Published by Ash March 31st, 2008
in Shanghai GM.
According to reports from the Chinese state owned news corp, Xinhua, Chevrolet are building the V6 engines for the Equinox SUV in China from now on to give it a price advantage over its competitors models.
The 185bhp, V6 model is built by General Motors partner, SAIC. This is the first time that GM have outsourced engine building to Chinese companies, and the Chinese are hailing it as a milestone in their automotive development history.
A GM representative was quoted by Xinhua as saying that GM are very satisfied with the quality of the Chinese built engine.
Published by Ash March 31st, 2008
in Shanghai GM.
The rumor mill is working overtime this week, so soon as well! A car that appears to be quite similar to the Chevrolet Beat concept car has been spotted out and about in China, leading pundits to believe that the Beat could be a much needed replacement for the rather tired Chevrolet Spark (Daewoo Matiz)
The Chevrolet Beat was released at the New York Auto Show in 2007 with GM saying it would be full of tech (GPS, Navigation, DVD etc) once it hit the market.
If GM were to launch such a good looking car, then surely it would be a hit in China. However, experience has taught us that Chevy cars offered in China differ vastly from the same offerings in the USA, especially when it comes to interiors!
Published by Ash March 31st, 2008
in Geely Automobile.
Geely designers must have been scribbling away over the past 12 months in an effort to make some good looking cars! Geely have made the King Kong hatchback, the Geely GT, and the Geely MPV, and as of today, a picture of another Geely hatchback has been released.
The latest Geely is codenamed ‘CE’ and appears to be a mashup of styles, - Mazda 2, Pug 206, Honda Fit etc but somehow, they combine together to make a decent looking vehicle.
We have been hearing rumors of a Geely automotive marathon at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, with Geely turning up with a fistful of new cars, that havent even been seen by the media yet. We wait, patiently.
Published by Ash March 28th, 2008
in Chinese Car News.
In news that could be described as LUVVLY JUBBLY by Del Boy, a company named Shanghai UK, has bought a small British company called ‘Robin Glass Fibre‘ for the grand sum of 13,000GBP (a lot more than the 10GBP then what MG-Rover was sold for)
March 27, 2008 — Shanghai UK has announced the acquisition of Tamworth based automotive technology specialist, Robin Glass Fibre (RGF) in a £13,000 deal which is set to underpin the company’s expansion in the UK and European Union market.
RGF was set up following the collapse of Reliant Motors and specialises in the repair and remanufacture of glass fibre body panels. The pioneering West Midlands company has developed exclusive Intellectual Property and is focused upon GRP repair solutions. The company applies groundbreaking repair technologies on behalf of its clients, including Isopon, Hammerite and Bostik. Operating from spacious premises on the outskirts of Tamworth, Robin Glass Fibre has parking for 3 cars and employs 2 people.
Shanghai UK did not actively trade in 2007, but expects the RGF acquisition to be earnings enhancing within the current financial year.
Coinciding with the RGF acquisition, Shanghai UK has also announced the appointment of Kev Howe as President: British Isles, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Kev has a distinguished track record within the automotive sector and returns from Florida to assume his new position.
One would be wise to point out, that Kevin Howe, was the pie eating gent that pretty much sent MG-Rover into the ground. We’re not even sure if Shanghai UK is a real Chinese car company, but seeing as its car and China related, it gets on China Car Times.
Published by Ash March 28th, 2008
in First Automobile Works.
A SEAT spokesman recently mentioned to a British newspaper (must be true news, then) that SEAT are looking at the possibility of pairing up with Chinese automotive giant, First Automotive Works (FAW) in the near future. SEAT have since become a subsidiary of VW but previously worked with Fiat.
One of the first cars that SEAT would plan to introduce in China, would be something in the AO class. Furthermore, rather than rolling out nationwide, SEAT would first test market conditions along the Eastern sea board of China before rolling out nationwide. We think this could mean that SEAT would first import cars into China and sell from FAW dealers before rolling out the tooling and machinery required to make their motors in the PRC.
Published by Ash March 28th, 2008
in Geely Automobile.
Yesterday we posted the Geely GT - a rendered drawing of what might be a future Geely sports car. The Geely GT drew a fair amount of interest across the internet yesterday, even Autoblog kinda liked it!
Nothing, other than these renderings, are known about the Geely MPV. We are told that everything will be announced and shown off at the Beijing Auto Show. The Geely SUV is also expected to make a splash at Beijing. The latest rendered drawings do actually show Geely cars are planning on using their new logo.
SAIC top brass are probably kicking themselves that they didnt stick a bid in for Landrover and Jaguar, after a record breaking 2007 they can easily afford it!
In 2007 SAIC sold 1.69 million vehicles, which translates into a 25.8% year on year increase on 2006. Profit in RMB was 4.63 billion RMB. Of the 1.69 million vehicles sold, 1.13 million were automobiles.
Sales with its joint venture partners worked out as follows: GM sold 508,380 vehicles, and VW 456,424. SAIC’s minivan and truck making ventures, SAIC-GM-Wuling and SAIC-Iveco Hongyan each sold 520,000 and 24,000 vehicles. Some more good news for SAIC bosses are that sales at its Korean owned manufacturer, Ssangyong, are up 13%. Ssangyong sold 136,000 vehicles in 07, a respectable figure for essentially a niche market player.
SAIC is planning to push the goal posts even further in 2008, with them planning to sell 1.9 million vehicles. Can they meet those targets? Possibly, the Chinese Car Industry shows no signs of slowing just yet.
Published by Ash March 27th, 2008
in Geely Automobile.
China Car Times is unsure what to make of these rendered pictures of what we are told is a future upmarket Geely range. Geely have become synonymous with cheap and cheerful cars since their creation, it was Li Shu Fu’s dream that every Chinese person could afford mobility in the form of an automobile. However, it seems that Geely may well be taking the high road that has been tread by many a German automaker before it. Remember when VW were making nothing but low end cheap cars, even Audi were at it by rebadging certain VW hatchbacks. Look where VW and Audi are today, can Geely pull off the same trick? Well, perhaps they just might with these cars.
The Geely GT has a new logo, its not the last Geely group logo, nor is it from the the Geely logo competition, instead it seems Geely are creating a whole new upmarket brand! Or as Erik kindly pointed out via email, Geely designers seem to secretly release any old rendering they made in their lunch hour.
Beijing 2008 International Car Show is expected to be a show stopper for Geely, who are planning to launch 18 new vehicles in one sitting. We’re not sure if the above Geely GT will be launched or not.
Published by Ash March 26th, 2008
in Changfeng Automobile.
Last time we mentioned a US-China Hummer connection, our comment boxes got filled with the cries of ‘clone!’ from our American friends, it seems the Chinese hummer got everyone worked up!
Another twist to the US-CN Hummer story, comes from Changfeng Motors. Changfeng Motors was set up my Chinese strongman, Chairman Mao, with the aim of producing
Changfeng has since branched out from truck making into making cars, it succesfully went to the Detroit show where it showed off its Liebao models. In the PRC Changfeng still make the ‘91 Mitsubishi Pajero for local (and military) consumers and also CKD kits of the newer Pajero from Japan. However, it plans to branch out again, this time into HUMMER parts! Changfeng and Hummer have signed a contract where Changfeng will be supplying chassis to the giant SUV and Changfeng will help Hummer with entering into the Chinese market, which has so far been limited to gray market imports.
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