Published by Ash December 31st, 2007
in Site Info.
As today is pretty much the final day of 2007, we would like to wish all of China Car Times readers a very happy new year. Normal China Car Time activity will resume as soon as the hangovers reside. The left handside picture is us celebrating Christmas Day, we hope we dont get like that tonight.
Stuff to look forward to over the next coming days - SAIC restructuring at MG - Buick Lacrosse for 08 - Students go wild, tip a car - more on the Gen2 - Euro 3 min standards for all PRC trucks, and the auto sales forecasts for 08.
Wishing all of China Car Times readers a very happy new year!
Published by Ash December 30th, 2007
in Nanjing MG.
China Car Times feels that we’ve been unfair on the MG7, now we’re seeing more of them out on the road (3, to date in Qingdao) we can see that is clearly the best looking sedan in the sub 200,000rmb price range, despite the MG7s age, it still has a lot of class about it - the way it hugs close to the road like a Jaguar and the quality of the paint finish is really second to none. There’s just no comparing the MG7 to the likes of other sub 200,000rmb sedans, like the VW Passat, and the Focus saloon, both of which are very widespread in China. The Passat and the Focus saloon feel, and look like sub 200k cars, but the MG7 has looks of something approaching the 600k and up category (we’re still thinking of Jaguar here)
To boost sales, MG are knocking 3000rmb off the price of the MG7, which makes the MG7 pretty much the cheapest ‘luxury’ car in its class in China. Prices are now as follows:
- 1.8T Standard - 160,960rmb
- 1.8T Luxury - 180,460rmb
- 1.8T Luxury Sports - 190,90rmb
- 2.5 V6 Luxury Flagship (Lengthened model) 300,080rmb
If China Car Times was shopping for a sedan, we’d know what we’d buy - The luxury MG7 for 180,460rmb in that champagne like color.
Published by Ash December 29th, 2007
in Fiat, Chery Automobile and Chinese Car News.
Fiat just came out of a rather unsuccessful joint venture with Nanjing Automotive, and are currently out looking for another JV partner in China, who can supply a manufacturing bases for the Italian marques motors.
Chery and Fiat already have a JV to make the Alfa Romeo range in China, and rumor has it that Chery might just already be at maximum production capacity. Chery is practically irritable to Fiat. Exam the facts, Chery creates stylish motors, they have lots of experience of creating small cars that are cheap, and have decent quality, Chery are branching out into the world, and Fiat are already an international brand with a track record (albeit recent) of making solid cars.
Fiat and Chery together in China could well be an unstoppable force, Chery can supply the man power, and Fiat the brains. Perhaps they could even cooperate on creating a better looking Chery QQ6, but first things first, lets let Fiat create the proper range of Fiats in China instead of these developing world models.
The existing Chery/Fiat JV is for the Alfa Romeo cars, and is expected to begin production in 2009, aiming to create around 175,000 cars per year, for both domestic Chinese consumption and export sales. Chery and Fiat also have another agreement on engines, Chery earlier this year agreed to supply Fiat with 100,000 ATECO engines per year.
Published by Ash December 29th, 2007
in Right Hand Drive RHD and Lifan.
Lifan is starting to spread around the world, with sales networks in China, Russia, Egypt, Ethiopia, and now Nepal.
Lifans entry into Nepal is an important step - Nepal is essentially a RHD country, and not many Chinese automakers are stepping into the RHD markets, seeing as many countries in the world do still use RHD cars, it seems like a logical money making venture to go after the RHD markets.
First Nepal, next India? Could Lifan be one of the first Chinese players to make a splash into the billion people market?
Published by Ash December 28th, 2007
in Site Info.
Hello.
We know many of the bigger fish, and even some of the smaller fish read China Car Times, we know many of you love it, and some of you would like to kill us slowly and methodically with a blunt spoon.
If you would like your companies news to appear on China Car Times, or even tell us something is wrong, then you can get in contact with us quite easily. You can send us news tips and information via this form, or if you prefer a more direct contact method, then there are a few listed on our contact page.
Get proactive, get your information out! Many of you wish to export to western countries, but often neglect to inform the western media of your latest happenings, this leads to misunderstandings, and as Darth Vader might have possibly said, ‘misunderstandings lead to hate‘
Go on, get in touch, we don’t bite (much)
Published by Ash December 28th, 2007
in Chery Automobile.
Despite Christmas, and the impending New Year, Chery seem to be busy out testing. First it was the A6CC, and second it was the Chery P11, allegedly the Chery Tiggo 5.
Published by Ash December 28th, 2007
in Lifan.
Lifan have created what is being billed as the first domestically created VVT engine! The 1.8l VVT is the first of its kind from a Chinese company, and its getting the fanfare that it deserves.
The engine was apparently made in cooperation with Ricardo, who have been helping various Chinese car makers over the past few years (Roewe, Chery, etc) with their engines and redesigns. Lifan now has 1.3, 1.5 and 1.8 motors - all of which are self designed. Previously Lifan used BMW acquired engines that they got from BMW Brazil.
The new 1.8 is a 4 cylinder engine, water cooled, giving 100kw/172 N.m/r, it also meets Euro 3 emissions standards. Lifan say their new 1.8 is on par with international technology standards, and will be in production by the middle of 2008. Will it go in the new Lifan 620? Probably!
Published by Ash December 28th, 2007
in Brilliance/Zhonghua Auto.
Brilliance automobile executives must be celebrating this year, for they have sold 300,000 vehicles in 2007, this is effectively a 42% increase on the 2006 sales. Brilliance also exported 15,1500 vehicles to other countries.Not bad, for a car company who only just rolled out their own designs.
Published by Ash December 27th, 2007
in Nanjing Automobile Corporation.
Nanjing Automobile have given out an interesting press release on the recent takeover of NAC by SAIC.
SAIC seem to be pushing for more development in the NAC owned British Longbridge factory, SAIC seem to be planning on using Longbridge as a manufacturing base. Will we see the MG/Austin/Morris/Roewe 550 made in Britain? I for one, hope so - Jaguar and Landrover have proven that mass producing, and exporting to developing lands is still financially doable in Great Britain, so perhaps SAIC can do the same. Continue reading ‘Nanjing put a spin on the SAIC take over’
Published by Ash December 27th, 2007
in Chery Automobile.
This news article is quite positive towards Chery, although it does come from a state media organ. Could the likes of Chery make it big in the developing world before they chase the ‘big’ markets of Western Europe and North America? It looks that way.
Click continue reading, to see more.
Continue reading ‘Xinhua says ‘Those Middle Easterners love our cars!’’
Latest Comments