Entries Tagged 'China Automotive Movement News' ↓

By George Gao  From:Gasgoo.com

Changan Ford Mazda is set to debut its all-new Ford Fiesta sedan and hatchback at the Guangzhou auto show this week. According to a sales executive of the joint venture, the new Ford Fiesta will hit the China market in early 2009, said xinhuanet.com today.

The New Ford Fiesta will hold its global appeal because of its dynamic features created by the bold “kinetic design.” Ford’s acclaimed dynamics engineers responsible for fine-tuning the Focus and Mondeo model’s driving dynamics have worked extensively to enhance Fiesta’s ride comfort and to give the new model an impressively quiet driving quality.

The New Fiesta is Ford’s third model of “kinetic design” after the S-MAX and Mondeo. It is based on Ford’s B2 platform that underpins the latest Mazda 2. Its Chinese production might have started in 2008 at Changan Ford Mazda Auto’s plant in Nanjing. The China-made New Fiesta is likely to carry 1.4L and 1.6L engines.

In the French market, Europe Ford has recently announced the price of its new Fiesta models, which will sell for an equivalent of 120,000 yuan ($17,570) to 140,000 yuan. The Chinese-made new Ford Fiesta will be available to local buyers at a lower price early next year. Its launch was originally slated for December this year, but delayed due to the financial crisis.

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The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) 2009 will host at least two Chinese automakers. One makes an encore appearance; a second is a newcomer to the NAIAS.

Brilliance Auto, BMW’s Chinese partner, will make its first appearance at the NAIAS - and its first appearance at any North American auto show. BYD, which made its debut at NAIAS 2008, is back for a return engagement.

The NAIAS has been a leader among North American auto shows in attracting Chinese automakers to the U.S. At NAIAS 2007, Changfeng Motor became the first Chinese auto manufacturer to exhibit in Detroit or any other North American auto show. The company’s press conference, held in Cobo Center’s concourse, was jam-packed with reporters peering over the upper levels for a view. Changfeng returned to NAIAS in 2008 and was joined by BYD.

Brilliance and BYD will later reveal details of vehicle debuts and models on display.

Brilliance has appeared at shows in its native China as well as in Europe, where it currently sells vehicles. The automaker intends to eventually sell vehicles in the U.S. In China, Brilliance builds the 3 Series and 5 Series for BMW to sell in the country. It also builds and sells its own Zhonghua brand of vehicles. A Brilliance subsidiary builds Toyota models under license for the Chinese market.

BYD - which translates to Build Your Dreams - is a young company, established in 1995 as a battery maker. It quickly has become one of the world’s largest producers of rechargeable batteries and claims a 30 percent share of the world’s cell phone battery market.

In 2003, BYD entered China’s burgeoning car business by buying bankrupt government-owned automaker Qinchan. While the automaker has established a presence at other international auto shows in China and Europe, the NAIAS is the only show at which BYD has exhibited.

BYD recently got a shot in the arm when American billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings paid $230 million for a 10-percent stake in the automaker to support its green technologies. BYD, using its immense battery expertise, is developing electric-hybrid cars that it expects to sell in China later this year, Europe and Israel by 2010 and eventually North America.

NewsFlash and ShowTalk Go Digital This year, the Auto Show’s key industry publications are being designed and delivered in a digital format. This move reflects the Auto Show’s commitment to deliver both event and industry-related news in a more timely and productive way. The new approach to NewsFlash and ShowTalk is part of a larger auto show communications’ initiative that will be implemented beginning in 2009. Experience more at the new Auto Show web site, www.naias.com.

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By Kelly From:Gasgoo.com                                           November 14, 2008

Shanghai, November 14 (Gasgoo.com) The troubled US auto giant General Motors (GM) is now choosing to depend more on the Chinese market.

“The financial crisis badly hits GM, but it will not affect GM China business,” GM China president Kevin Wale told Beijing Times, “GM will introduce 10 new models to produce and sell in China within three years.”

According to Kevin Wale, from 2009 to 2011 GM will bring each five new models for Buick and Chevrolet brands, including the new heavyweight Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Cruze.

The financial crisis mainly impacts GM in the North American market, but it hasn’t affected GM’s business in China, Kevin Wale said.

GM China and GM’s eight joint ventures in China have enough capital for investment, he added.

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1.FAW VW - 40610 units

Best selling by model : Santana - 15,101 ; Sagitar (Cureent Vento sedan)- 6,957 ; Audi A6 - 6,903 ; Magotan (passat) - 3,981 ; Bora - 4168 ; New Bora - 969.

2.CS VW - 38088 units

Best selling by model : Passat - 9,038 ; Santana3000 - 4497 ; Santana Vista - 5516 ; Polo - 6836 ; Skoda Octavia - 4785 ; Lavida - 6514

3.Shanghai GM - 32661

Best selling model : Buick Excelle - 13796 ; Chevrolet Loha - 7086 ; Buick Lacrosse - 3600 ; Chevrolet Epica - 3241

4.Dongfeng Nissan - 32257

Best selling model : Tiida Sedan - 6372 ; Livina - 6984 ; Bluebird Sylphy - 4028 ; Tiida - 6372 ; New Teana - 5501

5.FAW Toyota - 31253

Best selling model : New Corolla - 14706 ; Corolla EX (old Corolla) - 3879 ; Crown - 4170 ; New vios - 2143 ; Reiz - 4721

6.Guangzhou Honda - 25025

Best selling model : Accord : 13730 ; New Fit 4733 ; City 4039

7.Chery - 25023

Best selling model : QQ - 8755 ; Cowin - 1873 ; A1 - 1158 ; Tiggo - 5078 ; A3 2262

8.BYD auto - 24416

Best selling model : F3 - 15343 ; F0 - 7059 ; F6 - 1394

9.Beijing Hyundai - 24003

Best selling model : Old Elantra 9224 ; New Elantra - 8425 ; Santa Fe - 2540 ; Accent - 2523

10.Geely - 16226

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Joint-venture carmaker Beijing Hyundai Motor Company plans to launch the new-generation Sonata with the code name of NFC in late 2008 or early 2009, with a view to further expanding in the segment medium- and high-end vehicle market.

Co-founded by Beijing Automobile Investment Co., Ltd. and Hyundai Corporation of South Korea on October 18, 2002, Beijing Hyundai Motor owns a total registered capital of USD 886.8 million.

Presently, the company faces a great challenge of brand cognition upgrade now, so it will insist on the regular debut of new products in the near future, said the Beijing Hyundai Motor General Manager J.M. Noh.

As a hi-tech sedan model focusing on the Chinese market, NFC is revised from the Sonata car model, which was developed as early as 1985, and has munch advantage in engine, safety, and collocation. It is expected to elevate the power efficiency by 13%, while the oil consumption will decrease 6%.

Beijing Hyundai Motor expects that more customers can be charmed by such a significant product, on the background of furious competition in China’s medium- and high-end vehicle market, said people with the direct knowledge of the matter.

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(Gasgoo.com) Porsche’s new luxury sedan Panamera will be introduced to China by the fourth quarter of 2009 after it’s launched globally by the third quarter of next year, Beijing News reported today, citing Porsche China.

Porsche China general manager Helmut Broeker said Panamera, as Porsche’s first four-door sporty car, will combine the quality of high-perfomance sporty sedan and MPV and will rival the same level models such as BMW 7-series and Audi A8. Porsche hopes that Panamera sales can be equal to the sales of the current Cayenne SUV when introduced in China, Helmut Broeker noted.

Panamera reportedly will use the 4.8-liter V8 variants found in the current Cayenne SUV. And like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Porsche has also announced its intention to add a hybrid sedan to its lineup. The Porsche Panamera Hybrid will use the same system slated for the Cayenne Hybrid and is expected to arrive in China later.

Porsche sold around 6,500 cars in China from January to October this year and its sales are expected to reach 7,000 units for the whole year, according to Helmut Broeker. Porsche China will also increase its dealerships in China to 30 by adding three by the year end.

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Dongfeng-Peugeot, a Chinese joint venture between PSA and Dongfeng Corporation will launch a new model, the 207 sedan this month.

Technical details are sketchy, but this car, just like the 207 Brasil which was introduced earlier this year is a 206 with the nose of the 207. It is expected that the new model will complement the existing 307 Sedan, which is also being built in China.

source: worldcarinfo.com

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By George Gao From:Gasgoo.com

The all-new Nissan X-Trail SUV made in China goes on sale in Beijing today, said the Beijing News. The locally made X-Trail will come to the Chinese market in 2.0L and 2.5L versions, priced from 220,000 yuan ($32,200) to 260,000 yuan, cheaper than the imported model by 40,000 to 80,000 yuan.

Dongfeng Nissan, a joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Corp and Japan’s Nissan Motor Co, celebrated the rolling-off-line of the X-Trail as the venture’s 1 millionth car on September 19 in its passenger vehicle factory in Guangzhou. The Chinese-made Nissan X-Trail SUV will have Dongfeng Honda CR-V as its main rival, especially in the pricing.

Up to now in the China market, the imported X-trail is only available in a 2.5L version, priced between 300,000 yuan and 400,000 yuan. The X-Trail now is a good seller in Japan, even better than Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4. The dynamic, muscular sporty features are expected to win Nissan X-Trail many male customers in China.

The latest-generation Nissan X-trail measures 4590mm x 1785 mm x 685mm. The wheelbase reaches 2630mm, 15mm longer than the previous model. The Chinese made X-trail features some changes in the interior, which is quiet similar to that of Qashqai, a compact crossover SUV produced by Dongfeng Nissan since 2007.

It might be logical for Dongfeng Nissan’s X-Trail and Qashqaito to beat Honda CR-V if they highlight the X-Trail’s sedan features and maintain its crossover quality.

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By George Gao  From:Gasgoo.com

The all-new Koleos, French carmaker Renault’s first Crossover SUV model, will be imported to the Chinese market in March 2009 to compete with numerous city SUVs locally made in China, said xinhuanet.com today. Its selling price may start from 242,000 yuan ($35,500).

The Renault Koleos is a compact SUV which was first presented as a concept car at the 2006 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris. The Koleos was designed by Renault and developed by Nissan. It is manufactured by Renault Samsung Motors, a subsidiary of Renault, at its plant in Busan, South Korea.

As the first SUV model carrying the Renault brand, Koleos is fashioned after the multi-purpose vehicle Renault Samsung QM5. The QM5 model, based on the Nissan Qashqai platform, is a new product jointly developed by Renault and Nissan at a cost of $600 million.

The Koleos features the four-wheel-drive system and comes equipped with either a dCi 150 engine or a dCi 175 engine and a choice between a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox. Renault Koleos’ basic model sells for $35,500, and the four-wheel-drive edition for $48,700. They were put on sale in the European market in July this year.

The Koleos SUV is also likely to be made in China for the local market where it will go on sale first as the imported car early next year. Before its local production, the imported Koleos SUV may test the waters in the Chinese market.

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By George Gao From:Gasgoo.com

Recently at the Yaris fuel-efficiency match, Guangzhou Toyota’s vice general manager Hu Su said that the joint venture will not give up the 2008 sales target of 210,000 units until the last minute of the year despite the huge pressure, reported Beijing Times today.

Hu said that in the first nine months a total of 108,000 Camry cars made by Guangzhou Toyota were registered for license plates, ranking No. 1 among mid- to high-end cars sold in China during that period, but meanwhile Yaris had only sold 14,370 units, which poses great pressure to the year’s total sales target.

At the beginning of this year, the company expected its sales to grow by 20% to 210,000 units, but judging by the current sales figures, only a 5% growth is possible.

In the fourth quarter the dealers of Guangzhou Toyota are required to make great efforts to fulfill their sales quotas for the year. The company expects the final few months to see a reviving market and therefore will not give up the sales target of 210,000 vehicles until the last minute of the year. Everything is going according to plan, Hu Su said.

Guangdong Toyota will extend a second production line in mid-2009, with an initial annual capacity of 120,000 units. It is another tough task for the company to relieve the problem of over-capacity of production against the background of low demand in the auto market.

The joint venture was reported to ignite a price war among Chinese automakers when it scaled down the prices of some models as the Chinese anti-monopoly law was issued earlier this year. But the company responded that its price cuts were not against the law and its new Camry’s price has been stable in the market.

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