K9 electric bus. But EVs represent only a small fraction of BYD's total vehicle sales.

Due to their high prices and the lack of charging stations, BYD only sold four e6s in the first six months. No plug-in hybrids were sold in the period, according to J.D. Power's statistics.

Overall, BYD sold 232,419 vehicles in the first six months, down 20 percent year-on-year.

After following and reading much articles of Chinese car industry. My conclusion and thought are:

1. The "copycat" car model. I believe, Chinese car companies are able to design an original, attractive, and stylist car models like the foreign brand. They aware the situation and they actually can and able to employing world class car designer from around the world to designing their car. But they prefer not to do so, to safe money.

2. Low quality. The same case with the finishing and built quality. I read a review article about British MG car. They have a very good review, but it surprising me, they downgrading the car sold in China market. So, the low quality Chinese car is purposely.

So, my conclusion is as long as China is still a poor country, China car industry will still a low end car manufacture. China car industry is reflecting the condition of China domestic market.

I do hope for the big leap in China car industry as soon as possible, like S Korean's Hyundai, but it seems China car manufactures disagree with me. It probably will take a long time before China car manufactures starting to produce Toyota or BMW quality. Seeing how long China will take time to reach GDP per capita USD 40000, probably it will need 20-30 years at minimal before we can see a great Chinese car.

Turkish bus maker hopes to import Dongfeng trucks and passenger vehicles


TEMSA Global, Turkey's largest bus manufacturer, has held talks with Dongfeng Motor Corp. about introducing the Chinese company's vehicles into Turkey.

In late July, a TEMSA delegation, led by the President Tamer Unlu, visited Dongfeng and held talks with Dongfeng's international business department, according to information released by Dongfeng.

During the talks, Unlu expressed hope that TEMSA can import Dongfeng's vehicles into Turkey, according to Dongfeng. The plans will start with Dongfeng's medium and heavy-duty trucks and then expand to include passenger vehicles.

Additional details about the talks are not available.

Dongfeng, a major state-owned company headquartered in the central China city of Wuhan, is China's largest truckmaker. It operates joint ventures with global automakers including Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and PSA Citroen Peugeot, and also produces its own vans and cars.

Aside from buses, TEMSA builds light trucks and cars as well as construction equipment in Turkey. It also distributes vehicles in Turkey for Japanese automaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Japanese construction equipment maker Komatsu.

Chrysler-Fiat CEO: Chinese pose formidable challenge to U.S., European automakers

Some industry executives might be tempted to underestimate the Chinese auto industry, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says. That would be a mistake.

Chinese automakers are quickly upgrading their technology, he says, and he expects them to be players in overseas markets.

"If anyone deludes themselves that they can ignore China, they will pay a huge price," Marchionne said Wednesday at an auto industry seminar in Traverse City, Mich. China's auto industry "has grown tremendously, and they have some of the most updated current technology. They should not be underestimated."

Marchionne may have reason to worry. Fiat is a major producer in Brazil, a market that has been targeted by China's Chery Automobile Co.

Last year, Chery announced plans to build a $400 million assembly plant in Brazil, and the company has started exporting vehicles to that fast-growing market.

"We cannot afford to be unprepared for the ascent of China, reassuring ourselves of our invincibility," Marchionne said.

"The excuse that we did not understand or that we underestimated the scale will serve no purpose," he added. "Rather we need to continue to work to make our industrial base more competitive, because the day of reckoning is inevitably coming."

He pointed out that Chinese automakers currently "produce almost entirely for the enormous domestic market, but their future plans for the export market are significant," he said. "Even assuming China were to export only 10 percent of what it produces, the risk we face in our home markets is enormous."

China is the world's largest auto market and many automakers have partnerships there.

Analysts have raised concerns that the transfer of intellectual property to Chinese companies could haunt automakers down the road by helping create stronger Chinese rivals that will export to the United States and Europe.

Chery to open Kenyan plant (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-08/12/content_13098266.htm)

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20110812/0022190fd2dc0faec0e301.jpg
Chery Automobile Co Ltd's booth at an auto show in Beijing. The company aims to sell 120,000 vehicles overseas this year, which would be an increase of more than 30 percent. [Photo / China Daily]

Automaker tries to secure $50m to fund its new East African facility

NAIROBI, Kenya - Chery Automobile Co Ltd is to become the second Chinese vehicle maker to build an assembly plant in Kenya. The move will see Chery Automobile join the truck manufacturer Beiqi Foton Motors Co Ltd as the companies attempt to tap East African demand and will further strengthen Chinese links with the continent.

"They (Chery) are discussing with the (Chinese) government so that they can get some $50 million to invest in Kenya through an assembly plant," said Justus Nguu, the director of Stantech Motors Ltd, Chery Automobile's franchise holder in Kenya.

China has made big inroads in Africa, where it is seeking to secure energy, minerals and food.

Chery Automobile, which started selling cars overseas in 2002, and is now China's biggest auto exporter, aims to set up its plant next year. In 2010, the company tested the market by venturing into Kenya through a franchise.
The automaker sold a modest 120 cars last year, but aims to produce 1,000 units in 2013 at its plant which will serve Kenya, East Africa's biggest economy, and other countries in the region.

Chery Automobile, China's largest indigenous automaker, aims to increase exports by more than 30 percent this year to 120,000 vehicles. The firm is targeting developing nations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America and Africa.

Chery operates 16 assembly plants overseas.

The Chinese will have to battle Japanese vehicles, which have saturated the Kenyan car market.

Toyota Motor Corp controls about 65 percent of the market, mainly through the second-hand segment.

The truck business is dominated by established players CMC Holdings Ltd and the Kenyan unit of General Motors Co.

General Motors East Africa Ltd, Associated Vehicle Assemblers Ltd and Kenya Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd are the established players in Kenya's motor vehicle assembly sector.

Analysts said proximity to growing markets was the key driver for the companies planning to set up in Kenya.

"(The delay in) lead time for orders ... has made it strategically important for auto manufacturers targeting Africa to want a serious presence in Africa," said Hanningtone Gaya, an independent regional vehicle analyst based in Nairobi.

China's truck maker, Shanghai-listed Beiqi Foton Motors, a unit of Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co (BAIC), plans to begin construction of an assembly plant in Kenya this year, to help it nudge up sales on the continent.
The company plans to double sales in Africa to 20,000 units by 2013 from last year by ramping up sales to economies that require heavy commercial vehicles for use in the construction of their infrastructure projects, including roads, rails and ports.

"When you look at the international markets, we are still young. Africa is a good market for us," Calvin Guo managing director of the Kenyan subsidiary of Beiqi Foton Motors.

Reuters

After following and reading much articles of Chinese car industry. My conclusion and thought are:

1. The "copycat" car model. I believe, Chinese car companies are able to design an original, attractive, and stylist car models like the foreign brand. They aware the situation and they actually can and able to employing world class car designer from around the world to designing their car. But they prefer not to do so, to safe money.

2. Low quality. The same case with the finishing and built quality. I read a review article about British MG car. They have a very good review, but it surprising me, they downgrading the car sold in China market. So, the low quality Chinese car is purposely.

So, my conclusion is as long as China is still a poor country, China car industry will still a low end car manufacture. China car industry is reflecting the condition of China domestic market.

I do hope for the big leap in China car industry as soon as possible, like S Korean's Hyundai, but it seems China car manufactures disagree with me. It probably will take a long time before China car manufactures starting to produce Toyota or BMW quality. Seeing how long China will take time to reach GDP per capita USD 40000, probably it will need 20-30 years at minimal before we can see a great Chinese car.

South Korea does not have US$40000 GDP per capita. Japan and Germany have barely above US$40000 GDP. Your logic of linking GDP with Chinese car quality is strange. But even if you want to link them. Major cities in China have much higher than average GDP.

South Korea does not have US$40000 GDP per capita. Japan and Germany have barely above US$40000 GDP. Your logic of linking GDP with Chinese car quality is strange. But even if you want to link them. Major cities in China have much higher than average GDP.

May be not the exact number of USD 40000. But until China reach the developed country status, or at least almost as equal to other developed countries.

In China case, as I give many theory and example above, it is China car companies itself, who make the decision to lowering their car quality and copycatting other brand models. In purpose to lowering the development and production cost, because most of Chinese people can't afford expensive car, although they have a desire to own a car. And this is what China car companies understand, so they build a cheap car because there are a gap in the market and big demand.

Usually people or society behavior, civilized or backwardness behavior, tend to follow the amount of money they earned, which is mirroring Chinese car companies workers quality. And indirectly influencing the overall quality and design of car they build too. If there are some Chinese car companies dare enough trying to directly compete with foreign brand in the same market level, they will be beaten. Ever wonder why Huawei, ZTE, etc can't produce a great phones like Nokia, Samsung and even Apple? Because none of their workers are capable enough.

Only when majority of Chinese people became richer and starting to have higher standard. Most of the population will demanding medium quality car like Toyota for example. And the demand of cheap car will be lowered into quite small. At this time, Chinese car companies will be more serious to produce better quality and design of car models, and starting to abandon the cheap "shanzhai" cars.

May be not the exact number of USD 40000. But until China reach the developed country status, or at least almost as equal to other developed countries.

In China case, as I give many theory and example above, it is China car companies itself, who make the decision to lowering their car quality and copycatting other brand models. In purpose to lowering the development and production cost, because most of Chinese people can't afford expensive car, although they have a desire to own a car. And this is what China car companies understand, so they build a cheap car because there are a gap in the market and big demand.

Usually people or society behavior, civilized or backwardness behavior, tend to follow the amount of money they earned, which is mirroring Chinese car companies workers quality. And indirectly influencing the overall quality and design of car they build too. If there are some Chinese car companies dare enough trying to directly compete with foreign brand in the same market level, they will be beaten. Ever wonder why Huawei, ZTE, etc can't produce a great phones like Nokia, Samsung and even Apple? Because none of their workers are capable enough.

Only when majority of Chinese people became richer and starting to have higher standard. Most of the population will demanding medium quality car like Toyota for example. And the demand of cheap car will be lowered into quite small. At this time, Chinese car companies will be more serious to produce better quality and design of car models, and starting to abandon the cheap "shanzhai" cars.

There is no need for Chinese car manufacturers to lower the quality intentionally, because China is a large market for mid level cars already. There are enough well-off people to buy high quality cars. China is already the largest car market in the world.

Comparing Huawei and ZTE with Samsung is not that appropriate. They are focusing on different products.
Huawei and ZTE are the world's leading telecommunication equipment makers, not focused on making consumer phones. However, in the next few years Huawei and ZTE will focus more on consumer phones.
Samsung and Nokia are just not good enough to compete with the capable people at Huawei and ZTE.

Do you know why Samsung can't compete with Huawei and ZTE? It is because Huawei and ZTE are much better at making sophisticated telecom equipment, which power the world's telephone networks. Consumer phones are relatively simple products. Samsung is only good at copying from Apple iPhone.

Even Cisco is losing some router market share to Huawei. Huawei and ZTE are very strong in research and development. China is 4th in terms of the number of patents applied and Huawei and ZTE are major contributors.

Truck maker Beiqi Foton driving into US, Europe (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2011-09/01/content_13594979.htm)

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20110901/002170192c4e0fc9401e0f.jpg
A Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd bus at a transport vehicle exhibition in Beijing. The company shipped 693,000 units last year

BEIJING - Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd has launched a heavy-duty truck for the US and European markets, the first Chinese model built for high-end overseas markets.
The Auman GTL was designed and produced for markets with stringent environmental requirements, such as the United States and Europe, the company said.
GTL stands for global technology leader, a symbol of Foton's ambitions in the global commercial vehicle arena.
The company, China's largest commercial vehicle maker by shipments, said that it expects most of the GTLs will be exported to Europe and the US, but it declined to disclose any targets.
"Foton has already established a good presence in the Southeast Asian, South American and African markets, but it barely achieved anything in developed economies.
"Now we are endeavoring to enter the mature markets including the US, Europe and Japan" with this GTL product, said Wang Jinyu, president and CEO of Beiqi Foton Motor.
The company has been the top Chinese maker of commercial vehicles since 2003. It shipped 693,000 units in 2010.
The company has produced 5 million vehicles since its foundation in 1996.
So far, the company has established factories in Indonesia, Vietnam, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey and Iran. More are under construction in South America and Africa, the company said.
Last year, international sales exceeded 31,800 units. But Beiqi has yet to penetrate the US and European markets and challenge the big, international names.
"It is not easy to get a piece of the pie in this highly competitive market," Wang said. "But we will inch in with patience."
The GTL cost 1.7 billion yuan ($266 million) to develop, Wang said.
"We also use the same parts as those used by the world's top commercial vehicle brands, so I'm confident in it," Wang said.
Foton's plan calls for it to spend the next year or two establishing distribution and after-sales service networks.
"We will build 100 to 200 franchise stores in the US and Europe, before we begin to export this model," he said.
Cooperation with US-based Cummins Inc, a maker of gasoline engines, has paved the way for GTL's expansion in the US and Europe.
"Cummins has already built more than 100 service stores overseas, which greatly facilitate our after-sales services," Wang said.
But analysts said Foton still needs time to build the GTL into a first-tier truck brand.
John Zeng, director of Asian Forecasting at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, said the GTL model is more of a demonstration of Foton's research and development capabilities.
"If Foton wants to conquer the Western European markets, it will probably take a long time. In China, heavy-duty trucks are purchased mostly by small enterprises, which prefer cheap products.
"In Europe, big companies with high requirements for services are the main buyers."
However, Zeng added: "It is hard to say. Maybe one day Foton will acquire world-renowned truck brands."

Automaker Chery opens plant in Venezuela (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-09/02/content_13603788.htm)

HEFEI -- Leading private Chinese automaker Chery has opened a plant in Venezuela amid efforts to expand its overseas market, the company announced Thursday.

The plant, located in Aragua in central Venezuela, officially started operation Monday and manufactures Chery's A1 and A3 passenger models, Chery said in a statement.

Chery has gained popularity among Venezuelan consumers since it entered the market in May 2006, said Zhou Biren, vice general manager of the company.

More than 10,000 cars have been sold in the country, he said.

"The new plant will offer more and better products to Venezuelan consumers and help deepen economic cooperation and traditional friendship between China and Venezuela," he added.

Earlier media reports said the company has an investment of $200 million and will be producing 20,000 cars annually.

Another Chery automobile plant has been under construction in Brazil since July in the city of Jacarei and is expected to start production in September 2013.

With a total investment of $400 million, the plant is expected to churn out 150,000 automobiles annually after reaching full operational status.

Chery, a well-known purely-domestic brand based in Anhui province, has manufactured more than 3 million cars and exported more than 500,000 cars since its founding in 1997.

In the first half of the year, Chery exported 71,827 vehicles, up 88.5 percent year-on-year. The company maintained stable sales growth in its traditional overseas markets, such as Russia, Ukraine, Iran and Egypt.



Chery to build plant in Venezuela, report says

Chery Automobile Co. will build a $200 million (1.3 billion yuan) plant in Venezuela that will produce 20,000 cars a year, China Daily newspaper reported, citing a company executive.

According to the state-owned newspaper, Venezuela raised its import tariffs on autos to 40 percent from 35 percent since December 2007 in an effort to discourage imports. An estimated 15 automakers have set up plants in Venezuela with a combined annual production capacity of 250,000 units.

"Venezuela is not an open market, which leaves huge potential for us to tap if we have an assembly factory there," said Du Weiqiang, vice president of Chery International.

Chery has 16 assembly plants overseas, including one in Brazil and one in Uruguay. The Brazilian factory will produce up to 150,000 units annually. In 2010, Chery sold 23,000 vehicles in South America, according to China Daily.

This year, the state-owned automaker aims to sell 120,000 vehicles in all its overseas markets.

Automaker Chery sees record exports in Aug (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-09/09/content_13661224.htm)

HEFEI -- Chery Auto, China's largest automaker, said on Sept 9 that its automobile exports hit a record high in August due to a recovering global auto market and expansion at overseas plants.

Chery exported 19,017 cars last month, an annual increase of 83.6 percent, the company said in a news release posted on its website.

The company's exports for the January-August period reached 107,851 units, up 88.2 percent from a year earlier, the release said. The company's export target for this year is 120,000 units, according to the release.

Chery spokesman Jin Gebo said the company entered a new phase of rapid overseas growth this year with the recovery of the global automobile market and rising production at overseas plants.

The company's overseas output currently accounts for over 50 percent of the company's export volume, Jin said.

Chery sold 682,000 cars last year, making it China's best-selling domestic brand for the 10th year in a row.

Chery A1 on Top Gear Australia

http://i55.tinypic.com/5dszna.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/16li550.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/vuwzq.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/261bxtu.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/wam2km.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/2yjzpft.jpg
http://i55.tinypic.com/24fblvn.jpg

^^
So how about the test result?

Is it good?

They are some shots in the episode guide of top gear of next week, so the result will be got this week. Anyway, top gear is an entertainment programme, no need to take it seriously.

Chang'an to expand into European markets (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2011-09/15/content_13690371.htm)

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/business/images/attachement/jpg/site1/20110915/0013729e43580fdba69018.jpg
Chang'an Automobile (Group) Co Ltd's EADO sedan on display at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The sedan will be the company's strategic vehicle for the European markets.

FRANKFURT - Chang'an Automobile (Group) Co Ltd, China's fourth-largest automaker, intends to start selling its vehicles in Europe in 2013, with the "right products and full preparation", a company executive said.

"Chang'an started the overseas expansion strategy five years ago, beginning exports to developing countries with light commercial vehicles, including minivans," said Zhu Huarong, vice-president of the company. "Now we are targeting the European markets and the United States market to make Chang'an a true international automaker from China."

Zhu told China Daily that Chang'an is preparing for the debut of its showrooms in Europe in 2013, with entry into the US market following.

"We are communicating with potential local dealers, recruiting talent, and getting approval for our vehicles in Europe right now," Zhu said at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

Chongqing-based Chang'an is the only Chinese automaker at the international show and is launching four new models - two sedans, a sport utility vehicle, and a fully electric car.

"This in the first time we are exhibiting our products and technologies at an international auto show outside China. The feedback from visitors is making us consider participating in the Geneva auto show and Paris auto show next year," Zhu said.

By 2015, Chang'an plans to have 20 percent of its total sales in overseas markets, primarily with passenger cars. Currently, no more than 10 percent of its sales are outside China, mostly light-duty commercial vehicles.

In the first eight months of this year, its overseas sales grew by 75 percent from a year earlier.

"The EADO sedan, which was designed by our overseas R&D centers and is making its world premiere at the show, will be our strategic model in the European markets, as a car developed according to the high quality and design standards in Europe," Zhu said.

To prepare for its overseas expansion with the right products for the international market, Chang'an, the Chinese partner of Ford Motor Co, Suzuki Motor Corp, and PSA Peugeot Citroen, established research and development centers in Turin in 2006, Yokohama in 2008, Nottingham last year and Detroit this year.

Zhu also said that the company will launch a premium brand next year as part of its overseas expansion plan.

"We will invest at least 2 billion yuan ($313 million) to develop that brand, to strengthen our brand image in global market," Zhu said.

Although China has been the world's largest automobile market for two years, Chinese automakers have recently become eager to have a presence in international markets, with moves to acquire foreign brands, produce exports and establish their manufacturing facilities in developing economies.

However, with less product competitiveness and a weak brand image, it's difficult for them to make a foray into the mature Western markets of Europe and North America.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG's partner, Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd, became the first Chinese company to sell cars in Western Europe in 2006. However, a lack of competitiveness and Brilliance's Luxembourg-based dealership's shortage of capital forced the Chinese automaker to quit the market last year.

Cao He, auto analyst with China Minzu Securities Co Ltd, said that to have a good made-in-China image in the global market, Chinese automakers should strengthen their capabilities to export high-quality cars and no longer put their total focus on low-price and low-end markets.

^^

Chongqing-based Chang'an is the only Chinese automaker at the international show and is launching four new models - two sedans, a sport utility vehicle, and a fully electric car.

A fully electric car?

This is interesting. I thought BYD will take the first move, but instead of Chang'an. What happen with BYD?


"The EADO sedan, which was designed by our overseas R&D centers and is making its world premiere at the show, will be our strategic model in the European markets, as a car developed according to the high quality and design standards in Europe," Zhu said.

Overseas R&D centers, this is a good idea. I always highly recommend China car company to hire foreign workers to design and give advices.

I search in internet and saw some photos of EADO. It has a pretty model, although it look very common and plain. But It's still an importance first step in China car industry, from the copycat trend in China to the original trend.

China should observe and learn more about foreign brand success. And copy the formula.


Zhu also said that the company will launch a premium brand next year as part of its overseas expansion plan.

A high quality one? This is very interesting and a brave move. I'm a bit skeptical if Chang'an able to make a premium car. I don't think China already able to make such high quality and high technology level as German and Japan.

Is the premium level similar to Mercedes Benz E-Class? or Honda Accord level?

If Chang'an able to make a car as good as Mercedes Benz and sold it as cheap as Honda Accord or even Hyundai. It will be a huge hit in the market. Even if they just able to make a car as good as Honda Accord but sell it cheaper than a Hyundai, it still a big hit in the market.

Chinese car companies should invest R&D centers in Germany and Japan. lol try to hire experienced engineers, innovative designers, and what not.


And i bet they are doing just that.

^^What do you mean by "doing just that"?

^^ it means they are probably doing it.

Saab rescue deal done

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/259773/

http://cdn.media.autocar.co.uk//Car/Saab/9-5/26101012221458234x155.jpg

Saab's owner Swedish Automobile NV (Swan) has agreed a deal to sell the Swedish car firm to Chinese investors Pang Da and Youngman.

Pang Da and Youngman have signed a memorandum of understanding with Swan to buy 100 per cent of Saab Automobile and Saab Great Britain for 100 million euros.

The deal needs the approval of Chinese authorities and Swan's shareholders, and the precise terms of the share purchase agreement still have to be thrashed out. The 100 million euros will be paid in instalments.

In a statement, Swan said "an important consideration for Swan to enter into the transaction is the commitment of Pang Da and Youngman to provide long-term funding to Saab Automobile".

The administrator in Saab Automobile’s voluntary reorganisation, Guy Lofalk, has withdrawn his application to exit reorganisation.

The memorandum of understanding is valid until November 15, but is dependent on Saab Automobile staying in reorganisation.



瑞典紳寶100%股權一億歐元售予中資公司

【2011/10/28 16:56 報導 】

　　瑞典紳寶車廠（ｓａｂｂ）的全部股權，出售給中資公司。

紳寶的母公司公布，已經和中國浙江青年蓮花汽車公司及龐大汽車貿易集團，簽署了解備忘錄。瑞典汽車集團以一億歐元，出售紳寶兩間公司的100%股權。

紳寶早先表示，因為現金緊絀，無法支付三千多名員工的薪酬。


大陸兩公司準備併購瑞典紳寶汽車公司

【2011/10/28 17:31 報導 】

大陸兩家汽車公司，準備併購發生財務危機的瑞典「紳寶汽車公司」，讓「紳寶」起死回生。
「紳寶公司」的母公司今天宣佈，大陸「龐大汽車集團」和「浙江青年蓮花汽車公司」，決定共同出資一億歐元，買下「紳寶公司」。這項交易需相關單位批准，才能生效。
「紳寶公司」有三千五百名員工，由於虧損嚴重，今年四月停產，現在發不出薪水。今年九月，瑞典法院允許「紳寶」花三個月時間重組，在這三個月期間，債權人不得向「紳寶」追討債務

Brilliance China launches car sales in Chile
Automotive News China | 2011/11/4

http://i40.tinypic.com/213lrh5.jpg

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. has shipped 365 cars to Chile in what the state-owned Chinese automaker calls its first exports to South America.

The cars shipped last month include the sedan, hatchback, crossover and wagon versions of Brilliance's Splendor compact, according to the company.

Brilliance also expects to export the car to Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

After its Grandeur mid-sized car failed to pass crash tests in Europe in 2006, Brilliance has focused on exports to developing countries. It sells cars and vans to Middle Eastern countries.

Brilliance, headquartered in the northeast China city of Shenyang, produces cars, vans and pickups. The company also has a joint venture with BMW AG that produces the BMW 3 series and 5 series in Shenyang.

In the first nine months of the year, Brilliance's sales dropped 19 percent to 101,372 vehicles.

New BYD models spur sales rebound
Automotive News China | 2011/11/4

http://i42.tinypic.com/28cdhqo.jpg

After declining for a year, BYD Co.'s auto sales grew in the third quarter thanks to new model launches.

Led by the redesigned F3 compact sedan and new models such as the L3 compact car and the S6 SUV, BYD's auto sales rose 15 percent year-on-year to 38,015 units in September, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

BYD's third-quarter net profit also rebounded after tumbling 89 percent year-on-year in the first six months.

Thanks in part to rebounding auto sales, BYD's net profit surged nearly 600 percent year-on-year in the third quarter to 77 million yuan ($12 million), according to the company.

BYD, headquartered in the south China city of Shenzhen, is partly owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire

Volvo's Peter Horbury named top designer at Geely
Automotive News Europe | 2011/11/2

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Volvo Car Corp. styling chief Peter Horbury is moving to the Swedish automaker's sister brand, Geely Group, as senior vice president of design.

Volvo has not yet decided upon Horbury's successor. "The process is ongoing,'' said a Volvo spokesman, who added that the design departments at the two automakers are run independently. Both automakers are owned by China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group.

Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby issued a statement praising Horbury. "Peter Horbury has played a very important role for Volvo's design during a long period of time and has a legendary position in the automotive world," Jacoby said. "I wish him all success in his new role within Geely Group."

The 61-year-old Briton is credited with moving Volvo away from its boxy roots to the leaner, sleeker models found in the automaker's current lineup.

He began his career with the Swedish automaker in 1991 as head of design, helping to create new models such as the XC90 crossover before he moved in 2002 to Ford's Premier Automotive Group. There, he oversaw design at Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo.

Two years later, Horbury moved to Detroit to become executive director of design at Ford, before returning to Volvo in 2009 to assume the role of vice president design.

From 2007 through 2010, Ford sold all four brands that made up the PAG group. Last year, Zhejiang Geely bought Volvo from Ford for $1.5 billion (9.5 billion yuan).

Said Li Shufu, chairman of Geely Group and Volvo: "I am delighted that Peter Horbury has accepted the offer to lead the design development of the Geely Group brands. His vast experience in the industry will be key for the future success of Geely Group's products."

Geely exports cars to Cuba, Saudi Arabia
Automotive News China | 2011/10/28

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Private Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. shipped 1,560 cars bound for Cuba last week.

The shipment includes 1,310 Geely Freedom Ship small cars and 250 Emgrand mid-sized sedans, according to Geely.

Buyers include Cuba's defense and tourism ministries plus some other agencies, Geely said.

This is the second time Geely has exported vehicles to Cuba. In 2009, it shipped 1,500 units.

In September, Geely also started selling cars in Saudi Arabia.

Geely, located in the east China province of Zhejiang, exports vehicles mainly to developing countries. Earlier this year, the company began shipping vehicles to Australia.

Jianghuai aims to more than double Brazil sales to 100,000 by 2015 amid China slowdown
Bloomberg | 2011/11/1

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(Bloomberg) -- Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co. plans to more than double annual sales in Brazil by 2015 as sales growth slows in China.

Anhui Jianghuai, based in Anhui province's Hefei city, forecasts vehicle sales of 100,000 from about 37,000 in 2010, Michael Yang, project director at JAC Motors, a unit of the group, said in an interview in Shanghai.

The Chinese auto company will start building a $600 million (3.8 billion yuan) factory in Brazil's Bahia state next year.

"The factory will help cut production costs of cars sold in Brazil as demand growth is robust in the nation," Yang said.

The company seeks growth in overseas markets amid expectations that a slowing Chinese economy will curb demand and smaller companies may face difficulties obtaining loans because of tight lending policies. China's gross domestic product grew 9.1 percent in the third quarter, the least in nine quarters.

Chinese automakers such as Chery Automobile Co., Great Wall Motor Co. and BYD Co. are seeking to expand overseas as domestic sales cool from last year's 32 percent growth rate. Chinese assembly plants could build 40 million vehicles a year by 2015, outstripping sales forecasts of 27 million units, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

Brazil growth

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers forecasts vehicle sales growth of 3 percent in 2011, down from an estimated 10 percent early this year.

As the world's fifth largest car market, Brazil is key for China's automakers as they start a world expansion. The new Brazilian factory would start production in 2014, Yang said.

Last month, Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega announced it was raising the so-called industrial products tax on carmakers. This would boost the cost of imported cars by as much as 28 percent and force foreign automakers to build key components in Brazil, he said.

Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy, will grow 3.6 percent next year, according to the median forecast in a central bank survey of about 100 economists published last week.

"We have been selling cars at a price similar to the overseas rivals," Yang said. "That shows the growth potential of the market."

Lifan starts building second assembly plant
Automotive News China | 2011/10/25

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Lifan Industry (Group) Co. last week broke ground for its second vehicle assembly plant in the Liangjiang new district of the southwest China municipality of Chongqing.

With investment estimated at 3.5 billion yuan ($549 million), the new plant is expected to start production late next year. It will initially produce 150,000 vehicles annually, lifting the company's total annual passenger vehicle output to 400,000 units, Lifan said in a statement.

Lifan's existing car assembly plant in Chongqing builds up to 250,000 vehicles a year. It produces Lifan's 320, 520 and 620 cars and the X60 SUV.

Lifan, which is headquartered in Chongqing, is listed on the Shanghai stock exchange. Aside from passenger vehicles, Lifan also produces microvans and light trucks.

Volvo's Sept. China sales more than double
Automotive News China | 2011/10/25

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Volvo Car Corp.'s China sales surged 111 percent in September year-on-year to 4,765 vehicles as the company attracted new customers with four new models.

The Swedish carmaker, which is owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., has introduced the S60 and C30, as well as the redesigned XC60 and XC90.

In the first nine months of 2011, Volvo's China sales jumped 30 percent to 33,000 units.

Despite the sales growth, the Chinese market generates less than 10 percent of Volvo's global sales, which totaled 333,865 vehicles during the first nine months.

After acquiring Volvo from Ford Motor Co. in 2010, Geely President Li Shufu announced plans to expand Volvo's production in China.

In the southwest China city of Chengdu, Volvo is building a new plant which will open in 2013 with an initial output of 125,000 units a year. The automaker plans to build a second China plant in the northeast China city of Daqing.

The Volvo S40 and the stretched Volvo S80 are built at a plant operated by Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ford's joint venture with Changan and Mazda in the southwest China city of Chongqing.

Great Wall expects to report 50% surge in profits
Automotive News China | 2011/10/21

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Great Wall Motor Co. says its net profit in the first nine months of this year may have surged more than 50 percent from the same period last year.

The profit growth is mainly due to increased vehicle sales, the company said in a statement filed with Hong Kong's stock exchange.

But Great Wall didn't disclose its exact profit or revenues for the nine-month period.

Great Wall, located in the north China city of Baoding, builds Haval SUVs, Wingle pickups and Voleex sedans. In the first eight months, the company sold more than 199,000 vehicles, up 44 percent year-on-year, according to J.D. Power.

Geely LC (Panda) crossover set to hit Nepali roads

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KATHMANDU, Oct 22: Saakha and Universal Automobiles, the exclusive distributor of Geely Vehicles for Nepal, will soon be launching the Geely LC crossover vehicles in Nepali market.

The vehicle is expected to be in the market in December. Geely LC Cross is the crossover version of its Geely Panda mini car.

"Customers prefer the cute look of Panda and we are certain that they will like the trendy design of its crossover as well," said Prabal Saakha, the managing director of automobile division of Saakha Group, the parent company of Saakha and Universal Automobiles.

see more at http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=37473

Brazilian Best Cars Web Site - Comparativo completo - Fiat Uno Sporting vs. JAC J3

http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/carros/comp/peq11/abre-g.jpg

Full article: http://bestcars.uol.com.br/comp4/fiat-uno-sporting-jac-j3-1.htm

New China car brand (Geely) enters Saudi market amid growth

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Amin Abu Al-Hassan (seventh from left), chairman, Haji Hussain Alireza & Co. Ltd.; Ali Husein Alireza (second from right), Managing Director, HHA; with Dr. Zhang Lin, VP, Geely Holding Group; Chinese diplomat, and other senior executives of HHA and Geely, pose beside Geely Emgrand EC8 sedan at the launch of Geely cars in Jeddah on Tuesday.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=20110923109342

Geely exports cars to Cuba, Saudi Arabia
Automotive News China | 2011/10/28

Geely EC718 spotted in Dubai

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BYD to produce electric vehicles in Argentina
Automotive News China | 2011/11/8

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BYD Co. signed an agreement last week with the Argentine government to produce electric vehicles in the South American country.

The EVs will be used for public transport, according to Argentina's Industry Ministry.

Besides electric vehicles, the Chinese company will make lithium batteries used in cell phones and laptops.

The EVs and batteries will be sold in Argentina and other South American countries including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Further details on the production facility and vehicles to be built in Argentina have yet to be made available.

BYD, located in the south China city of Shenzhen, makes gasoline cars as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles and EVs.

To date, the Chinese company has sent its electric vehicles to participate in demonstration programs in Israel, Spain, Germany and the United States.

Great Wall's profit up 77% in first nine months
Automotive News China | 2011/11/8

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Great Wall Motor Co. says its net profit in the first nine months of this year surged 77 percent year-on-year to 2.6 billion yuan ($409 million), reflecting robust vehicle sales.

The company, which is listed in Hong Kong and Shanghai, did not disclose its vehicle sales. But according to J.D. Power and Associates, Great Wall's sales rose 35 percent to 249,459 vehicles in the first nine months.

Great Wall, located in the Baoding city of North China's Hebei province, is China's largest domestic producer of SUVs and pickups.

Daimler to develop EVs with BAIC

STUTTGART -- Daimler AG signed a letter of intent last week with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. to develop electric vehicles.

The move was aimed at "further improving the competitiveness of both partners in China," Daimler said in a statement.

Further details on the joint development project were unavailable.

Daimler and BAIC have a joint venture in Beijing to produce Mercedes-Benz E- and C-Class vehicles.

Last month, the Chinese government approved Daimler's joint venture with Beiqi Foton Motor Co., BAIC's commercial vehicle subsidiary, to build commercial vehicles.

Daimler also has a joint venture with BYD Co. to produce EVs. The partners will use BYD's battery pack and drivetrain and Daimler's EV architecture.

The vehicle will be marketed under a new brand to be jointly owned by BYD and Daimler.

Chinese bid for Saab to be reworked after GM objects
Reuters | 2011/11/8

DETROIT -- The Chinese rescue deal for Swedish automaker Saab has to be redone after objections from General Motors, the chief executive of Swedish Automobile, which owns Saab, said Monday.

"We have to go back to the drawing board," Saab Automobile CEO Victor Muller said.

GM said on Monday it had decided to sever its ties to Saab and its commitment to supply it with vehicle components and the 9-4X model because of the risks posed by the pending sale of the Swedish auto brand to Chinese owners.

GM said last week it would be difficult to support a sale of Saab if the transaction hurt its existing tie-ups in China or its competitive position in other markets.

China's Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile have struck a deal to buy Saab from its current Dutch owner, Swedish Automobile, in what amounts to a rescue plan for the Swedish auto brand formerly owned by GM.

Swedish Automobile, then called Spyker, rescued Saab from closure by former owner General Motors in 2010.

GM still has preference shares in Saab and is a major supplier of vehicle components and so must approve the Pang Da and Youngman takeover.

"Although General Motors is open to the continued supply of powertrains and other components to Saab under appropriate terms and conditions, GM will not agree to the continuation of the existing technology licenses or the continued supply of 9-4X vehicles to Saab following the proposed change in ownership as it would not be in the best interests of GM shareholders," GM spokesman Jim Cain said in an updated statement Monday.

The statement represented a hardening in GM's opposition to the proposed rescue plan for Saab and appeared to lengthen the odds for the brand's survival.

GM said last week it would oppose the sale unless officials become satisfied it will not "negatively impact GM's existing relationships in China" or otherwise adversely affect the automaker's interests worldwide.

Saab has lurched from crisis to crisis in the past year and has not produced a car in months. The company was given court protection from creditors in Sweden in September. It was the second time Saab received protection from creditors in two years.

If Pang Da and Youngman were able to complete the deal to purchase and rescue Saab, it would mark the second time that a struggling Swedish auto brand once controlled by Detroit automakers has been acquired by a Chinese company.

In August 2010, Geely bought Volvo from Ford Motor Co.

Pang Da operates auto dealerships in China. Youngman produces commercial vehicles, including buses and trucks, and sells cars under the Lotus brand.

Interior trim supplier Huaxiang acquires 2 units from bankrupt German firm

2011/11/15

Ningbo Huaxiang Electronics Co., a major Chinese interior trim supplier, will acquire two units of bankrupt German supplier Sellner Holding GmbH in a bid to gain access to the German and U.S. markets.

The two businesses are Sellner GmbH in Germany and Sellner Corp. in the United States. Both produce wooden interior components for automobiles, according to Huaxiang.

Huaxiang will pay 19 million euros (163 million yuan) for Sellner GmbH and its plastic interior parts subsidiary IPG Industrieplast. It will acquire Sellner Corp. for 23 million yuan.

In addition, Huaxiang will pay 52 million euros to purchase Wech CHEB, a company in Czech Republic that provides plywood pressing services for Sellner GmbH.

Sellner Holding's major customers are Audi AG, Mercedes-Benz and BMW AG. It went bankrupt in January.

Huaxiang, located in the east China city of Ningbo, mainly supplies Chinese joint ventures of Volkswagen AG, General Motors and Ford Motor Co. It is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, a domestic bourse.

In 2010, Huaxiang posted a profit of 420 million yuan on revenue of 3.3 billion yuan.

Chery says exports to Iraq to climb 50% in 2011

Chery Automobile Co., China's largest light vehicle exporter, expects to sell 14,000 vehicles in Iraq this year.

That will represent a 17 percent increase over the year-ago period, according to Chery.

The Chinese automaker said exports to Iraq have grown steadily since it entered the market in 2008.

Iraq also is a major export market for Chongqing Lifan Industry Group Co. and Great Wall Motor Co.



Chinese vehicle exports to Russia jump 50%
2011/11/15

Most Chinese automakers' exports to Russia have resumed strong growth this year with the Russian economy recovering from the global economic crisis.

Chongqing Lifan Industry Group Co. is the largest vehicle exporter to Russia. It sold 14,480 vehicles in Russia in the first 10 months of this year, up 50 percent from the year-ago period, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Great Wall Motor Co.'s exports to Russia surged 88 percent year-on-year to 5,172 units through October, while Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. exported 3,992 units, up 50 percent from the year-earlier figure.

Other exporters are Haima Automobile Co. and BYD Co, with deliveries through October totaling 2,664 units and 1,485 units, respectively.

Chery Automobile Co. is the only Chinese automaker whose exports to Russia have declined. The company delivered 5,359 vehicles to Russia, down 33 percent year-on-year.

China's car exports to Russia remained strong in 2007 and 2008, but tumbled in 2009 after the Russian economy was hit hard by the global economic downturn.

Chery, Italian distributor may build cars at shuttered Fiat plant in Sicily
Automotive News Europe | 2011/11/18

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TURIN -- Fiat S.p.A.'s assembly plant in Sicily may be used in the future to produce cars for Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co.

In 2009, Fiat announced that its 41-year-old factory near Palermo would cease production at the end of this year.

But Fiat is stopping production at the Termini Imerese plant a month earlier than planned due to low customer orders.

After receiving a number of offers, the Italian government has chosen DR Motor Co. to take over the plant. DR Motor has said it will assemble Chery's cars at the factory, but has not disclosed the start of production or likely production volumes.

DR Motor, which is part of the Di Risio dealer group, imports and sells Chinese vehicles in Italy as a domestic brand. Most of its cars come from Chery.

The Termini plant currently produces the Lancia Ypsilon three-door minicar. Fiat will shut down Termini's assembly lines on Nov. 23, according to unions that met with Fiat officials.

Fiat has said high logistics costs led to its decision to stop building cars at Termini. Production there costs about 700 euros (6,000 yuan) more per car than in other plants because most of the parts are shipped to the factory from mainland Italy.

Great Wall, Delphi to develop safety, powertrain components

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Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. says it has signed a strategic agreement with Delphi Automotive LLP to develop components for powertrains, safety systems, thermal systems and electronics.

U.S. supplier Delphi began providing electronic control units and other components to Great Wall in 2005. In August, Delphi announced that it was producing a high-pressure common rail system, fuel injectors and fuel pumps to Great Wall for pickups exported to Europe.

The new agreement deepens the partnership, said Wei Jianjun, chairman of the Great Wall Motors. "Supporting products provided by Delphi for Great Wall Motors have a strong r&d potential," Wei said.

Volvo expects China sales to grow up to 50% in 2012
Reuters | 2011/11/22

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GUANGZHOU -- Volvo Car Corp. expects sales growth of 40 to 50 percent in China next year, the company's China sales chief said on Monday.

Richard Snijders, CEO of Volvo's China distribution unit, made the comment to Reuters on the sidelines of the Guangzhou auto show. The company expects to sell 48,000 to 50,000 cars in China this year, added Snijders, up from just over 30,000 units last year.

Volvo parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group purchased the Swedish automaker from Ford Motor Co. in 2010 to complete China's largest overseas auto acquisition.

In February, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby in February unveiled a plan to invest up to $11 billion globally in new product development and facilities over a five-year period.

Volvo seeks Chinese government approval to build two assembly plants in the country, one in the city of Chengdu in the southwest and the other in Daqing in the northeast.

MG6 & Geely Emgrand EC7 get Euro NCAP 4 Star Ratings

Read more:
http://www.carsuk.net/mg6-geely-emgrand-ec7-get-euro-ncap-4-star-ratings/#ixzz1ecDODGYD
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/201111/268185.html

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China XD Plastics' quarterly earnings rose 28%
2011/11/25

HARBIN, China -- China XD Plastics Co. says its net income rose 28 percent year-on-year to $15.7 million (100 million yuan) in the third quarter, as the company sold more high-margin components.

The company's quarterly revenues jumped 59 percent to 661 million yuan.

In its earnings report, the company said its plastics sales benefited from strong demand in China for mid-market and premium automotive brands.

XD Plastics supplies exterior and interior trim to a variety of automakers in China, including Audi AG, BMW AG, Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors, Mazda Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG.

The company said it expects 2011 revenues to range from 2.3 billion yuan to 2.4 billion yuan. Adjusted net income for the year is expected to range from 350 million yuan to 363 million yuan.

The company is listed on the NASDAQ exchange.

GM to assemble microvan in Egypt with kits from China venture
2011/11/25

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SHANGHAI -- General Motors will start assembling a microvan in Egypt in the third quarter of 2012 using kits supplied by its Chinese joint venture, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co.

The vehicle, dubbed the Chevrolet Move, can be used to carry passengers as well as goods. GM plans to produce about 5,000 units annually.

In China it is known as the Wuling Rongguang. Fitted with a 1.2-liter engine, the five-seat microvan is 4,105 mm long, 1,620 wide, and 1,900 mm tall.

It has a starting price of 40,000 yuan ($6,300) in China; GM has yet to disclose the Move's price in Egypt.

The Move will be the joint venture's second product in the Egyptian market. In 2009, GM started exporting the eight-seat Chevrolet N200 microvan (also known as the Wuling Hongtu) to Egypt and other African countries.

GM also plans to sell locally built versions of the Wuling Hongtu and the Wuling Hongguang -- a 5-seat microvan that is larger than the Ronguang -- in India next year.

SAIC-GM-Wuling, which is headquartered in the southwest China city of Liuzhou, is a joint venture between GM, SAIC and the city of Liuzhou.

As China's largest microvan maker, the partnership sold 895,483 microvans and microtrucks in the first ten months of this year, down 2 percent year-on-year, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

GUANGZHOU AUTO SHOW
FAW launches Oley brand to attract China's young consumers

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2011/11/29

GUANGZHOU -- China FAW Group Corp. unveiled a new brand for small cars last week in the south China city of Guangzhou to attract young consumers and enrich its product lineup.

The new brand, Oley, features sporty and stylish small cars. The cars will be built at the No. 2 plant of FAW Car Co. in Changchun. FAW Car is the car unit of the state-owned FAW Group.

The first Oley-badged model will be launched next March with a price of 80,000 to 100,000 yuan ($12,500 to $15,700), according to FAW Group.

Additional details about the car have not been released.

FAW, which is headquartered in the northeast China city of Changchun, makes trucks, buses and cars.

The company already markets the Xiali and Besturn car brands. The the Xiali brand features compact cars selling for less than 77,000 yuan, while the Besturn line features compact and mid-sized sedans with a starting price above 93,800 yuan.

In the first ten months of the year, FAW sold 209,265 Xiali cars and 95,800 Besturn sedans.

FAW also has joint ventures to produce passenger vehicles with Toyota Motor Corp. and Volkswagen AG, and it produces light commercial vehicles in a joint venture with General Motors.

SAIC, Geely models pass European crash test

2011/11/29

SAIC Motor Corp.'s MG6 compact car and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.'s Emgrand EC7 mid-sized car each received a four-star overall rating in crash tests by Euro NCAP, an agency assessing the safety of vehicles sold in Europe.

It is the highest safety rating ever achieved overseas by vehicles produced by Chinese automakers.

The crash test evaluated the vehicles' adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection and safety assist. Both models were relatively poor at pedestrian protection, but scored well otherwise.

"These results mark a milestone for the Chinese automotive industry," Michiel van Ratingen, Euro NCAP's Secretary General, said in a statement. "It is a clear sign that Chinese car makers are building on recent experiences and rapidly investing in better vehicle safety."

He predicted Chinese automakers soon will achieve five-star ratings.

In the past four years, vehicles made by Chinese automakers did poorly in the European crash tests.

In 2006, Jiangling Motor Holding's Landwind X6 SUV received a zero rating, while Brilliance China Automotive Holding Co.'s Zunchi mid-sized car was assigned a one-star rating in 2007.

In 2009, Brilliance China's Splendor compact sedan received a zero rating, and Jiangling's Landwind CV9 SUV earned two stars last year.

Chery expects to export 170,000 vehicles this year

2011/11/29

Chery Automobile Co., China's largest passenger vehicle exporter, says exports this year will reach 170,000 units.

That will be a record high, although it is below the company's original export target of 180,000 units.

In the first 10 months, Chery's exports surged 77 percent year-on-year to 135,556 vehicles. Chery said it generated 35 percent of China's total passenger vehicle exports during the period.

While Chery's exports have risen fast, its domestic sales have declined this year due to a lack of new models.

As a result, Chery's total vehicle sales dropped 3 percent from a year earlier to 517,320 units in the first ten months of this year, according to J.D. Power.

^^
Chery seems have a good management. But their biggest disadvantage is their ugly brand name. I wonder why their CEO and thousands of workers are unaware and ignorant about this "very noticeable" issue.

No, they are very aware of the problem with its brand image for themselves and spare no effort to polish the image, create the upmarket sub-brands Riich and Rely, and also closely work with leading design companies to improve their design capability. The thing however is the brand image is not just confined to the brand name itself or cars' external appearances we see, but many other more important measures for improving things under the hood should be taken, it'll take a long time.

^^
Chery seems have a good management. But their biggest disadvantage is their ugly brand name. I wonder why their CEO and thousands of workers are unaware and ignorant about this "very noticeable" issue.

Ah..Chery unveiled its another high end brand Qoros yesterday. :nuts: Hope this brand wont be zapped out of existence by other brands in a couple of years.

http://www.chinacartimes.com/wp-content/qoros-concept1-300x225.jpg

http://www.chinacartimes.com/2011/11/29/qoros-international-brand-heard/

^^
Qoros, I like the name. I heard it's a JV between Chery and Israel Corp. Probably it will be good. Btw, I'm completely blank about the popularity of Chinese car brands in mainland market. I have some questions:

Does it sell well lately?

I wonder what is the consideration of mainland Chinese people to buy Chinese car brand beside of cheap price?

Does someone here own one of them?

What is your opinion about it?


Thank you for the answers.

The domestic brand cars now take up 30+ percent of auto market of China (not counting the commercial vehicle market of which domestic brands actually capture more). The higher value for money is definitely the primary reason the Chinese consumers take into account when buying a car, but there's no denying the fact that the product quality and safety are enhanced fast. When you go around inland cites or outskirts of eastern megacities, you'll see more of domestic brand cars on the street. For my part of all Chinese models, I like GWM 4X4 Hover the best, the man's toy.

Visteon to sell interiors unit to Chinese JV
Reuters | 2011/12/1

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DETROIT -- U.S. auto parts supplier Visteon Corp. said it has signed a tentative agreement to sell the majority of its interiors business to its Chinese joint venture with Huayu Automotive Systems, creating a global automotive interiors company.

The joint venture, Yanfeng Visteon Automotive Trim Systems Co., designs and manufactures interior, exterior, seating, electronics and safety systems for automakers.

The partners have signed a memorandum of understanding, and the companies hope to sign definitive agreements early next year, Visteon said in a statement.

Visteon did not disclose any financial terms.

The new company would have an estimated annual revenue of $4 billion (25.5 billion yuan), serving more than 30 customers from facilities in 16 countries, the company said.

Chery, Valeo form lighting partnership
2011/12/2

Chery Automobile Co. has formed a partnership with French supplier Valeo SA to produce lighting products.

The partnership, Wuhu Valeo Automobile Lighting Systems Co., will design, manufacture and sell lights. Its primary customer will be Chery.

In recent years, Chery has formed partnerships with suppliers such as ArvinMeritor, Robert Bosch GmbH and Siemens VDO, as well as Exxon Mobil and PPG Industries.

In China, Valeo has three technical centers and 18 factories that produce lighting products, climate control systems and other components.

Valeo aims to boost annual sales in China and India to 1 billion euros (8.6 billion yuan) by 2013 and 25.7 billion yuan by 2020.

Valeo SA, of Paris, ranks No. 21 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide parts sales to automakers of 50.6 billion yuan in 2010.


Chery JV to launch car sales in China, Europe in '13
2011/12/2
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SHANGHAI -- Qoros AutoCo., a 50-50 joint venture between Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. and Israeli company Israel Corp., plans to start selling vehicles in China and western Europe in 2013.

Qoros, previously known as Chery Quantum Auto Co., unveiled its vehicle brand (also called Qoros) and a sedan prototype in Shanghai on Monday.

Three models will go on sale in 2013 and 2014. "The first product will be compact sedan and its rivaling models will be the Toyota Corolla and the Volkswagen Sagitar," Guo Qian, Qoros chairman, told Automotive News China.

It will be followed by a hatchback and an SUV. The vehicles will be built on a platform developed for the company by Magna Steyr.

"These products will be developed according to European standards and they will be sold in China and some European countries," Guo said, without naming the countries.

"Ninety-five percent of our suppliers are top-tier suppliers in the world," he added. Apart from Magna Steyr, other suppliers include TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., Continental AG, Robert Bosch GmbH and Valeo SA.

The vehicles will be built at Qoros' plant in Changshu in east China's Jiangsu province. The plant can produce as many as 150,000 vehicles a year.

Qoros has 300 employees at its r&d center in Shanghai and its Changshu plant. The r&d center's work force is expected to reach 1,500 people over the next two years.

Chery is a state-owned automaker in Wuhu of east China's Anhui province. It is China's largest vehicle exporter. Israel Corp. is an Israeli conglomerate.

Great Wall's Bulgaria factory plans Feb. startup
2011/12/2
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SHANGHAI -- Great Wall Motor Co., China's largest SUV maker, expects its joint venture assembly plant in Bulgaria to start producing vehicles in February.

The factory, in the northern Bulgarian town of Lovech, is a joint venture between Great Wall and Bulgaria's Litex Motors Co.

"The first vehicle to be assembled at the plant will be the Haval SUV, which will be followed by the Wingle pickup and Voleex sedan later next year," said Roger Gao, a manager at Great Wall's international division.

The vehicles will be assembled first with semi-knockdown, or SKD, kits and later with complete knockdown, or CKD, kits shipped from China, Gao said. The vehicles will be sold under Great Wall's brands.

The plant, which will eventually build as many as 50,000 vehicles a year, is expected to assemble "a few thousand" vehicles in 2012, according to Gao.

"Its vehicles will be only sold in Bulgaria in the next two years," Gao said. "The plant will start to export vehicles to other eastern European countries such as Albania," he added.

In Europe, Great Wall exports vehicles to Italy. It also has a CKD plant in Russia.

It also has more than 10 SKD and CKD plants in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

In the first 10 months of this year, Great Wall sold 282,000 vehicles globally, up 28 percent year-on-year, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

The domestic brand cars now take up 30+ percent of auto market of China (not counting the commercial vehicle market of which domestic brands actually capture more). The higher value for money is definitely the primary reason the Chinese consumers take into account when buying a car, but there's no denying the fact that the product quality and safety are enhanced fast. When you go around inland cites or outskirts of eastern megacities, you'll see more of domestic brand cars on the street. For my part of all Chinese models, I like GWM 4X4 Hover the best, the man's toy.

So, what is the main reason why domestic brand didn't dominate in city market?

Is it because of costly government car plate license, so car only limited to rich people?

Or because even poor and medium income people in big city still fear to buy domestic brand?

Foreign brands got into China back in late 1970s and not long afterwards, they almost 100% monopolized the Chinese market in the 1980s-1990s, whereas only 10 years ago did quiet a few domestic brands spring up when the passenger car market began booming at that point. So to an ordinary customer, which one will they prefer if the budget isn't a problem? I wager most of them would pick the comparatively high quality, well-branded products.

The license plate fees are only costly in Shanghai where the extra fee is taken, about RMB 40,000 . However, the people living in shanghai can register their cars in the towns outside of Shanghai municipality then the license plate fees are only RMB 500 or so.

French oil giant Total constructs lubricant plant in Tianjin
2011/12/6

French oil giant Total broke ground last week for a large lubricant plant in the north China city of Tianjin.

The 30 million euro (280 million yuan) factory will start production in the first quarter of 2013.

The plant will produce up to 200,000 tons of lubricant products a year for automotive powertrains, motorcycles and industrial equipment, Total said in a statement.

The company already owns and operates lubricant plants in the south China city of Guangzhou and the east China city of Zhengjiang.

The Tianjin plant will supply customers in China's northern and western regions, the company said.

Chinese bank may join Saab rescue deal
Automotive News Europe | 2011/12/6

Saab's owner, Swedish Automobile, said on Monday it is in discussions with a bank in China and Chinese automaker Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile over a rescue deal for Saab.

Media reports said on Sunday that the Bank of China, the country's fourth-largest bank by market value, would replace China's Pang Da as an investor in Saab, which is under bankruptcy protection.

Swedish Automobile confirmed Monday that it is talking with Youngman and a bank in China about an equity interest, but did not name the bank.

"The discussions include a short term solution to enable Saab Automobile to pay November wages and continue reorganization. The outcome of the discussions is still uncertain," it said.

A new investment deal could help pave the way for General Motors Co. to approve a new ownership structure for Saab. GM sold the money-losing brand to Swedish Automobile, then called Sypker Cars, in 2010 and still has preferential shares in the carmaker.

GM said in November it would stop supplying components and technology if Youngman and Pang Da succeeded with their bid to buy Saab, amid fears that GM's technology could fall into the hands of competitors.

Youngman and Pang Da had pushed for full ownership of Saab, replacing an earlier plan by Swedish Automobile CEO Victor Muller for the Chinese companies to take a combined 53.9 percent stake in Swedish Automobile, but no stake in Saab.

On Nov. 30, GM executives held talks with Saab's court-appointed administrator Guy Lofalk in Detroit, reported China Business News, a Shanghai-based daily newspaper.

GM asked Pang Da and Youngman to acquire no more than 20 percent of Saab each, reported the newspaper, citing an unnamed Pang Da source.

On Sunday, SaabsUnited, an enthusiasts Web site, said that the Bank of China would take a 29.9 percent stake in Swedish Automobile with Youngman holding 19.9 percent and Swedish Automobile retaining the remaining 50.1 percent. The Web site said the information came from its contacts within Saab.

A source familiar with the latest deal told Reuters that Youngman and the Bank of China will together own just under 50 percent of Saab.

Saab was not immediately available for comment on Monday when contacted by Automotive News Europe.

Cash-strapped Saab is currently under court protection from creditors after unions representing the carmaker's employees began proceedings to put it into bankruptcy over unpaid wages.

Pang Da operates auto dealerships in China, while Youngman produces commercial vehicles, including buses and trucks, and sells cars under the Lotus brand.

GM operates in China in a partnership with state-run automaker SAIC Motor Corp.

Reuters contributed to this story.

Geely will start selling cars in the United Kingdom next year
2011/12/7

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Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. said it will launch new-car sales in the UK next year, with the longterm aim of matching the success of Korean brands Hyundai and Kia.

Geely will start sales of its EC7 compact car at the end of 2012 through a new distribution company called Geely Auto UK. Manganese Bronze Holdings, which partners with Geely to build London black cabs in England and China, will set up the distribution company and a UK dealer network.

The EC7 will be priced from 10,000 pounds (99,000 yuan). Initially it will be offered with a 1.5-liter or 1.8-liter gasoline engine and a five-year, 170,000km warranty. The car recently earned a four-star rating by crash test organization Euro NCAP.

Geely Auto UK Marketing Manager Maria Holmes said the company aims to sell 1,000 units of the EC7 in 2013, the first full year of sales. Volume will increase in the mid- and long-term as new models go on sale, she said.

The Chinese automaker plans to introduce at least one new model in the UK every year for the next four to five years.

The company also is looking at launching sales in other European markets but the plan is to become established first in the UK with the help of Manganese Bronze Holdings, Holmes told Automotive News Europe. Geely plans to recruit 30 to 40 dealers in the UK for the brand's launch.

Geely said its UK sales operations will be separate from those of Volvo Cars, which Geely bought from Ford Motor Co. in 2010. Geely Auto UK is based in Coventry, central England, and shares offices with Manganese Bronze Holdings' London Taxi Company.

Manganese Bronze Holdings CEO John Russell said in a statement: "We are all aware of the success that Kia and Hyundai have had in the UK and we can work with Geely to achieve similar success in the future."

BYD-Daimler set to roll out electric concept at Beijing show

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Last year, Daimler and China’s BYD started a 50:50 research and technology joint venture called “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd” (BDNT) that will develop an electric vehicle in and for China. BDNT is now ready with its first concept, which will be shown at next year’s Beijing show in April.

The Beijing show will see BDNT showcase its green vision, the new brand’s identity, including brand name, logo and positioning as well as the Concept Car’s exterior and interior design. The production fully electric vehicle is scheduled to be launched a year later in 2013.

In fact, work on the production model has started. The Shenzhen-based JV is said to be making good progress, and work on building the first prototypes has started with the target to have them running by spring next year. The JV will use BYD’s battery tech and e-drive systems plus Daimler’s know-how in EV architecture and safety. BDNT says that Daimler’s quality philosophy has been incorporated from a very early stage.

Production of the new generation of compact to mid-size electric vehicles will be done with Daimler’s quality management experts and will “to a large extent” follow Daimler’s standardised production system for passenger cars. Supplier sourcing for the new vehicle is nearly completed.

Foton to assemble vehicles in the Philippines
2011/12/16

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Beiqi Foton Motor Co. will assemble passenger vehicles and trucks in the Philippines for sale locally and in other Southeast Asian markets, according to a local media report.

The Chinese company has signed a $20 million (128 million yuan) land lease agreement to build an assembly plant on the island of Luzon, about a two-hour drive from the capital of Manila.

The plant will be built in three years, reported the Philippine Star, a local news portal.

Foton, a major light-vehicle manufacturer, sells imported pickups, vans, minibuses and light trucks through 14 dealerships and 63 service centers in the Philippines.

The company is pursuing aggressive expansion outside China. It is building a truck assembly plant in India. In November, Foton disclosed a plan to build sales outlets in Kenya, Indonesia and Australia.

Better Place, China Southern Power Grid open EV battery-swap center in
2011/12/16

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GUANGZHOU -- Better Place, a U.S. battery recharging company, this week joined with China Southern Power Grid Co. to open an electric vehicle battery-swap center in the south China city of Guangzhou.

The 1,900-square-meter center near a major local auto mall is the first of its kind in south China, Better Place said in a statement.

The center offers automated EV battery swapping, with an entire switch taking less than five minutes, Better Place said.

State-owned China Southern Power Grid is required by the Chinese government to build EV infrastructure in five south China provinces: Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan and Hainan.

Better Place aims to build a network of EV charging stations, leasing batteries to customers for use in their vehicles.

In 2010, the California company signed an agreement with Chery Automobile Co. to develop switchable-battery EV prototypes in China.

FAW opens assembly plant in Ethiopia
2012/1/3

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Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co., a small-car subsidiary of China FAW Group Corp., has opened an assembly plant in the east African country of Ethiopia.

The plant in Adama city, also known as Nazret, in central Ethiopia assembles FAW's small vehicles from semi-knockdown kits imported from China, FAW Xiali said in a statement.

The factory, FAW Xiali's first assembly plant outside China, opened in December and can build as many as 2,000 vehicles a year. The plant's first product will be the Xiali N5 subcompact, according to the company.

FAW Xiali produces small cars under its Xiali and Weizhi brands.

In the first 11 months of 2011, the company's sales declined 4 percent year-on-year to 235,939 units, according to LMC Automotive.

Great Wall Motor Co., Lifan Industry (Group) Co. and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. also operate assembly plants in Ethiopia, the second-most-populous country in Africa.

Chery's 2011 exports soar to record 160,000
2012/1/3

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Chery Automobile Co., China's largest vehicle exporter, said its vehicle exports in 2011 reached a record high of 160,000 units, up 74 percent from the previous year.

The Chinese automaker expects to expand its exports in 2012. It has 13 assembly plants overseas that produce vehicles from kits exported from China. It also has two new plants in Brazil and Venezuela.

In contrast to its robust exports, Chery's domestic sales are relatively weak. In the first 11 months of 2011, total sales -- including exports -- dropped 5 percent year-on-year to 871,700 units, according to LMC Automotive.

Chery has yet to disclose its domestic sales for 2011.

JD Power: Chinese Brands Narrow Gap In Quality
BYD F0 and Pentium B70 Grab Top Spots
January 6, 2012 at 4:29 am

JD Power recently released its vehicle reliability study for 2011. The study indicates that, from 2010, Chinese brands made huge strides in quality…narrowing the gap with foreign brands. Overall, Chinese brands narrowed the gap by a whopping 34% compared to their foreign rivals over the past year.

The vehicle reliability study measures eight categories of issues ranging from the power-train to exterior paint quality from 13-36 months of ownership. Figures are given in terms of Problems Per 100 Vehicles (PP100), thus a lower number indicates higher quality. China’s overall vehicle score came in at 218 PP100 in 2011, compared with 298 in 2010.

China’s own brands clocked in at 309 PP100, having decreased by 135 PP100 since the previous study.

BYD’s FO came in first place for the compact vehicle segment with the FAW Pentium B70 scoring highly in the premium midsize segment.

Chery, SK Telecom set up telematics lab in China
2012/1/10

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HONG KONG -- Chery Automobile Co. has built a laboratory with South Korea's SK Telecom Co. to develop a telematics service for Chery's vehicles, reports Korea's Yonhap news service, citing the automaker.

The two companies have spent three years preparing to launch their telematics venture, according to Yonhap.

"We seek to develop smart vehicles that will enable mobile phone-controlled driving, using the top South Korean telecom operator's technology," said Chen Anning, vice general manager of Chery Automobile.

Huaxiang unit acquires U.S. trim supplier
2012/1/10

Lawrence Automotive Interiors Ltd., the United Kingdom subsidiary of China's Ningbo Huaxiang Electronics Co., has acquired Northern Engraving Corp., a U.S. supplier of decorative trim.

Northern Engraving, founded in 1908, supplies trim and automotive badges to Ford Motor Co., Volvo Car Corp., General Motors, Tesla Motors Inc. and others.

Northern Engraving, of Sparta, Wis., did not disclose the acquisition price. But Chinese media said it was $90 million (569 million yuan).

Lawrence Automotive, of Nottingham, U.K., makes wood veneer panel and was acquired by Huaxiang in 2007.

Huaxiang, which is in the east China city of Ningbo, mainly supplies the Chinese joint ventures of Volkswagen AG, GM and Ford. In 2010, Huaxiang posted a profit of 420 million yuan on revenue of 3.3 billion yuan.

Shandong Heavy Buys Italian Luxury Yacht Maker Ferrati
By REUTERS
Published: January 10, 2012

JINAN, CHINA — The machinery maker Shandong Heavy Industry Group sealed a deal Tuesday to take a 75 percent stake in the debt-laden Italian luxury yacht maker Ferretti, the latest in a series of Chinese acquisitions of European brands.

...

Shandong Heavy makes construction machinery, power systems, commercial vehicles and automobile parts. It is the parent of the diesel engine maker Weichai Power, whose shares are listed in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Shandong Heavy had operating income of 107.6 billion renminbi, or $17 billion, in 2010.

Ferretti, which owns the Pershing, Riva and Ferretti Yachts brands, ranked first in the 2011 Global Order Book, the benchmark annual report on the nautical industry by the magazine ShowBoat International.

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振兴本土汽车品牌的根本出路在于国企私有化
2012/1/13

上海 － 中国汽车制造商究竟出了什么问题？

去家门口的这个全球最大的汽车市场上，本土品牌份额的正在萎缩。

在2011年的前11个月中，尽管行业销量上升了5%，但中国本土品牌的轻型汽车销量相比去年同期下降了3%。

这与欧洲、美洲及韩国品牌在中国两位数的销量增长形成了鲜明对比。

中国汽车工业协会常务副会长兼秘书长董扬上周在一封空开信中哀叹，"更令人担忧的是，展望今后几年，这种情况不但不会缓解，而且极有可能恶化。"

国内品牌到底出了什么问题？

许多人将国内品牌的销售疲软归罪于品牌形象不佳，但根本问题其实在于国内汽车行业内广泛存在的国有制。

中国政府认为汽车制造业对于国民经济来说太过重要而不能进行私有化。因此，2001年中国加入世界贸易组织时，国有汽车制造商得以保留。

不仅如此，政府还要求所以想在中国生产的国外汽车制造商与国有车企组建合资公司。政府希望国有公司借此能向全球品牌学习。

但这些保护性政策对国内汽车制造行业来说是弊大于利。

由于几乎所有的全球汽车制造商都已进入，中国汽车市场的竞争已变得非常激烈。要在这样一个市场中取得成功，企业必须响应客户需求并行动敏捷，但国有汽车制造企业因下列三大根深蒂固的弱点而无法做到。

1. 它们更愿意听从政府而不是客户的意见。

2. 由于容易获得国有银行的贷款支持，以及缺乏严格的责任制，它们有一种不可救药的盲目扩张欲望。

3. 保护造成了依赖。多家国有主要汽车制造商很大程度上要依赖与国际品牌形成的合资公司的利润和销量。失去这个倚仗，它们难易生存。

迄今为止，能建立起不错的自主品牌的国有车企寥寥无几。因此，去年在政府结束对小型车的销售补贴后，他们的销量和利润大幅下滑。其中长安汽车建立起了过大的微车产能，而奇瑞则因产品量多质次一直苦苦支撑。

目前，政府要求国外汽车制造商为在华合资企业推出新品牌，以求再次给国有车企提供学习机会。

这项计划难以奏效，原因同样是前述三条。

若想彻底改造国有汽车制造商，政府应从国内私营汽车制造商身上寻找灵感。

以长城和吉利为例，这两家中国私营汽车制造商在上世纪90年代才开始生产汽车。由于品牌不强，它们从低档产品起步，靠价格竞争，然后逐步推出中档产品。

据LMC Automotive 统计，在2011年的前11个月中，长城的销量猛增31%。吉利同期的销量也上升了7%，其帝豪品牌的月销量已超过了1万辆，证明吉利正在向高端稳步迈进。

另外，长城的多个车型已获得了欧洲的认证，而吉利的帝豪轿车去年在欧洲的碰撞测试中获得了四星评级。

当然，私营汽车制造商也会犯错误。比亚迪的销量因该公司过度扩大其经销商网络而一度出现暴跌。

但比起国有汽车制造商，比亚迪能更快地从错误中汲取教训。该公司已调整了经销网络，逐步推出高端车型。11月份，其售出了1.2万辆S6 SUV，业绩不俗。

与其相比，国有的奇瑞因多年来推出过多的车型而身陷财务困境，一直难以自拔。

从长城、吉利和比亚迪的事例上，中国政府应能得知，由于体制和机制上的原因，国有企业注定无法担当振兴本土汽车品牌的重任。

随着全球品牌扩展到中国的内陆市场，国内汽车制造商的处境将更加艰难。如果政府真正关心国内汽车制造商的福祉，应尽快对国有车企实施私有化改造。

===

我估计没戏，中国政府跟关心的是自己的江山，他们不会允许私人进入这种垄断行业的。

国企基本都是垃圾，全靠垄断，在中国是牛哄哄的，在国际上鲜有什么竞争力和外国人的尊重。

Xinghui acquiring SKN polystyrene plant

SHANTOU, CHINA (Jan. 10, 2012) -- A Chinese manufacturer of model cars is acquiring the majority share of a local polystyrene plant owned by South Korea’s SK Networks, a move that the company said will help achieve upstream vertical integration.

Xinghui Auto Model Co. Ltd. of Shantou, Guangdong province aims to obtain a 67.4 percent stake in SK Networks PS (Shantou) Co. Ltd. for 215.6 million yuan ($34.1 million) in cash, Xinghui said in a filing. SKN will hold the remaining share. The two parties signed an agreement on Dec 30.

SKN Shantou runs three production lines that total 150,000 metric tons of GPPS and HIPS in annual capacity, serving the toy, stationery and home appliances industries. It reported net profit of 16.5 million yuan ($2.6 million) and sales of 1.1 billion yuan ($174.2 million) during the first 11 months of 2011.

Xinghui hopes to reduce raw material cost and improve competitiveness with the acquisition. Plastic resins represent more than 30 percent of its raw material consumption.

Xinghui recorded profit of 55.84 million yuan ($8.84 millon) on sales of 324 million yuan ($51.3 million) in 2010. It sells toy cars under the Rastar brand in more than 40 countries. Its factory in Shantou employs more than 1,000.

SKN is a subsidiary of Seoul-based global conglomerate SK Group. SKN acquired the Shantou plant in May 2007.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-09/17/content_13725715.htm


Number of cars in China hits 100m

2011-09-17 (Xinhua)



BEIJING - The number of automobiles in China has surged to 100 million due to a rapid increase in private car ownership, according to a statement released Friday by the Ministry of Public Security.

China registered 219 million motor vehicles as of the end of August, with automobiles accounting for 45.88 percent, the statement said. The ministry separates motor vehicles into four categories: motorcycles, tractors, trucks and automobiles.

The statement said that from 2006 to 2010, the country posted an average annual growth of 9.51 million automobiles.

The first eight months of this year saw 9.83 million new automobiles hit the country's roads, 79.45 percent of which were passenger cars, according to the statement.

China's major cities have had to deal with recurring gridlock and other traffic-related issues in recent years, as China is now the world's largest auto market. Several cities have tightened automobile purchase policies in an effort to combat traffic jams.

Beijing created a car-quota system on January 1, allowing only 240,000 new cars to be registered in the city this year.

Introducing: Chinese Car Designers
Culture, Industry News | Ash | January 24, 2012 at 10:30 pm

The words ‘Chinese car designer‘ for too long have been synonymous with Xerox machines, for a while it seemed the Chinese manufacturers skipped the design and R&D stages and went straight to the nearest foreign auto manufacturers dealership to buy a best selling model and then put it into production themselves under their own brand, see the Chery QQ, Laibao SUV, and other famous cloned cars. However in the past few years Chinese car companies, as well as international car companies, have been plucking the brightest Chinese designers from within China and elsewhere and cultivating their talents to a new level. Chinese designers have had a hand in some of the more popular cars on the roads in the past few years, take for example the Buick Lacrosse – a big seller for GM in North America and China but it was designed by a Chinese hand.


Ken Ma

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Ken Ma recently jumped ship from SAIC to Chang’an, but recently jumped ship from Chang’an for reasons currently unknown. Mr. Ma was head of design at SAIC. When at Chang’an he was assistant to the Chairman of the group and also a vice leader of the research and design center. Although Chang’an is a Chongqing based company Ken Ma went out of his way to develop a Beijing design studio some 800 miles away from Chongqing, but as Beijing is the cultural and design capital of China it seemed like the best place to set up a design center.

Ken graduated from the Central Academy of Arts in 1990 and soon went overseas to continue his studies at Ohio State where he studied car design again. In 2000 he became the head of GM’s Asia Pacific Design center and oversaw the development of the last generation Buick Lacrosse. By 2007 SAIC had pinched him over to be their own design director, he worked on concept models such as the Roewe N1, Roewe 350, and MG5 final production model and also the Roewe W5, 750 and 550 facelift models, in addition to those he also worked on the World Expo models such as the Leaf.

In 2011 Ken went over to Chang’an where he strengthened their core Chinese development team and gave us a strong reason to believe that Chang’ans future models will be world class cars. Why he left Chang’an still remains a mystery.


Wulin Gao Wa

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Introducing: Chinese Car DesignersWulin is not just a pretty face, she has been at the forefront of product and auto design for a few years now, she recently took over the top seat at GM China’s Advanced Design Studio where she will be leading research into the habits and likes of Chinese drivers to further localize GM’s products for the Chinese market.

Wulin graduated from the same university as Ken Ma, The Central Academy of Fine Arts, in 2000 after graduating she went onto Germany’s Pforzheim University where she gained a masters degree in Traffic Design and worked part time at the then Daimler-Chrysler, by 2003 she had already moved onto Mercedes’ HQ in as the first Chinese female designer within the group.

In 2006 she returned to car design after taking a short break and also lectured at her old university on car design, in September 2011 she landed the top design job at GM China.

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Read more:
http://www.chinacartimes.com/2012/01/24/introducing-chinese-car-designers/

China poised to tighten recall rules

2012/2/14

BEIJING -- China's State Council has published new draft regulations that would require automakers to recall vehicles -- and temporarily halt sales -- if they identify a defect, the state-owned Xinhua news service reported.

The council's Legislative Affairs Office has requested public comment on the rules.

According to Xinhua, the rules also would require automakers to issue recalls promptly, maintain vehicle ownership records for 10 years, and suspend production until the defect is fixed.

The rules also would require the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine -- the watchdog agency that monitors recalls -- to inform the public about recalls.

Export king Chery's overseas sales leap 21%

2012/2/14

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201202131753237852.bmp

HEFEI -- Chery Automobile Co. said its vehicle exports from China in January jumped 21 percent year-on-year to 11,823 units, the state-owned Xinhua news service reported.

Last year, the state-owned automaker exported a record 160,200 units -- enough to maintain its status as China's top domestic exporter, company spokesman Jin Yibo said.

Chery continues to expand overseas. Last summer, the company opened a CKD plant in Venezuela, and it is building an assembly plant in Brazil.

According to Xinhua, Chery also has announced plans to build plants in Myanmar and some African countries.

Geely Auto signs auto assembly agreement with Egypt's GB Auto

Bloomberg News | 2012/2/22

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSVdmWDl39yf-I8fYavgN9avT2GW_kRYpQ4CHaLaa_2Cdc8saBNPRF4XfkN

CAIRO -- China's Geely Automobile has signed a deal for GB Auto to assemble Geely cars in Egypt and distribute them in North Africa.

Cairo-based GB Auto is the biggest independent car assembler in the Middle East. The company will sell Geely passenger cars in "select high-growth markets across North Africa," it said in a statement on Tuesday.

GB Auto will start by selling two models in Egypt in the second quarter and assemble vehicles starting in the third quarter. "We selected Geely after an exhaustive global search," said GB Auto's CEO Raouf Ghabbour.

Geely products offer "the best value for money in a critical segment that meets our consumers' needs and expectations," he said.

GB Auto will continue to build Hyundai Verna models, it said. The company has been assembling variations of the Hyundai Accent sedan in Egypt since 1995. That agreement is due to expire at the end of 2013, Ghabbour said in November.

The deal with Geely will enable GB Auto to "target a different segment of the population" because of the cars' relatively low price, said Samir Murad, vice president of research at Kuwait-based NBK Capital. "The deal is coming at a good time for the company as it allows them to build complete knock-down models in Egypt when Hyundai may not be renewing its assembly contract," Murad said.

Last year, GB Auto had a 32 percent share of the Egyptian passenger car market, according to its estimates.

Great Wall opens plant in Bulgaria

2012/2/24

http://www.pakwheels.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/VoleexC30.jpg

Great Wall Motor Co. opened its assembly plant in Bulgaria this week. The plant, in the northern town of Lovech, is a joint venture between Great Wall and Bulgaria's Litex Motors Co.

It will assemble vehicles with semi-knockdown, or SKD, kits and later with complete knockdown, or CKD, kits shipped from China.

The first model to be built there is Great Wall's Voleex compact sedan, to be followed by the Wingle pickup and the Haval SUV.

The plant, which employs 120 people, initially will build as many as 50,000 vehicles a year. Those vehicles will be sold in Bulgaria and other eastern European countries.

The Bulgarian plant will help Great Wall expand its niche in Europe. The company exports vehicles from China to Italy, and it has a CKD plant in Russia.

Elsewhere, Great Wall has more than 10 SKD and CKD plants in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Great Wall, of Baoding in north China's Hebei province, sold more than 487,000 vehicles last year. Of those, 83,000 vehicles were exported, according to the automaker.

Chinese government announce official car list, auto makers shares surge ahead

The Chinese government put forth a list of cars that government departments will be limited to buying in 2012 over the weekend, it was good news for Chinese car makers but bad news for staples for companies such as Audi who have long seen their cars as being government staples.

According to the list issued by the Ministry of Information and Technology the government has authorized 412 different models for Chinese party cadres to buy with government money, every year the government spends some 80 billion RMB on bringing new cars into the government fleet, for the longest periods of time these cars were of course foreign and Chinese cars but going forward they will all be Chinese cars from Chinese brands.

Four pure electric cars have made it into the final list of 412 vehicles, 78 SUV’s have entered as well as 64 ‘multi purpose vehicles’ (likely pick up trucks), 265 gasoline and diesel sedans have been entered as well. On the branding front it, Hong Qi, Xia Li, Dongfeng’s Fengshen sedan range as well as Feng Xing MPV range, Chang-an’s mini van range, Guangzhou Auto’s Trumpchi, and SAIC’s MG and Roewe vehicles have all become official government vehicles for this year. Lifan, BYD, Chery, Geely, Great Wall, Brilliance and Zotye have all won places in the list. However it should be pointed out that the vast majority of cars are 1.5L or 1.6L with the larger sedans coming in at 1.8L and as mentioned, MPV’s and SUV’s are able to become 2.0L and 2.4L models.

For example, a mid level cadre for example is limited to a car of 1.8L or less and spend around 180,000rmb on that vehicle. One point that the government has made very clear is that manufacturers that do take part should invest around 3% of their earnings back into R&D.

Foreign manufacturers have been closed out of the system for now with Chinese manufacturers planning to reap the most of the rewards in the short term. Government staples such as Audi, VW Santana, Passats and various Buick’s are likely to receive a short term shock when the government tap turns off but these companies are big and smart enough to turn to other markets and segments to offset losses. The biggest long term worry from China Car Times is that Chinese manufacturers will fail to innovate as they will always have a strong customer base in the government fleet, thus offsetting the need to challenge foreign manufacturers with Chinese consumers and also in overseas markets.

^^
I read the news from other sites too. So finally no more Audi for the officials. The different must be huge, from Audi to Chinese low cost car. Like using 2 Mbps internet access in first world country and then using 64 kbps internet access in third world country.

The good side is, because the officials can't stand anymore driving a low-cost low-quality of car, they must be have a lot of complain to Chinese auto makers. Indirectly Chinese auto makers will try to improve their quality as good as Audi.

I hope this what will happened. The Chinese officials will became the quality inspectors of Chinese car brands.

Hope the policy can be enforced properly that no official car purchasing surge happens because of the low cost factor.

By February, Shenzhen has got 2 million cars and Beijing's got 5 million.

14城市汽车保有量超百万 交通环境面临巨大压力2012年02月28日 17:15 来源：中国经济网

中国经济网编者按：国家统计局发布2011年国民经济和社会发展统计公报显示，年末全国民用汽车保有量达到10578万辆，比上年末增长16.4%，其中私人汽车保有量7872万辆，增长20.4%。民用轿车保有量4962万辆，增长23.2%，其中私人轿车4322万辆，增长25.5%。




http://i1.ce.cn/district/zg/201202/28/W020120228635401542442.jpg


汽车保有量排名：北京第一深圳第二

2月16日，北京市交管局宣布，北京机动车保有量已达到501.7万辆。交管局相关负责人表示，购车摇号政策的实施，让500万的出现放缓了11个月。

2月27日，随着黄姓车主领到一块粤B车牌，宣告深圳汽车保有量迈入200万辆时代，至此，深圳汽车保有量位居广东第一，全国第二，仅次于北京。

汽车时代不可避免的顽症：交通拥堵

北京是全国路堵最严重的城市之一，近些年北京投入数千亿元改善交通，已形成城市五环大交通格局，但道路资源仍然赶不上机动车发展速度。北京市道路90%以上处于饱和或超饱和的状态，早晚流量高峰期间，整个城区的道路基本处于拥堵状态，经常发生拥堵的点段达65处，奥运会后，北京停驶30%的公车，并实行每天限制两个车牌尾号上路措施，等于消减20%的机动车出行，但仍然难解路堵。

深圳道路车辆密度已经突破300辆/公里，超过了国际上270辆/公里的警戒值。若按每条道路双向两车道、每辆车占用6米长的空间计算，深圳所有汽车都开上道路,全市道路将被占满。

今年年初，大城市将征收交通拥堵费的消息引起热议。有媒体报道，深圳拥堵费征收方案已制定完成，即将向市民公开方案，听取意见；而由上海市发改委主持的“以收取拥堵费替代目前私车牌照拍卖制度”的课题也已经完成，将上报给市政府高层研究审批。另外，北京、杭州、南京等城市政府也曾表示有意收取拥堵费。

停车位严重不足 给城市管理带来难题

目前北京收费停车位147余万个，无人管理停车位100余万个。北京停车位缺口达250万个，占汽车保有量的一半。深圳目前登记的经营性停车场共有3338家，登记停车位约70万个。交警称，结合城市开发和建设的整体趋势，停车位供给现状与200万辆汽车保有量形成了巨大的差距，形成一个车位三辆车“抢”的局面，供需矛盾较为突出。

尾气排放PM2.5含量增高 影响城市空气质量

调查表明，城市空气中的一氧化碳大部分来自汽车尾气，主要是汽油不完全燃烧产生的，容易造成人体缺氧窒息。碳氧化合物尽管在汽车尾气中含量不多，但其构成成分中含有一种已被医界公认的强致癌物质。作为空气质量重要指标之一的PM2.5的主要来源之一就是是机动车排放物，其主要为氮氧化物与挥发性有机物。这些颗粒物在空气中和其他污染物发生化学反应，生成二次颗粒物，几乎全是细颗粒PM2.5，占到北京PM2.5总量的22%。

source (http://district.ce.cn/zg/201202/28/t20120228_23113418.shtml)

Chinese government announce official car list, auto makers shares surge ahead

a list of cars that government departments will be limited to buying in 2012 over the weekend,
Does it mean government departments are allowed to buy other cars during weekdays ;-)

According to the list issued by the Ministry of Information and Technology the government has authorized 412 different models for Chinese party cadres to buy with government money, every year the government spends some 80 billion RMB on bringing new cars into the government fleet, for the longest periods of time these cars were of course foreign and Chinese cars but going forward they will all be Chinese cars from Chinese brands.

Four pure electric cars have made it into the final list of 412 vehicles, 78 SUV’s have entered as well as 64 ‘multi purpose vehicles’ (likely pick up trucks), 265 gasoline and diesel sedans have been entered as well. On the branding front it, Hong Qi, Xia Li, Dongfeng’s Fengshen sedan range as well as Feng Xing MPV range, Chang-an’s mini van range, Guangzhou Auto’s Trumpchi, and SAIC’s MG and Roewe vehicles have all become official government vehicles for this year. Lifan, BYD, Chery, Geely, Great Wall, Brilliance and Zotye have all won places in the list. However it should be pointed out that the vast majority of cars are 1.5L or 1.6L with the larger sedans coming in at 1.8L and as mentioned, MPV’s and SUV’s are able to become 2.0L and 2.4L models.

The biggest long term worry from China Car Times is that Chinese manufacturers will fail to innovate as they will always have a strong customer base in the government fleet, thus offsetting the need to challenge foreign manufacturers with Chinese consumers and also in overseas markets.

How many different and mutually competing Chinese manufacturers got in the list of 412?

Does it mean government departments are allowed to buy other cars during weekdays ;-)

If the sentence gets cut this way, yeah, it does. :D

What it actually says is the list was put forward during the weekend.

How many different and mutually competing Chinese manufacturers got in the list of 412?

I think the list should cover all the domestic automakers, be it state-owned or not.

I list some of them, some relatively big ones but not all (You know there are so many automakers in China that counting the specific number is really a headache).

Anhui: Chery, JAC
Beijing: BAIC
Chongqing: Chana, Lifan
Fujian: FJmotor/Soueast
Guangdong: GAC, BYD
Hebei: GWM (Great Wall), ZXAuto, SHAuto
Hubei: Dongfeng
Jilin: FAW
Liaoning: Brilliance, SGAuto
Shandong: Hawtai
Shanghai: SAIC
Zhejiang: Geely, Youngman, Zotye


Below is the whole list (in Chinese though):
上海大众汽车有限公司
一汽-大众汽车有限公司
上海通用汽车有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
北京现代汽车有限公司
天津一汽夏利汽车股份有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
广州本田汽车有限公司
神龙汽车有限公司
浙江吉利控股集团有限公司
东风日产乘用车部
长安福特汽车有限公司
重庆长安铃木汽车有限公司
上海通用东岳汽车有限公司
东风悦达起亚汽车有限公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
比亚迪汽车有限责任公司
一汽轿车股份有限公司
一汽海南汽车有限公司
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
东风本田汽车有限公司
华晨宝马汽车有限公司
广州丰田汽车有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
湖南江南汽车制造有限公司
重庆力帆乘用车有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
一汽华利(天津)汽车有限公司
贵州青年云雀汽车有限公司
吉林通田汽车有限公司
多功能车（MPV）
上海通用(沈阳)北盛汽车有限公司
广州本田汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
东风汽车公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
一汽海南汽车有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
上海大众汽车有限公司
东风悦达起亚汽车有限公司
一汽-大众汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
广州宝龙集团轻型汽车制造有限公司
上海通用汽车有限公司
两驱运动型多用途车（SUV）
长城汽车股份有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
湖南长丰汽车制造股份有限公司
郴州吉奥南燕驰峰汽车有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
东风汽车公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
荣城华泰汽车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
四川汽车工业集团公司
庆铃汽车股份有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
沈阳富桑黑豹有限责任公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
广州宝龙集团轻型汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
四驱运动型多用途车（SUV）
东风本田汽车有限公司
北京现代汽车有限公司
湖南长丰汽车制造股份有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
荣城华泰汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
东风汽车公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
福建八闽汽车总厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
交叉型车
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
南京长安汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
陕西飞机工业(集团)有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
上汽汽车股份有限公司仪征分公司

商用车总计
货车总计
重型货车
中国重型汽车集团公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
中型货车
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
山东凯马汽车制造有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
轻型货车
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
东风汽车公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
长城汽车股份有限公司
山东凯马汽车制造有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
淄博汽车制造厂有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
烟台亚曼汽车有限公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
云南金马农用车制造总厂
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
重庆嘉陵特种装备有限公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
云南金马机械总厂
湖南省汽车制造有限责任公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
微型货车
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
郴州吉奥南燕驰峰汽车有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京长安汽车有限公司
东风汽车公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
浙江吉利控股集团有限公司
陕西飞机工业(集团)有限公司
沈阳富桑黑豹有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
烟台亚曼汽车有限公司
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
客车总计
大型客车
郑州宇通集团有限责任公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
上海申沃客车有限公司
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
金华青年汽车制造有限公司
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
东风汽车公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
江苏亚星客车集团有限公司
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
北方华德尼奥普兰客车股份有限公司
桂林客车工业集团公司
西安西沃客车有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
广州五十铃客车有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
中信机电制造公司
中型客车
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
郑州宇通集团有限责任公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
东风汽车公司
保定长安客车有限公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
江苏亚星客车集团有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
桂林客车工业集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
广州五十铃客车有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
四川南骏汽车有限公司
上海申沃客车有限公司
金华青年汽车制造有限公司
北方华德尼奥普兰客车股份有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
郑州轻型汽车制造厂
中信机电制造公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
中国第一汽车集团成都汽车制造厂
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
三一汽车制造有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
长城汽车股份有限公司
轻型客车
金杯汽车股份有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
沈阳中顺汽车有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
东风汽车公司
保定长安客车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
中国第一汽车集团成都汽车制造厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
北京北旅汽车制造有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
四川南骏汽车有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
成都王牌车辆股份有限公司
湖南省汽车制造有限责任公司
三一汽车制造有限公司
中信机电制造公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
半挂牵引车总计
≤25吨半挂牵引车
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
25-40吨半挂牵引车
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
安徽华菱重型汽车有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
>40吨半挂牵引车
中国重型汽车集团公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
非完整客车总计
大型客车非完整
中国第一汽车集团公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
东风汽车公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
辽宁凌源鸿凌汽车集团公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
中型客车非完整
东风汽车公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
南京汽车集团有限公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
重庆嘉陵特种装备有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
轻型客车非完整
东风汽车公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
辽宁凌源鸿凌汽车集团公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
郑州轻型汽车制造厂
非完整货车总计
重型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
安徽华菱重型汽车有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
中型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
轻型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
微型货车非完整
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司

^^ wow that's a lot you can choose from.

I think the list should cover all the domestic automakers, be it state-owned or not.


Why?

If a domestic Chinese automaker only were to produce cars above RMB1M AND nothing except coupe sportscars - even no limousines - like Spyker or Bugatti actually do, what would be the use of it as an official car?

What really does "middle level" mean? China is so big, has so many levels, 5 levels of administrative divisions alone and no doubt more levels of officials... "lower level", "middle level", "upper level" are uninformative.

RMB80G yearly budget and RMB180k ceiling would point at about 450 000 new official cars per year and a few million official cars for "middle level cadre".

How many cadres are "upper level" enough that they are allowed to buy sedans displacing over 1,8L?

Why?

If a domestic Chinese automaker only were to produce cars above RMB1M AND nothing except coupe sportscars - even no limousines - like Spyker or Bugatti actually do, what would be the use of it as an official car?

In this case, such kind of cars will definitely not appear on the list and I dont think the Chinese people would accept it either. However, the 99 pct of current homegrown brand products come complete in inexpensive small-size compact or mid-size sedans, hatchback and SUVs as it is, these models are exactly on the market segments the central govt looks to tilt to the domestic brands.


What really does "middle level" mean? China is so big, has so many levels, 5 levels of administrative divisions alone and no doubt more levels of officials... "lower level", "middle level", "upper level" are uninformative.

RMB80G yearly budget and RMB180k ceiling would point at about 450 000 new official cars per year and a few million official cars for "middle level cadre".

How many cadres are "upper level" enough that they are allowed to buy sedans displacing over 1,8L?

You throw me a curve with those questions. I think you've got your own answer. Yes, it's really indeed difficult to draw a line across all the govt officals to distinguish ones at middle level from others. In reality, the officals that are entitled to get their own allocated car might or might not be middle ranking. Put it another way, their titles dont come to much, the real power in their hands do matter.

Now that the government is telling the "middle level" officials to buy Chinese, what will they themselves be using?

Hongqi HQE was shown at shows for some time, and Hu Jintao wa driven in it already in October 2009. There have been talks of series production but they have not gone to results so far.

Shall series production of Hongqi HQE start now?

No, it doesn't yet and won't ever I think. There must be something wrong with it, at present I can't find any inside info thou. My guess is that Hongqi HQE prototype has strong RR-ish style in design and everyone at a glance at it would naturally relate it to a RR knock-off, so even if HQE's appearance design contains some aspects of Chinese styling, it's still hideous as a failed mixture and left such mark inevitably on both the Chinese people and outsiders, no good match for leaders of China as it is. And at the military parade 2009, the car was a classic looking Hongqi car rather then a HQE in fact.

^^
Following this comment:
Chinese companies not creative? Hire me!

Hongqi not creative? Lack of good artistic design? Hire Celebriton! :D

^^
Following this comment:

Hongqi not creative? Lack of good artistic design? Hire Celebriton! :D

:D

Show something and might get a go then.

:D

Show something and might get a go then.

Well, actually Celebriton is not a good drawer too. But at least I can take adviser position.......

And recommend Hongqi to employ designer from one of famous Italian designer house. Or may be we can make an international competition, like how Chinese government make a competition on Asian Games stadium design (and other buildings), accepting all designer around the world, and then selecting the best of it (or even combining several best designs into one). :lol:

Hongqi seems to be lost in company direction, they desperately need a man to point out which direction they need to go. :)

I'm applying for it!

Changan electric sedan joins Beijing taxi fleet
2012/3/13

http://i41.tinypic.com/ioi3qc.jpg

Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. has delivered 100 E30 compact electric cars to the municipality of Beijing for use as taxis in the suburban Fangshan district, the company said.

The E30 has a range of 160 km and a maximum speed of 126 km per hour. It received a five-star rating during a domestic crash test in January.

Changan's "green" lineup includes a conventional hybrid, a plug-in hybrid and a pure electric car. It aims to sell 650,000 alternative-fuel vehicles by 2020, including 150,000 pure electric vehicles.

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203122035151833.jpg

BYD to supply 1,500 EV taxis, buses to Shenzhen
2012/3/9

http://solarpanels-china.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/BYD-logo.jpg

SHENZHEN -- BYD Co. will supply 1,000 K9 electric buses and 500 e6 electric taxis to municipal fleets in the city of Shenzhen, where BYD is headquartered.

The Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission also announced that owners of conventional gasoline-powered cars will be required to pay emissions fees.

The city also is offering new incentives to encourage residents to purchase electric cars. The municipality hopes to encourage private customers to purchase 3,000 EVs and plug-in hybrids this year.

To encourage EV use, the city will install 6,000 new charging devices this year, while China's Southern Power Grid Co. will install rechargers at the owner's home and place of business free of charge.

EV owners also will be allowed to use the public bus lanes during rush hours.

In Shenzhen, residents are already eligible for a central government subsidy up to 60,000 yuan for an EV, or 50,000 yuan for a plug-in. The city of Shenzhen has offered to match those subsidies with its own.

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203082229052542.bmp

Chery's exports rise 36% in first 2 months
2012/3/13

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203122040438147.bmp

Chery Automobile Co., China's largest vehicle exporter, sold 22,858 vehicles overseas in the first two months of the year, up 36 percent from the same period last year.

The company generates most of its exports with the Chery Tiggo compact SUV, the A3 and Fulwin compact sedans, and the QQ microcar.

While increasing exports from China, Chery also has stepped up construction of overseas assembly plants. Last year, Chery's plant in Venezuela plant started production. The company is building a plant in Brazil that is scheduled to begin operating in September 2013.

According to Chery, 56 percent of the vehicles it sells overseas are semi- and complete-knockdown kits exported from China.

BAIC T60

http://www.carnewschina.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/beijing-auto-t60-0-458x335.jpg

http://www.carnewschina.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/beijing-auto-t60-2-458x305.jpg

http://www.carnewschina.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/beijing-auto-t60-4-458x328.jpg

This car really look very good!

The official website:
http://www.baicmotor.com/porduct_60_wg.shtml

BYD signs up Finland as electric bus customer (http://www.chinacartimes.com/2012/03/13/byd-signs-finland-electric-bus-customer/)

http://greenbigtruck.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/byd_ebus_qwestcenter.jpg

Veolia, the Finish public transport company, has inked a deal with BYD to supply electric buses to Espoo city, a suburb of Helsinki. As part of the agreement, Veolia Transport Finland will conduct real operations with BYD eBUS-12 in Espoo for three years. The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) will take the role of monitoring and measuring during BYD eBUS-12’s daily operations, so that EV buses can be verified as one of the key solutions for Veolia Transport Finland to ensure sustainable mobility solutions for the future.

Jeremy Lin is Volvo’s newest brand ambassador

fv5G-pJMaDA

It has finally been confirmed; rising National Basketball Association superstar Jeremy Lin has signed as a brand ambassador for Volvo not just for the Swedish carmaker's marketing initiatives in China but in the United States as well.

According to Freeman Shen, senior vice president of Volvo Car Corporation and chairman of Volvo Car China, Lin embodies the same values as the carmaker, like "being smart and nimble, driven and focused, progressive and strong in every sense."

"That's why the Linsanity sensation immediately drew our attention," shared Shen. "For Volvo Car Corporation, I'm sure the journey with Jeremy will be enjoyable and inspiring."

For his part, Lin said that the two main reasons he signed with Volvo is that he believes in the carmaker's foundation of offering high-quality products at an affordable price and that the company's continuous improvement is similar to how he continues to develop himself as a better basketball player and person.

"At the end of the day, this was a great decision and a great match for me," said Lin. "Hopefully, I can, along with Volvo, inspire young kids to pursue their dreams…their ambitions, and hopefully we can be a good role model."

Maxus heading down under

According to reports on the MotorReport.com.au, SAIC is planning to send their Maxus MPV/Van brand down to Australia in the next few months.

http://i6.hexunimg.cn/2011-09-10/133279204.jpg

Foton boosts investment in Indian plant

2012/3/20

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203192035178362.bmp

Beiqi Foton Motor Co., China's largest light commercial vehicle maker, says it will increase the investment in its Indian assembly plant by $98 million (617 million yuan).

That will increase its planned total investment in the plant to 3.0 billion yuan.

The plant will be built in the India state of Maharashtra.

According to the memorandum of understanding with the local government, the plant will make Foton's full product line including trucks, buses, pickups, SUVs and minivans.

The plant is due to start production in 2013 with an initial annual output of 96,000 vehicles.

Foton, a subsidiary of BAIC, sold 640,397 vehicles last year. Those sales included 496,545 light trucks.

Chinese companies acquire German latch maker

Three Chinese companies contracted last week to acquire German latch manufacturer Kiekert AG.

The acquisition is led by Hebei Lingyun Industrial Group Corp., a supplier of automotive exterior parts and drive shafts, Kiekert said in a statement.

Kiekert did not disclose the transaction price, and it did not identify the other Chinese companies involved in the acquisition.

Kiekert, headquartered in Heiligenhaus, Germany, owns factories in Germany, the Czech Republic, the United States and Mexico. It also has a wholly-owned plant in Changshu in east China's Jiangsu province, plus a joint venture with Henan North Xingguang in north China's Henan province.

Last year, Kiekert sold more than 41 million latches globally, which generated sales of 500 million euros (4.1 billion yuan).

FAW plans to build trucks in Russia

2012/3/16

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203152212031839.bmp

China FAW Group Corp., a major Chinese truckmaker, has signed a letter of intent with Russian automaker GAZ Group to establish a joint venture truck plant in Russia, according to The Beijing News.

The plant will build FAW's medium- and heavy-duty trucks, the daily newspaper reported, citing a source from the automaker's international division.

The trucks will be sold under the FAW brand and distributed through GAZ's sales networks.

Once operational, the plant will produce up to 10,000 trucks within three years, the newspaper reported.

Geely, Great Wall to sell low-cost cars in U.K.

Nick Gibbs | 2012/3/23

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203222147416238.jpg

LONDON -- Two Chinese automakers will use the United Kingdom as a testing ground for a push into Europe.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. and Great Wall Motor Co. will launch inexpensive vehicles in the United Kingdom this year. The companies believe they can benefit from growing demand for low-cost vehicles during tough economic times.

Geely's Emgrand EC7 compact recently earned four of five stars in the Euro NCAP, or New Car Assessment Program, safety testing. The Emgrand EC7 will go on sale in the United Kingdom by year end. It is similar in size to the Hyundai i30 but its price will start at 10,000 pounds (100,300 yuan) compared with 13,780 pounds for the i30.

Great Wall will launch its Steed double-cab pickup in the United Kingdom this month through a network of 35 dealers. The Steed will cost 13,998 pounds for the standard model, compared with 16,049 pounds for the entry version of the market leader, the Mitsubishi L200 double-cab.

Value for money

"People are looking for a value-for-money brand, a lower-cost option. In the U.K. automotive market, there's no one occupying that area anymore," Matthew Cheyne, Geely Auto UK market development director, told Automotive News Europe.

Paul Hegarty, managing director of Great Wall UK, said a move upscale by Hyundai and Kia had created a gap. He said the United Kingdom is "quite a receptive market" for new brands.

Great Wall has imported vehicles into Italy since 2006. In February, the company began production in a new Bulgarian factory that will have annual capacity of 50,000 units by 2013.

Hegarty said Great Wall is focusing on customer experience instead of high showroom standards for its U.K. dealers. One innovation is to offer test drives at the potential buyer's home or workplace.

A similar customer-friendly approach is planned by Geely, which has a link to the U.K. market through its 20 percent ownership of U.K. taxi maker Manganese Bronze Holdings PLC.

"We hope to deliver a slightly different customer proposition," Cheyne said. "Dealers will generally be small, independently owned businesses that are on first-name terms with their customers."

Geely is looking to establish a U.K. network of 30 to 40 dealers. It says its U.K. sales operations will be separate from those of Volvo Car Corp., which Geely bought from Ford in 2010.

Expanding lineup

Great Wall and Geely plan to expand their U.K. lineups.

Hegarty said he will "definitely" import the H6 Hover mid-sized SUV. Cheyne said Geely will look to introduce a subcompact car and SUVs.

The automakers are following MG Motor, which launched its first China-developed car, the MG6 compact, in the United Kingdom last year. The MG6 is built in Longbridge, England.

MG's parent, SAIC Motor Corp. of Shanghai, is investing heavily to give MG a broad product lineup targeted at Europe, including the MG3 small hatchback, MG5 compact and a crossover to rival the Nissan Qashqai.

SAIC inherited the Longbridge plant through its 2007 merger with Nanjing Automobile Corp., which had bought the site after MG Rover, Britain's biggest domestic carmaker, collapsed.

China's SAIC, Opel jointly develop small engines

2012/3/27

Partners SAIC Motor Corp. and General Motors are co-developing a family of three- and four-cylinder engines, with one of the engines expected to debut in an Opel minicar later this year.

The joint powertrain development project is the first between the companies.

The engines feature displacements ranging from 1 to 1.4 liters.
SAIC will produce the engines in China for use in its MG and Roewe brands. GM's Opel subsidiary will build the engines in Hungary.

The engines will improve fuel economy 10 percent over existing powerplants, Opel says. Torque will increase 20 percent, and the engines will comply with Euro 6 emissions standards and will have direct injection and turbocharging capability, Opel says.

Opel has not said which of its cars will be first to use the small engine. But the brand's new minicar, code-named Junior, is a strong candidate. The Junior is to be shown in September at the Paris auto show.

GM and SAIC also are developing a dual-clutch transmission. The transmission can accept torque of as many as 250 newton-meters initially, with bigger outputs planned in the future.

China BAK secures EV battery contract with unnamed Korean manufacturer

2012/4/10

SHENZEN -- China BAK Battery Inc., a Chinese supplier of lithium-based battery cells, says it has contracted to supply a major Korean electric motor manufacturer.

Under the contract, BAK will ship 300 high-power lithium ion battery units to the unidentified Korean manufacturer this month.

BAK, of Shenzhen, makes lithium batteries for EVs, power tools, computers, cell phones and other consumer products. It has factories in Shenzhen and Tianjin.

BAK has previously signed contracts to supply lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles built by two domestic automakers, Chery Automobile Co. and Dongfeng Yulon Motor Co.

Dongfeng Yulon Motor Co. is a 50-50 joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corp. and Taiwan's Yulon Motor Co.

Chery: Brazil supply chain to aid local production (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2012-04/09/content_15003748.htm)

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Carmaker Chery Automobile Co plans to build a complete supply chain in Brazil as it prepares to make cars in the South American country in 2013. In-country component manufacturing will help Chery avoid the high taxes levied on imported cars and assembled vehicles with little local content.


Chery said last month that it will establish an industrial park in Brazil that will be home to its own assembly plant and manufacturing facilities for the company’s suppliers.

The move comes in response to new rules by the Brazilian government to protect its domestic auto industry. The country raised import duties on cars by 30 percentage points to a maximum of 55 percent last year.

Automakers whose vehicles have at least 65 percent of their final value produced in Brazil are exempt from the high tax rate.

Analysts said the higher tax particularly hit Chinese and South Korean carmakers whose exports to Brazil have risen rapidly in recent years.

Chery had to cut its 2012 Brazil sales forecast by half to 30,000 units after the tax hike, close to the number it delivered last year, when about 33,000 of its total 160,000 exported vehicles were shipped to Brazil.

The company broke ground on its plant in Sao Paulo state last July. The $400 million plant is scheduled to become operational next year with an annual output of 50,000 vehicles at the outset, which could eventually rise to 150,000 units.

The Chery A1 and Fengyun 2 subcompacts will be produced first, according to the company.

Chinese media reports quoted Wu Dejun, deputy general manager of Chery International, saying that some Chinese suppliers will go to Brazil to research the market in June and July.

The company declined to offer details about how many and what components makers will operate in the industrial park.

“Formerly, when domestic carmakers expanded overseas, they often cooperated with local dealers to set up factories to assemble imported components because duties on parts are often lower than on vehicles,” said Cui Dongshu, deputy secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association.

“But that won’t work with the new tax policy from the Brazilian government,” he said.

“Domestic carmakers can truly gain a foothold in overseas markets only with local production – just like the case of foreign carmakers in China,” Cui added.

The company faces both opportunities and challenges ahead in Brazil, analysts said, noting that the market size offers great growth potential, yet competition is fierce.

Car sales in Brazil last year totaled about 3.4 million units, among which Chinese automakers had a combined share of about 3 percent. Chery wants a 3 percent share of its own by 2015 in the world’s fourth-largest auto market.

European carmakers Fiat and Volkswagen currently lead the market followed by GM, Ford and Renault.

“Brazil is basically a market of economical cars where Chinese automakers do not have a significant price advantage over competitors,” said Zhang Yu, director of industry consultancy Automotive Foresight (Shanghai) Co Ltd.

Brazil’s regulations are unlike those in China, which usually favor automakers. An example of the difference is regulations on car dealers in Brazil, which are well protected against arbitrary termination of contracts by automakers, Zhang said.

BAK and Chery Ink Battery Deal

INDUSTRY NEWS APRIL 11, 2012 AT 9:10 AM

China’s BAK Battery, the NASDAQ listed battery company that was founded just over 10 years ago has found a new partner in Chery. The Chinese auto company plans to buy 1000 lithium batteries from BAK over the course of 2012 to power its new Riich M1 small car. The Riich M1 is a compact city car that retails for around 40,000RMB, the cars small size makes it perfect for converting into an electric car. Test electric models have already been put on display in China at various auto shows and events around China.

The two companies are expected to strengthen their cooperation on electric car development over the course of 2012 with new products being mutually tested and developed. It is thought that Chery will become a long term partner to BAK in the developing of electric vehicles for the Chinese market and elsewhere.

BAK to supply EV batteries to Chery Automobile

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SHENZHEN -- China BAK Battery Inc. says it has signed a contract to supply 1,000 lithium ion battery packs this year to Chery Automobile Co. for its Ruilin M1 electric cars.

The contract is in addition to its agreement in February to produce 100 battery packs for Chery.

In a written statement, BAK CEO Xiangqian Li said the company expects additional orders for its batteries later this year.

BAK produces rechargeable batteries for EVs, power tools, cell phones, laptop computers and other consumer electronics. The company has battery plants in Shenzhen in southeast China, and in the northeast city of Tianjin.

Ricardo asisting China’s Shengrui with the development of a UK Technical Center

INDUSTRY NEWS APRIL 11, 2012 AT 6:00 PM

China’s Shengrui is an independent subsidiary of Weichai, one of China’s largest automobile components manufacturers. In 2010 the company announced plans to develop an automatic 8 speed gearbox which was a first for the Chinese auto market, until now nearly all Chinese auto manufacturers relied on third party technology for their automatic gearboxes with Hyundai or Aisin being the biggest donators of technology to Chinese cars.

Shengrui have worked hard to change the balance of the automatic gearbox market with their own self developed 8 speed unit, Shengrui turned to Ricardo for assistance with developing the gearbox with initial prototype production happening at Ricardo’s headquarters in the UK in late 2010. After two phases of prototype design which included development, manufacturing and testing by Ricardo the 8 speed auto box is being pushed towards mass production after passing environmental, durability and functional testing.

For their efforts in developing the gearbox Shengrui won the highly coveted China Patent Gold Award, one of just 15 products out of 700 entries to win the award.

The two companies have now signed an MoU which will see an enhancement of the collaboration between Ricardo and Shengrui as the two companies look for for further commercial opportunities in the products development which will see the 8sp gearbox modified to fit hybrid transmissions and also lower torque vehicles and also stop start variants. Ricardo will also assist Shengrui in the establishment of a virtual engineering center in the UK.

“Our long-standing collaboration with Shengrui provides an excellent demonstration of the manner in which Ricardo is able to provide highly effective support tailored to the precise requirements of clients and drawing upon our unique mix of skills and resources on a global basis,” said Ricardo plc executive director Mark Garrett. “Shengrui has strong ambitions to grow through the development of advanced technology products and we are ideally placed to assist them in this endeavour. The benefits of our collaboration to date can be seen in the form of the award winning 8AT transmission, and we look forward to helping Shengrui on the next phase of this leading Chinese company’s rapid and very successful development.”

Kuka robot sales jump in China as carmakers automate production

Bloomberg | 2012/4/17

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(Bloomberg) -- Kuka AG, Europe's largest maker of industrial robots, is creating a regional hub in China to tap surging sales in the world's most populous country, where rising wages are lifting demand for automated factory gear.

The German company will boost assembly capacity in China to 5,000 robots this year, from less than 1,000 two years ago, said company CEO Till Reuter.

China will become a center for procurement, production of components and assembly for the entire Asian region, while r&d and most production will remain in Germany, he said.

"China alone bought 15,000 robots last year, and we expect that number to rise to about 20,000 this year," Reuter said in an interview.

Rising wages, a push for quality, and demands for faster production are prompting China's manufacturing industry to buy more robots.

At Kuka, robotics revenue jumped 84 percent between 2009 and 2011, as customers include Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG bought equipment for new factories and China became the world's largest auto market. The company had record order intake, sales, and operating profit last year.

Automobile demand

While China doesn't publish broad data on wages, the government sets goals for minimum wage increases, targeting an annual rise of 13 percent for the five-year period through 2015.

Between 2000 and 2007, the measure almost doubled, according to the International Labor Office's global database.

Some 13 Chinese provinces raised minimum wages in the first quarter of 2011 by an average 21 percent, the ILO said in a January report, and wages will rise further over the medium term as labor force growth starts to slow for demographic reasons.

"Salary inflation is the driving force behind robot demand in China," said Michel Demare, ABB's chief financial officer, said in a Feb. 27 interview at company headquarters in Zurich.

ABB is Europe's second-largest industrial robot maker, and one out of three robots it sells goes to customers in Asia. The business had record deliveries in 2011, said Per-Vegard Nerseth, who heads the subsidiary, and he expects unit sales to rise further this year.

Japanese rivals also are preparing for the boom. Fanuc Corp., which sold 18,000 units in 2010, increased production capacity last year to 60,000 units. Yaskawa Electric Corp. said it is building new plants in Japan and China to meet rising demand.

China will leapfrog South Korea and Japan to become the largest robot market next year, according to an IFR forecast.

Haima Automobile's 2011 profit rises 8%

2012/4/22

Haima Automobile reported profits last year rose 8 percent to 590 million yuan ($93 million), the Chinese automotive Web site Gasgoo reports, citing the Securities Daily.

The automaker, headquartered on Hainan Island, reported sales of 11.2 billion yuan, up 10 percent from the previous year.

Haima boosted sales and profits by heavily marketing two models: the Haima7 SUV and the Family compact car. The automaker is to introduce a redesigned version of the Family this month.

SAIC-GM-Wuling to build microvans in Egypt, India.

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General Motors' Chinese microvan joint venture plans to launch production at two plants in India and Egypt using kits imported from China.

In July, SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile Co. will start producing the C300 microvan in Egypt using knockdown kits shipped from the venture's Qingdao plant, said Karl Slym, the venture's executive vice president.

In August, the joint venture's Indian plant will begin assembling the CN100 with kits supplied by its Liuzhou plant.

"This will give huge growth to our export volume," Slym said last week during a presentation in Beijing.

In China, the C300 is dubbed the Wuling Rongguang, while the CN100 is called the Wuling Hongguang. Both models are five-seat microvans, although the C300 is bigger than the CN100.

With the two CKD plants scheduled to begin production, SGMW expects to export more than 20,000 vehicles this year, up from 14,000 units in 2011, Slym said.

SGMW is headquartered in Liuzhou in southwest China's Guangxi region. SAIC Motor Corp. holds a controlling 50.1 stake, while General Motors holds a 44 percent share. The city of Liuzhou owns the remaining 5.9 percent stake.

As China's largest microvan maker, SGMW sold 1.3 million microvans last year, grabbing a 45 percent share of the domestic microvan segment.

Currently SGMW's major export markets are Egypt, Columbia, Ecuador, Chile and Peru.

Slowdown in China sales is just a blip
Amid forecasts of 30 million annual sales, automakers race to add capacity

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Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO

BEIJING -- It was inevitable, right? China was too hot not to cool down.

And this country's once-torrid auto market, which surged 54 percent in 2009 and another 33 percent in 2010, hasn't just slowed. In the first quarter, auto sales actually fell.

But global automakers are more gung-ho than ever. They will lavish ever-increasing amounts of money and executive attention on the world's largest market.

"There is tremendous growth coming," Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said last week at the Beijing auto show. "China is not a source of worry."

No, China is not a bust. In the plans of global automakers, China is booming, booming, booming. For proof, look at the blitz of new assembly plants, expanded dealer networks and new models announced at the Beijing show.

Behind all the optimism are expectations that car sales in the big cities of China's vast interior are poised for takeoff.

"In China there are 300 cities with more than a million residents, and we are present in only 187 cities," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi's global sales chief. "So we are still scratching the surface."

The consensus from Detroit to Wolfsburg to Tokyo: China's still hot. But the new normal will be annual market growth of 5 to 10 percent, not the double-digit pace of the past.

And that's just fine by most executives, who prefer moderate but steady growth to volatile peaks and valleys.

Said Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne: "The growth was too much, too quickly."

A slowing economy, high gasoline prices and the expiration of government incentives took a bite.

But things are moving fast enough. For perspective, go back to the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit in January 2011. Dazong Wang, a former General Motors executive and then the president of Beijing Automotive, caused a roomful of attendees to gasp when he predicted sales would hit 40 million units, including commercial vehicles, by 2020.

The year before sales had been about 18 million. Since then growth slowed dramatically. In 2011, sales grew only 2.5 percent to 18.5 million.

And in the first quarter of 2012, total sales slid 3.4 percent to 4.79 million, while light-vehicle sales dropped 1 percent.

So is Wang's giddy forecast ridiculed as irrational exuberance? No, it's just about everyone's forecast. Forty million, including 30 million passenger vehicles -- in eight years.

"It's the common view," said Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche.

"Everybody might be wrong," Zetsche added, "but assuming an average GDP growth rate of 8 percent, you almost can calculate how many people will come from a rural, agricultural background to an entry-industrial background, and how many people will go from this position to middle class, and how many people will rise to a more affluent level of purchasing power.

"And with that premise, you can almost make a calculation of how much car sales will increase. And it is reasonable."

But isn't that just a guess?

"Mid-term," Zetsche said, "you can very much rely on it."

China is No. 1

The consequences are huge for the world's automakers. If they just cling to existing market shares, their volumes will double. The center of their universe will shift inexorably to China.

For Zetsche's Mercedes-Benz, for example, the U.S. and German markets now are bigger than China, though not by much. What happens when China's passenger-vehicle market grows from 14 or 15 million units to 30 million?

"China will be our No. 1," said Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes' global sales boss. "In the U.S., sales are 14 million this year and 15 million next year, but not 30 million."

That is more or less the situation for any foreign automaker now in China. They won't need to poach customers from other brands to grow in such an environment, although latecomers such as Ford and Chrysler will try to take customers from others.

You think the global industry has tilted to China today? Just wait until the market is twice the size of the market in the United States. And you won't have to wait very long.

EV uncertainty

Risks still loom. For one thing, there could be a painstaking consolidation of domestic Chinese brands. And there might be trouble for any automaker that expands too quickly.

In the first quarter, light-vehicle sales in China dipped 1 percent to 3.77 million units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Last year sales of passenger vehicles climbed 5.2 percent to 14.5 million, while total vehicle sales, including buses and trucks, inched ahead just 2.5 percent to 18.5 million.

In a role reversal, China's tepid growth in 2011 actually trailed the 10 percent surge in U.S. light-vehicle sales.

But at the Beijing show, optimism was palpable.

Automakers announced dramatic plans to increase production and dealership networks.

Moving inland

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers predicts total auto sales will climb 8 percent to around 20 million units this year. But Shi Jianhua, the group's vice secretary general, cautioned that that may be optimistic. Automakers expect that inland sales will take off even as the more affluent areas along the coast become saturated with cars.

Automakers predict the next big boom in so-called Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, urban centers with populations of 500,000 to 2 million people.

Of the 660 urban centers in China, only four are the biggest so-called Tier 1 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The rest may have huge populations but still trail in per-capita income, infrastructure and cosmopolitan culture.

Those so-called Tier 2 and 3 metropolises are the sweet zone for new sales.

"They're just entering the strong growth period of their own," said Jim Press, a former Toyota and Chrysler executive now heading the China operations of U.S. dealership group McLarty Automotive. "Many of them do not even have dealerships yet.

"This is the gold rush of 2012."

McLarty started with 10 stores in China last year and is planning to increase that to 23 this year.

Reality check

But not all carmakers can cash in. Players such as Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru-brand cars, want to get in, but can't seem to.

Fuji Heavy has reportedly shelved plans to manufacture cars in China after being put on indefinite hold for governmental approval as China's car czars try to trim excess capacity.

The specter of overcapacity is a lingering concern.

Less than 80 percent of the automaking capacity in China for light vehicles, now at 15 million, currently is being used, estimates PwC.

But as sales pick up, that gap is expected to tighten steadily through at least 2018, the consulting firm predicts -- even though Nissan, Ford and others are building more plants.

Nissan's Carlos Ghosn speaks for many in dismissing the naysayers.

"There is one market in the world where there is plenty of space for many car manufacturers, and that is China, because it is a booming market and there is need for capacity," Ghosn said.

"China is a big forest. There is space for many tigers."

Chery, Bosch to form infotainment JV

2012/5/4

WUHU -- Chery Automobile Co. and Bosch China Investment Ltd. plan to set up a joint venture to develop and produce instrument clusters and infotainment systems for Chery vehicles.

To form the partnership, Bosch and Chery will acquire equity stakes in Atech Automotive (Wuhu) Co., a supplier of instrument clusters and infotainment components to Chery. Atech is in this east China city.

Bosch will own 60 percent of the venture, Chery will own 30 percent and Atech's existing owners will hold the remaining 10 percent, according to Chery.

The venture will start production this year.

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Chinese carmakers

Still in second gear

When will China produce a car brand people want to drive?

May 5th 2012 | BEIJING AND TIANJIN | from the print edition

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THREE hours’ drive from Beijing, Tianjin is home to the new assembly plant of Great Wall Motors. A banner along its outside wall declares the company’s motto: “Improving little by little every day”. Inside, signs everywhere urge workers to be inspired by the “Toyota Production System spirit”. Machines seem to outnumber people: labour is no longer cheap in coastal China. Banks of beefy robot welders, constrained in wire cages as if to stop them escaping, chug away relentlessly, making the human welders alongside look puny.

The Tianjin plant will eventually turn out up to 1m vehicles a year, adding to the 500,000 that the three plants in Great Wall’s home province of Hebei, to the west, can produce. The company, like every other domestic and foreign carmaker in China, is betting that what is now by far the world’s biggest automobile market—18.5m vehicles were sold there last year, compared with 13.1m in America—will keep on growing. In 2010 sales grew by a whopping 32%, boosted by a state stimulus scheme. Last year, after its expiry, growth was a meagre 2.5%. But it is expected to rebound to maybe 5-10% this year.

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Great Wall only just makes the top-ten list of Chinese carmakers (see chart 1). But already its pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) are being driven in Australia, Italy and several poorer countries. Its Steed double-cab pickup has just become the first Chinese-branded car to go on sale in Britain, for thousands of pounds less than the Japanese models it will compete against; Autocar magazine reckons it stacks up pretty well against its rivals.

As happened when Japan and South Korea set themselves up as carmaking nations, Chinese motors have had to endure derision and rejection over their design, safety and reliability. That now seems to be changing, even among Chinese buyers, for whom a foreign car has long been a status symbol. (Among the hottest current political gossip in China is the story of a Porsche-driving princeling’s speeding tickets.)

At the Beijing motor show, which wrapped up this week, the consensus among pundits was that the latest Chinese-branded models were a notable improvement on the shoddy knock-offs of Western cars exhibited at previous shows. At Great Wall’s stand, a young man in a leather jacket and sneakers inspects an SUV. His father already has an Audi A6, a big German saloon, he says, but has sent him to find a family runabout. And the Chinese brands seem worth a look now.

More than half of the cars and light vans sold in China have foreign badges on their bonnets (see chart 2). Most of these are made in joint-venture factories in China in which local firms have a stake but their foreign partners provide the technology and designs. Great Wall is one of the few Chinese makers to lack such a foreign partner.

Also unlike most domestic firms, it is largely privately owned, so it has not enjoyed the largesse the state and its banks bestow on the firms it owns. But lacking such crutches has made it try harder. Wenlin Xing, an executive at Great Wall, says it spent five years setting up a dealer network in Australia, and ten years in Britain.

A success, and a failure

Until the late 1970s China was making fewer than 3,000 passenger cars a year—barely enough to ferry the political elite between banquets. In 1989 it exported just six cars. Now, its motor industry supports millions of jobs. Some of China’s leading makers—including SAIC, Geely, Chery and JAC as well as Great Wall—are beginning to establish their brands overseas, especially in fast-growing emerging economies. Last year they exported almost 900,000 cars.

So, a fantastic success, then? Not when measured against the Chinese government’s ambitions. As described in a new book, “Designated Drivers: How China Plans to Dominate the Global Auto Industry”, by Greg Anderson, state planners intended, by 2010, to have “three or four large, globally competitive auto firms” like America and Japan, and for these to have their own successful brands and technology. Instead, the book notes, so far “even the most innovative of China’s independent automakers have relied heavily on copying, cost control and public relations to give the appearance of innovation.”

Japan and South Korea got their carmaking industries going by shutting foreigners out of their domestic markets, giving domestic brands a captive audience to practise on. China let in the foreign carmakers, but on condition that they worked with local partners. The idea was that the Chinese makers would by now have learned the knack of producing world-beating cars, and presumably be in a position to dump their foreign brides.

One reason this has not happened, explains Mr Anderson, is that the bosses of state-owned Chinese firms treat their jobs as stepping stones to higher political office, moving on to a senior party role after five years or so. Thus their motivation is short-term empire-building rather than fostering research and development to lay the foundations for long-term success.

Safer, but not yet desirable

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Surveys of foreign- and Chinese-branded cars’ mechanical faults, by J.D. Power, a market researcher, show that the local brands are now closing the reliability gap. Earlier attempts to export Chinese-branded cars to Europe, a few years ago, ended in disaster after their dismal failure in crash tests was broadcast on YouTube. But last November models from SAIC and Geely won high marks in crash tests by a European safety agency. Even so, changing motorists’ perceptions of the inferiority of domestically branded goods will take time.

Some of the big Chinese makers have realised that there is no point reinventing the wheel when there is so much foreign technology and design talent for sale. SAIC bought some remnants of Rover, Britain’s former state carmaker, and is using its designers to create promising new models. Geely bought Volvo from Ford, and can now combine its own Chinese market access and strong supply chain with Volvo’s technology and image-making savvy. BAIC is basing its new models on technology bought from Saab, another (now defunct) Swedish premium brand.

As Japanese and Korean carmakers have done, Chinese carmakers are also hiring European designers to help make their models distinctive. Styling, rather than technology or product quality, is now their weakest point, reckons Huaibin Lin of IHS, a forecaster. No Chinese firm has yet developed what those in the motor trade call a “design language” of its own (think of the unmistakable appearance of a BMW).

Chinese-branded cars may be getting better; but so are foreign-badged ones. The rich world’s carmakers are loading their models with ever fancier navigation, entertainment and safety gear. Chinese car-buyers, armed with smartphones and computers, scour the world to find out what is the best on offer, says Joe Hinrichs, Ford’s Asia-Pacific boss. And they insist on having it. Meanwhile the global giants’ adoption of standard “platforms”, on which a wide range of models can be built, combined with China’s rising wage bills, mean that Chinese makers’ cost advantages are fading. So Chinese-branded cars, having failed to reach a 50% share in their home market, may continue a recent trend of ceding ground to the foreigners.

China’s domestic car market, like America’s, is dominated by a handful of firms. But below them are dozens of smaller makers, which are suffering as new-car prices fall (they are already down by 30% since 2004) and stricter emissions rules require big investments in technology. It would make sense to let the weakest firms fail or be taken over. Mr Anderson notes that the government has repeatedly set out to consolidate the industry. But both national and local officials fear that the resulting job losses would cause instability, so progress has been modest.

No one knows how big China’s car market will eventually be. Estimates vary from 25m sales a year to three times that. Demand may be restrained if growing traffic congestion outpaces even China’s vigorous road-building programme. The rising cost of imported oil may force the government to do more to discourage road use; though so far its grand plans to switch from petrol to electric propulsion have gone nowhere (see article).

The Chinese government’s dream of dominating the world car market still seems distant. But every year more and more Chinese consumers find they are prosperous enough to afford a set of wheels, and no obstacle will stop them from buying one. The battle to make China more mobile has barely begun.

China’s SAIC eyes Thailand as RHD production hub

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Chinese auto giant SAIC Motor is looking to set up shop in Thailand, eyed as a right-hand drive production hub for export to RHD countries in ASEAN and beyond. SAIC is working with Thailand’s CP Group on this, Bangkok Post reported.

According to CP vice-chairman Thanakorn Seriburi, both parties will complete feasibility studies for the project by the fourth quarter this year.

“The study will include the cost of investment for making at least 50,000 passenger cars a year. The entry of the company would mean not only Chinese investment in the assembly plant, but also in auto parts,” Seriburi added.

Changan ready to enter into M'sia market

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Another Chinese sedan looks to be ready to enter the local market – reader Caddilac Wong spotted an example of the Chana Alsvin in Johor, and has kindly sent us photos of the parked trade-plated vehicle.

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The Alsvin is equipped with a JL475QD 1.5 litre DOHC mill, good for 97 hp at 5,500 rpm and 137 Nm of torque at 3,500 to 4,500 rpm, and transmission options for the car are a five-speed manual or, in the case of the vehicle in the photos, a four-speed auto.

Volvo gets financial support from Chinese bank

2012/5/8

The state-owned China Development Bank Corp. has agreed to finance Volvo Car Corp.'s r&d and production in China.

The deal will help Volvo to expand operations in China and develop electric-vehicle powertrains, Volvo CEO Stefan Jacoby said in a statement.

The Swedish automaker plans to establish a joint venture with its Chinese parent to build two assembly plants in China. It plans to sell up to 200,000 vehicles annually in China by 2015, up from 47,150 last year.

Volvo, which currently sells six models in China, will introduce 10 new models in China within six years.

FAW's small car unit aims to double output by 2015

2012/5/8

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201203152212031839.bmp

BEIJING -- Tianjin FAW Xiali Automobile Co. plans to boost annual output to 600,000 units by 2015, up from 253,000 units last year, a company executive said.

Tianjin FAW, the small-car subsidiary of China FAW Group, also plans to upgrade its product lineup, said Men Jun, the company's vice general manager. The company will launch nine new small cars, compact SUVs and pickups in the by 2015, with three due this year, Men said.

In December, FAW Xiali opened its first overseas assembly plant in Ethiopia. The plant builds vehicles with semi knock-down kits imported from China. The company also exports vehicles to Russia, Iran, Syria, Algeria, Mexico and Ecuador.

"We'll actively expand overseas to increase exports," said Men. "We'll build plants overseas whenever conditions are right for us to do so."

FAW Xiali, located in the north China port city of Tianjin, produces 1.0-liter, 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter gasoline cars under the Xiali, Weizhi and Vela brands.

Great Wall aims to boost exports 26% in 2012

2012/5/8

http://www.ileadmotorcars.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/GWM-Logo25.png

HIJIAZHUANG -- Great Wall Motor Co. says it plans to export 100,000 vehicles this year -- up from 79,277 units last year -- and up to 300,000 annually by 2015, the state-owned Xinhua news service reported.

However, Great Wall CEO Wang Fengying warned that the rising yuan could dampen exports, Xinhua reported. As of Friday, the yuan was trading at 6.29 per dollar.

Great Wall exports vehicles to a number of overseas markets, including Russia, South Africa, Australia, Chile and Italy.

This year, the company opened a CKD plant in Bulgaria that will produce 50,000 units annually. It also has begun selling its Steed double-cab pickup in the United Kingdom, and plans to export its Hover SUV to that market.

Chery expect car exports to hit 200k

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/chery-logo-250.jpg

Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile Co on Tuesday said it hopes to see vehicle exports hit 200,000 units this year. Jin Yibo, a company spokesman, said Chery will make efforts to export at least 170,000 units this year, and will try to achieve the 200,000-unit goal.

Chery’s worldwide sales reached 17,412 units in April, up 39.1 percent from March and 40.1 percent from the same period last year, Jin said, adding that exports are expected to exceed 20,000 units in May.

The company, based in east China’s Anhui province, has 16 production bases around the world and its products have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions.

Chery exported a record 160,200 vehicles last year, maintaining its status as a leading auto exporter in China.

In March, Chery and Indian-owned luxury carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced they had reached an agreement on setting up a joint venture in China, and the two sides will hold equal shares in the new company.

Chery opened a plant in Venezuela last August and is expected to start operations at another plant currently under construction in Brazil in September 2013.

The company has also announced plans to build assembly plants in Myanmar and several African countries.

http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-05/09/content_15245232.htm

China's April auto sales rise 13%, top estimates

Bloomberg News | 2012/5/11

(Bloomberg) -- China's passenger-vehicle sales rose more than analysts estimated for a second straight month, as Toyota Motor Corp. led a rebound by Japanese automakers from disruptions caused by the March earthquake last year.

Forecast unchanged

The association kept its forecast for total vehicle sales to increase 8 percent this year. The slump in demand during the first two months of the year led Gu Xianghua, a deputy to the secretary general at the association, to say on March 20 that growth may not even reach 5 percent in 2012.

Chery expect car exports to hit 200k

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/chery-logo-250.jpg

Wow! Congratulations to Chery. This carmaker is going places now. :)

Geely sought stake in Fuji Heavy, sources say

Reuters | 2012/5/18

http://www.autonewschina.com/images/I100201205172026064334.bmp

BEIJING (Reuters) -- Volvo Car Corp.'s Chinese owner offered to take a large minority stake in the Japanese maker of Subaru cars. The offer, which was never accepted, illustrates Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.'s efforts to gain technology to improve its cars.

Two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said Geely offered to buy a 20 percent stake in Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. late last year through an investment banking intermediary.

If the bid had succeeded, it could have paved the way for a joint-venture company in China to produce Subarus that now must be brought in from abroad.

By acquiring Volvo and bidding for Fuji Heavy, Geely wanted to use those companies' technology, design and manufacturing expertise to improve its cars.

Volvo is a premium brand and Geely's brands in China are affordable low-end brands. That leaves a midmarket gap in Geely's lineup, said Yale Zhang, head of Automotive Foresight, a Shanghai consulting firm.

Geely's interest in Fuji Heavy "sounds like a good strategy," Zhang said. "Fuji Heavy could have filled the gap in the middle of Geely's product offerings."

Chasing Chery

A 20 percent stake would have made the Hangzhou automaker the biggest shareholder in Fuji Heavy, ahead of Toyota Motor Corp., which has a 16.5 percent stake.

The sources said Fuji Heavy never responded to the offer.

Kenta Matsumoto, a Tokyo spokesman for Fuji Heavy, said he was unaware of an acquisition offer from Geely. A Geely spokesman declined to comment.

Fuji Heavy, known for its all-wheel-drive technology, had applied for a joint venture to produce cars in China with Chery Automobile Co., which has no foreign partner.

China requires foreign automakers to partner with a local company with a stake of as much as 50 percent to build vehicles in China for local consumption.

Biggest shareholder

Beijing objected to the move since it viewed Toyota Motor Corp. as effectively controlling Fuji Heavy. Toyota already has two local Chinese partners, the maximum number of joint ventures allowed for a foreign automaker in China.

This year, Chery announced that it picked Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of Indian group Tata Motors, as a possible joint-venture partner.

On Tuesday, Fuji Heavy executives said in Tokyo that the company no longer expected to produce vehicles in China during a five-year growth plan that runs until March 2016. The company lowered its global sales target for the final year by 50,000 vehicles.

Geely's offer, according to the knowledgeable individuals, was aimed at overtaking Toyota as the largest shareholder in Fuji Heavy, making it possible for the Chinese government to give the necessary blessing for Geely and Fuji Heavy to form a China joint venture.

Geely founder and chairman Li Shufu, who also is Volvo's chairman, was willing to reduce Geely's stake in Fuji Heavy once the joint venture was approved, the individuals said.

It was not immediately clear whether Geely had talked to Toyota before extending the acquisition offer to Fuji Heavy. Toyota spokesmen were not immediately available for comment.

Hong Kong molder, fabricator builds stamping plant in Wuhan

2012/5/18

HONG KONG -- Injection molder and metal fabricator Eva Precision Industrial Holdings Ltd. is building a factory complex in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to serve China's automotive market.

The project will help the company ease dependence on its exports business.

Eva Precision, of Hong Kong, said it will open the plant as a metal-stamping facility and may add plastic molding equipment. The company has more than 300 Japanese-made injection molding machines in several factories in China.

Initially Eva Precision will invest $51 million (322 million yuan) in the plant, which will employ 1,000 workers. Expansions will raise the company's investment to 1 billion yuan.

Construction began in March. The initial phase is to be completed next year.

Wuhan, in Hubei province, is a major vehicle-manufacturing center. Eva Precision said it would target local manufacturing plants of foreign and domestic brands, including Honda Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co., PSA Peugeot Citroen and Dongfeng Motor Corp.

SHACMAN to build plant in Brazil

2012/5/18

Shaanxi Automobile Group Co., SHACMAN, a Chinese heavy-duty truckmaker, plans to assemble trucks in Brazil from semi-knockdown kits shipped from China.

The plant will be set up as a joint venture with Brazilian truck dealer Metro-Shacman, according to the government of the northwest China province of Shaanxi.

The plant, to be built in Pernambuco state in northeastern Brazil, will start production in 2013 with initial annual output of 3,000 heavy-duty trucks.

Shaanxi Auto, of Xi'an in Shaanxi province, also plans production of key components in Brazil for its trucks assembled there.

In 2007, Shaanxi Auto started exporting trucks to Brazil through Metro-Shacman.

Last year, Shaanxi Auto sold 120,000 commercial vehicles worldwide, including 100,000 heavy-duty trucks.

Brazil has become a major export market for Chinese automakers. Chery Automobile Co., China's largest passenger-vehicle exporter, is building an assembly plant in Brazil.

Another Chinese light-vehicle maker, Jianghuai Automobile Co., plans to build an assembly plant in Brazil.

http://www.camionesybuses.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/SHACMAN_5177.jpg

Chery to build CKD plant in Vietnam

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/chery-logo-250.jpg

http://www.congthuong.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/en_US/web/english/trade-news/-/ext/articleview/article/231368/16135

Chinese homegrown automaker Chery Auto plans to set up a completely-knocked-down (CKD) plant in northern Vietnam, thus boosting the number of its overseas plants to 17, said a company source.

Vietnam's annual automobile sales currently stay at about 120,000 units and the annual sales figure is expected to reach 200,000 units in 2015 along with the country's expanding economy, said Chery.

Currently a good number of transnational automakers including Toyota, Ford, Daewoo, and Suzuki have set up assembly plants in Vietnam.

According to Chery spokesman Jin Yibo, the company's products to date have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions. During the period from 2001 to 2011, the average annual export growth of the Anhui-based automaker reached as high as 163 percent, maintaining its status as a leading auto exporter in China.

Automaker Planning to Promote its own brand
(CRI English, May 22)


Changan Automobile aims to tap into Russian, Brazilian markets

Rather than set up more joint ventures overseas, China Changan Automobile Group Co Ltd, China's largest national auto brand measured by output, is trying to introduce its independently made products and brands to other countries.

"We are looking at building automobile assembly plants in foreign markets including Russia and Brazil," said Xu Liuping, board chairman of the Shenzhen-listed Changan Automobile.

The company, after several years of researching and developing products tailored to overseas markets, will try to gain a larger global presence in the second half of the year.

Rather than trying to buy foreign brands, Changan will continue to explore the possibility of taking its independent capital, products and brands into foreign markets and of cooperating more with foreign business partners.

Owned by China's largest military industrial group, China South Industries Group Corp, the Chongqing-based automaker has concentrated on conducting independent research and development in auto manufacturing since 1984, when it went from being a maker of ordnance to one of vehicles.

Measured by the number of vehicles it produces under its independent brands, rather than through joint ventures with foreign partners, Changan Automobile outranks other Chinese automakers, according to data from the International Organization of Auto Vehicle Manufacturers. In 2010, it produced 1.76 million of its own vehicles.

The organization said the top five Chinese auto brands measured by production are Changan Automobile, Beijing Automotive Group, Dongfeng Motor Corp, FAW Group Corp and Chery Automobile Co Ltd.

By 2020, Changan plans to be able to produce 4 million automobiles annually under its independent brands, enough to meet demand from both domestic and foreign markets.

"We are targeting the Middle Eastern, Latin American and African markets," Xu said.

Changan now has six factories in Mexico, Egypt and other countries. Last year, its overseas operations generated 474.92 million yuan ($75.13 million) in revenues, down 9.59 percent year-on-year, according to the company's 2011 financial statement.

Similar to Changan Automobile, other Chinese car makers are also moving quicker to go abroad, seeking business opportunities overseas and working to become stronger competitors in the international market.

In general, companies in the automobile industry enter foreign markets either by taking part in joint ventures or by acquiring foreign brands.

Last year, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group tried to go through an investment-banking intermediary to buy a 20 percent stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the Japanese maker of Subaru cars, Reuters reported. The offer was not accepted.

In 2010, Zhejiang Geely used $1.8 billion to buy the Swedish carmaker Volvo.

Meanwhile, the Anhui province-based Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd announced a plan in November to spend $600 million on a 20 percent stake in a joint venture with SNS, a Brazilian network of automobile dealers.

The venture will result in the production of 100,000 passenger vehicles a year.

"Compared with domestic pioneers in the auto industry, Changan, which developed out of a military enterprise, is still a latecomer in international joint investment," Xu said. "We should learn more about how to increase the size and earning capacities of joint ventures.

"Meanwhile, it's not worthwhile to spend a lot on acquiring foreign technology, most of which might soon be outdated, since auto manufacturing techniques change so quickly."

Since 2001, Changan Automobile has established vehicle research and development centers in Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States.


http://english.cri.cn/6826/2012/05/22/191s701260.htm

Brilliance hires former Pininfarina designer
2012/5/22
http://static.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/images/article/200808/120997/Brilliance-logo-medium.jpg

Vicedomini, previously with Italian auto design house Pininfarina S.p.A., has 15 years of design experience. He led a Pininfarina team to design and modify several Brilliance models, including the Splendor and the H530 compact cars.

http://s3.paultan.org/image/Dimitri-Vicedomini-500x345.jpg

Brilliance, of Shenyang in northeast China's Liaoning province, sold 30,446 Brilliance-brand cars and 69,354 Jinbei vans in the first quarter.

Other domestic automakers also are hiring Western designers to upgrade their product lineups.

This year, Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp. hired former Ferrari designer Leonardo Fioravanti to advise it on car design. And Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. named Volvo's Peter Horbury as its design chief.

^^
Now that is a smart move!

I think I lost my career change to became China car company adviser.......

^^
Now that is a smart move!

I think I lost my career change to became China car company adviser.......

:lol:

Too early to say. You're young while he is kinda old.

Youngman quits talks to acquire Saab
(Shanghai Daily, May 24)


CHINESE auto company Youngman has quit the negotiations on purchasing Swedish car maker Saab with its bankruptcy administrators, Swedish newspaper Daily Industry reported yesterday.

According to a source, Saab's bankruptcy administrators were not sure if the bid would be ratified by the Chinese government, and their lack of confidence led to the end of Youngman's interest.

Meanwhile, talks with China's Consortium of Electronic Cars, which aimed to produce more than 100,000 hybrid cars within a year, have become the focus of the bankruptcy administrators, the newspaper said.

The consortium reportedly comprised a battery company and a car firm said to be BAIC which had earlier bought the Saab 9-3 electronic platform.


http://www.shanghaidaily.com/nsp/Business/2012/05/24/Youngman%2Bquits%2Btalks%2Bto%2Bacquire%2BSaab/

from ANR:


Last Updated :2012-05-25
Source:Xinhua

Luxury automaker BMW on Thursday launched a new plant in the northeast China city of Shenyang to further tap into the world's largest auto market. The capacity of the new 1.5-billion-euro plant, BMW's 25th worldwide and the second in China, will rise to 200,000 vehicles at the end of 2013, adding to the 100,000 cars currently produced at another factory in the Dadong district of Shenyang.

As one of BMW's top three markets worldwide, China offers tremendous potential for future growth, Norbert Reithofer, chief executive officer of BMW, said at the inauguration ceremony. BMW plans to further boost investment in China and purchase more parts from the Chinese market, Reithofer said. China was BMW's largest market by sales in the first quarter of this year, surpassing Germany and the United States, he said.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7265424182_551a62c5af_b.jpg
BMW Brilliance Joint Venture Shenyang, China

It's Time for "Re-manufactured in China"
(China Economic, May 21)


"Made in China" has created miracles. Now, can "Re-manufactured in China" achieve the same glory? Re-manufacturing is an advanced mode of the recycling economy. Through lot production by professional repair of used car parts, engineering machinery, and machine tools, re-manufacturing can save energy by 60 percent, materials by 70 percent, cost by 50 percent, and emission into the air by 80 percent, while the quality and performance of the re-manufactured products are as good as, if not better than, new products.

Developing re-manufacturing is of great significance energy conservation and environment protection; moreover, it is an important impetus for promoting the upgrade of the manufacturing and modern service industries and the reform of the economy. China's re-manufacturing is materializing, with energetic development prospect.


Enterprises: eager to try and act

What really encouraged Ge Hong, deputy secretary general of China Internal Combustion Engine Industry Association (CICEIA), was that: in the internal combustion engine remanufacturing industry development seminar organized by CICEIA in 2011, the 70 chairs in the meeting, originally considered sufficient, were not enough. "More than 100 people took part in the meeting. Those who didn't grab a seat just stood in the back until the end of the meeting", said Ge Hong, "It reflects that people are paying more attention to remanufacturing and that market demand is increasing".

From March 19 to 23, 2012, a survey team led by Ge Hong conducted a survey in 8 major internal combustion engines remanufacturing enterprises in 6 cities in 5 provinces. According to Ge Hong, there are currently 3 types of internal combustion engine re-manufacturing enterprises in China: manufacturer service providers, upgraded extensive repair enterprises, and industrial chain of manufacturing base.



"Generally speaking, China's internal combustion engine re-manufacturing industry possesses an excellent foundation for industrial development; re-manufacturing enterprises have established numerous characteristic products and technologies and the recycling system is improving. Some production capacity has been established", said Ge Hong in conclusion of their survey.

Nonetheless, some key technology standards still need to be improved, the industrial support system is incomplete, and industrial administration and polices need to be updated. These are some of the problems that are impeding the thriving development of the internal combustion engine re-manufacturing industry. "Enterprises, in particular, should make continuous effort to improve technology system and standard system, enhance discipline, carry out stringent requirements, and promote the standardization of the re-manufacturing market", appealed Ge Hong.

Re manufacturing of internal combustion engine possesses a very important position in the re-manufacturing sector. It can reflect the development status of the entire industry. Currently, China possesses a re-manufacturing capacity of an aggregate of 230,000 units of automobile engine, transmission, steering gear, and power generator. Besides, China's automatic nanometer particle recombination brushing electroplating, among other technologies, has reached international advanced standard.

According to survey, friction and erosion cause about 10 percent of GDP loss in China every year. The number is 4 or 5 percent in developed countries. In face of the gigantic development space, many companies are, as Ge Hong describes, "rubbing their fists and wiping their palms and eager to start action".



Pattern: Chinese characteristics possess advantages

It's necessary to have a clear understanding of the concept of re-manufacturing before we can establish a re-manufacturing pattern with Chinese characteristics. Professor Yi Xinqian, consultant and director of the expert commission of the Maintenance and Re-manufacturing Division of China Construction Machinery Association, says that, take engineering machinery as an example, many companies are beginning to take action, but they don't have a very clear understanding of the concept of remanufacturing, frequently mixing the concept of re-manufacturing with machinery repairing.

From the perspective of consumers, re-manufacturing has not yet gained extensive recognition in society. A survey shows that only 10 percent of the people who are surveyed understand clearly the re-manufacturing of car parts, and 45 percent know nothing about it, with many holding suspicious or even denying attitude towards re-manufactured products. This somewhat reflects the public's lack of professional understanding of re-manufacturing. "Only by making manufacturers and consumers correctly aware of re-manufacturing can the development foundation for the re-manufacturing industry be consolidated", said Yi Xinqian.

For re-manufacturing companies, they also need to establish the idea of collaboration. "General parts of engineering machinery are manufactured by specialized enterprises. Therefore it is neither possible nor economic for a single enterprise to re-manufacture whole engineering machine. Developing re-manufacturing industrial cluster is a good option", said Yi Xinqian.

Presently, Wuhan has already established China's first re-manufacturing base that features engineering machinery. It attracts companies of engineering machinery re-manufacturing, parts and accessories production, and storage and logistics, forming an industrial cluster of engineering machinery re-manufacturing.



Policy: thorough optimization centering on the industry

In 2008, the National Development and Reform Commission approved 14 enterprises, including Dongfeng Cummings and Weichai Power, to be the pilot companies of the car parts re-manufacturing industry; in 2009, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology designated 35 enterprises and industrial cluster regions to be the first pilots for the re-manufacturing of electro-mechanical products; in 2010, 11 ministries and commissions, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Science and Technology, published the Opinions on Promoting the Development of the Re-manufacturing Industry; in 2011, the Outline of the 12th Five-Year Plan passed by the National People's Congress listed the re-manufacturing industry as one of the key projects of the recycling economy.



In September 2011, the National Development and Reform Commission issued the Notice on Deepening Work of Re-manufacturing Pilots, making it clear that the products category and pilot range will be further expanded, policy support will be enhanced, and the formulation of Re-manufacturing Products Catalogue will be accelerated.

Currently, industrial associations are playing a vitally important communication role in promoting the development of the re-manufacturing industry. Yi Xinqian points out that, on one hand, industrial associations introduce the government's policy and procedures about the development of the re-manufacturing industry to enterprises, guiding them to choose the correct technology path and direction; on the other hand, industrial associations also help enterprises to seek help from universities, colleges, and research institutes regarding technology problems that enterprises come across, facilitating the integration of production, academy, and research.

"With support from every side, enterprises should also enhance their responsibility", said Yi Xinqian with sentiments, "Enterprises engaged in re-manufacturing should have strong social responsibility, and have a firm grasp of the profound significance of this industry on the development of the economy and society".



http://en.ce.cn/Insight/201205/21/t20120521_23340879.shtml

Toyota eyes growth in emerging markets
(Shanghai Daily/Xinhua, May 25)


TOKYO, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Toyota is eyeing emerging markets for growth, targeting 50 percent of its global vehicle sales there by 2015.

Toyota Motor Corp. already sells more than 3 million vehicles a year in emerging markets, making up 45 percent of its global sales.

The Japanese top automaker also said Friday that it planned to launch eight compact cars specifically targeting emerging economies, and achieve a target of selling more than 1 million units annually in over 100 countries by 2015.

The company plans to release the eight models in countries such as China, and member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations. And the price will be at around 1 million yen or above, Toyota officials said.

Meanwhile, Toyota will boost its Indian output capacity from the current 210,000 units a year to 310,000 units in 2013. It will also open a new plant in Brazil later this year.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.asp?id=72988

If the sentence gets cut this way, yeah, it does. :D

What it actually says is the list was put forward during the weekend.



I think the list should cover all the domestic automakers, be it state-owned or not.

I list some of them, some relatively big ones but not all (You know there are so many automakers in China that counting the specific number is really a headache).

Anhui: Chery, JAC
Beijing: BAIC
Chongqing: Chana, Lifan
Fujian: FJmotor/Soueast
Guangdong: GAC, BYD
Hebei: GWM (Great Wall), ZXAuto, SHAuto
Hubei: Dongfeng
Jilin: FAW
Liaoning: Brilliance, SGAuto
Shandong: Hawtai
Shanghai: SAIC
Zhejiang: Geely, Youngman, Zotye


Below is the whole list (in Chinese though):
上海大众汽车有限公司
一汽-大众汽车有限公司
上海通用汽车有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
北京现代汽车有限公司
天津一汽夏利汽车股份有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
广州本田汽车有限公司
神龙汽车有限公司
浙江吉利控股集团有限公司
东风日产乘用车部
长安福特汽车有限公司
重庆长安铃木汽车有限公司
上海通用东岳汽车有限公司
东风悦达起亚汽车有限公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
比亚迪汽车有限责任公司
一汽轿车股份有限公司
一汽海南汽车有限公司
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
东风本田汽车有限公司
华晨宝马汽车有限公司
广州丰田汽车有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
湖南江南汽车制造有限公司
重庆力帆乘用车有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
一汽华利(天津)汽车有限公司
贵州青年云雀汽车有限公司
吉林通田汽车有限公司
多功能车（MPV）
上海通用(沈阳)北盛汽车有限公司
广州本田汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
东风汽车公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
一汽海南汽车有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
上海大众汽车有限公司
东风悦达起亚汽车有限公司
一汽-大众汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
广州宝龙集团轻型汽车制造有限公司
上海通用汽车有限公司
两驱运动型多用途车（SUV）
长城汽车股份有限公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
湖南长丰汽车制造股份有限公司
郴州吉奥南燕驰峰汽车有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
东风汽车公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
荣城华泰汽车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
四川汽车工业集团公司
庆铃汽车股份有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
沈阳富桑黑豹有限责任公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
广州宝龙集团轻型汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
四驱运动型多用途车（SUV）
东风本田汽车有限公司
北京现代汽车有限公司
湖南长丰汽车制造股份有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
荣城华泰汽车有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
东风汽车公司
奇瑞汽车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
福建八闽汽车总厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
交叉型车
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
南京长安汽车有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
陕西飞机工业(集团)有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
北京奔驰-戴姆勒.克莱斯勒汽车有限公司
上汽汽车股份有限公司仪征分公司

商用车总计
货车总计
重型货车
中国重型汽车集团公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
中型货车
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
山东凯马汽车制造有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
轻型货车
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
东风汽车公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
长城汽车股份有限公司
山东凯马汽车制造有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
淄博汽车制造厂有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
成都王牌汽车股份有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
烟台亚曼汽车有限公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
云南金马农用车制造总厂
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
重庆嘉陵特种装备有限公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
云南金马机械总厂
湖南省汽车制造有限责任公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
微型货车
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
哈飞汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
江西昌河汽车股份有限公司
河北中兴汽车制造有限公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
郴州吉奥南燕驰峰汽车有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
南京长安汽车有限公司
东风汽车公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
浙江吉利控股集团有限公司
陕西飞机工业(集团)有限公司
沈阳富桑黑豹有限责任公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
烟台亚曼汽车有限公司
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
客车总计
大型客车
郑州宇通集团有限责任公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
上海申沃客车有限公司
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
金华青年汽车制造有限公司
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
东风汽车公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
江苏亚星客车集团有限公司
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
北方华德尼奥普兰客车股份有限公司
桂林客车工业集团公司
西安西沃客车有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
广州五十铃客车有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
中信机电制造公司
中型客车
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
郑州宇通集团有限责任公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
东风汽车公司
保定长安客车有限公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
江苏亚星客车集团有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
桂林客车工业集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
广州五十铃客车有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
四川南骏汽车有限公司
上海申沃客车有限公司
金华青年汽车制造有限公司
北方华德尼奥普兰客车股份有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
郑州轻型汽车制造厂
中信机电制造公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
中国第一汽车集团成都汽车制造厂
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
三一汽车制造有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
长城汽车股份有限公司
轻型客车
金杯汽车股份有限公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
东南(福建)汽车工业有限公司
沈阳中顺汽车有限公司
*一汽丰田销售公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
金龙联合汽车工业(苏州)有限公司
东风汽车公司
保定长安客车有限公司
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
广州羊城汽车有限公司
浙江飞碟客车制造有限公司
江西消防车辆制造厂
扬州亚星客车股份有限公司
重庆力帆汽车有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司
天津天汽集团美亚汽车制造有限公司
中国第一汽车集团成都汽车制造厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
湖南省三湘客车集团有限公司
福建新龙马汽车股份有限公司
北京北旅汽车制造有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
四川汽车工业集团有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
四川南骏汽车有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
成都王牌车辆股份有限公司
湖南省汽车制造有限责任公司
三一汽车制造有限公司
中信机电制造公司
东安黑豹股份有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
江西华翔富奇汽车有限公司
半挂牵引车总计
≤25吨半挂牵引车
中国第一汽车集团公司
东风汽车公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
湖北三环专用汽车有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
25-40吨半挂牵引车
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
安徽华菱重型汽车有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
山西省汽车工业集团有限责任公司
>40吨半挂牵引车
中国重型汽车集团公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
包头北方奔驰重型汽车有限责任公司
东风汽车公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
非完整客车总计
大型客车非完整
中国第一汽车集团公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
东风汽车公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
辽宁凌源鸿凌汽车集团公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
中型客车非完整
东风汽车公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
南京汽车集团有限公司
福建新福达汽车工业有限公司
重庆嘉陵特种装备有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
北京中大燕京汽车有限公司
安徽安凯汽车股份有限公司
常州长江客车集团有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
沈阳飞机工业(集团)有限公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
广州骏威客车有限公司
轻型客车非完整
东风汽车公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
湖南汽车车桥厂
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
芜湖一汽扬子汽车制造有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
四川银河汽车集团有限责任公司
辽宁凌源鸿凌汽车集团公司
精功镇江汽车制造有限公司
郑州轻型汽车制造厂
非完整货车总计
重型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
陕西汽车集团有限责任公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
安徽华菱重型汽车有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国一拖集团有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
河北长征汽车制造有限公司
湖北三江航天万山特种车辆有限公司
上海汇众汽车制造有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
中型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
北汽福田汽车股份有限公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
中国重型汽车集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
重庆红岩汽车集团有限责任公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
南京春兰汽车制造有限公司
轻型货车非完整
东风汽车公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
丹东黄海汽车有限责任公司
庆铃汽车(集团)有限公司
一汽红塔云南汽车制造有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
成都新大地汽车有限责任公司
江西江铃汽车控股有限公司
武汉中誉汽车有限公司
安徽江淮汽车集团有限公司
汉阳特种汽车制造厂
北京汽车制造厂有限公司
微型货车非完整
上汽通用五菱汽车股份有限公司
金杯汽车股份有限公司
中国第一汽车集团公司
南京汽车集团有限公司
长安汽车(集团)有限责任公司

That is the problem of China's auto industry - too many small companies and no economy of scale.

Changan considers plants in Russia, Brazil
2012/5/25

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Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. is considering a plan to build assembly plants in Russia and Brazil, the state-owned China Daily reports, citing a company executive.

Xu Liuping, board chairman of Changan Automobile, told the newspaper that the company will announce its overseas plans in the second half of this year.

"We are looking at building automobile assembly plants in foreign markets including Russia and Brazil," Xu said.

The automaker also is targeting the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, he said.

Changan has six factories in Mexico, Egypt and other countries, according to China Daily.

The company also operates technical centers in the United Kingdom and in suburban Detroit. The U.K. facility designs engines, while the U.S. center studies suspension and chassis design.

Changan, headquartered in the southwest city of Chongqing, is China's largest producer of domestic-brand vehicles.

Bankrupt Saab attracts bid from China-Japan investor group
Bloomberg News | 2012/5/26

STOCKHOLM -- A group led by a Chinese energy company and a Japanese venture capital firm has placed a bid for bankrupt Swedish carmaker Saab, a spokesman for the investing team said.

The two main parties in the group are Sun Investment, a Japanese firm that specializes in high-tech environmental projects, and National Modern Energy Holdings Ltd., which has roots in Hong Kong. National Modern Energy builds and owns power plants.

"We have placed a bid, and we want to buy Saab and build cars," Mattias Bergman, a spokesman for the group, said today. "We're interested in what Saab's brand stands for, the innovation and competence in the company, and the production facility that's world class."

The bidding group has additional participants, Bergman said, declining to identify them.

The group has formed a company called National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB "with the only purpose of buying Saab's assets." Karl-Erling Trogen, a former Volvo AB executive, is chairman.

Bergman declined to talk about the size of the bid or the group's business plan, including whether the investors primarily aim to build electric cars. "Our name is National Electric Vehicle Sweden, but I can't talk about the technologies at this point," he said.

Other companies that have shown interest in buying Saab since the bankruptcy include China's Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., India's biggest sport utility vehicle manufacturer.

Youngman may be out of the bidding, Swedish newspaper Dagens Industri reported on May 23.

Saab filed for bankruptcy in December after running out of cash. General Motors sold the Trollhaettan, Sweden-based company in 2010 to the Dutch sports car maker Spyker. Saab hasn't made cars since last year, after an initial production halt in March 2011.

SAIC board OKs sale of 1% joint-venture equity to GM
Bloomberg News | 2012/5/26

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Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. said it has approved selling back to General Motors Co. 1 percent ownership in their joint venture for $91.4 million (580 million yuan).

SAIC disclosed terms of the deal, which included yearly interest of 4.86 percent, Friday on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Website. SAIC's board approved the transfer on May 24, said GM spokeswoman Lori Arpin.

The deal, which still requires Chinese government approval, restores GM's ability to have equal say on operational decisions in China, three years after it ceded control of the venture by selling a 1 percent stake for $85 million.

GM, which sold more vehicles worldwide than any other carmaker last year, wants to double deliveries in China to 5 million vehicles by 2015.

The two partners said in April they were close to a deal involving the split of Shanghai GM into two units. Both partners would hold equal stakes in the operations unit, while SAIC retains a 51 percent majority in the sales arm.

That would allow the Chinese company to include the venture's revenue in its financial statements, the companies said in April.

Deeper ties
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said at the time that GM's ability to regain equal control of the joint venture would be an "extremely important" development to help GM roll out global platforms and coordinate product strategy.

The deal also would pave the way for the two partners to deepen ties and enhance GM management's credibility, Jonas wrote in an April 19 report.

GM, whose first-quarter profit slid 61 percent as losses at its European unit widened, increased deliveries in China 9.4 percent to 972,369 vehicles during the first four months of the year.

The partnership began with equal ownership between the two companies. In 2009, GM sold its stake in Shanghai GM as the Detroit-based parent underwent bankruptcy reorganization in the United States.

When are they going to consolidate into a small number of car manufacturers?