Archive for July, 2009
Changfeng’s “Volvo S40″ spotted out
Changfengs very own Volvo S40 clone has been photographed in the Changfeng factory and its pictures leaked to the internet, presumeably causing slight embarrasement for its new master, Guangzhou Auto. The Changfeng ‘S40′ was expected to be shown at the Shanghai Auto Show earlier this year, but it failed to make an appearence. The sedan [...]
Beijing Auto also shopping for Fujian Auto
As the central government ramps up its plans to force the Chinese car industry to concile and become a sleaker fighting unit to push Chinese cars onto the world stage, it seems that Fujian Motor will become the latest small car company to be taken over by a larger rival. Previously it was Changfeng motor [...]
BAW plans for Chinese Opel Factory
In a bid submitted to GM last week it was revealed that the current preferred suitor for Opel, Beijing Auto Works, has plans to build a new factory to produce Opel products in China and will also use a German factory to export products to China. Should BAW win control of Opel, work on the [...]
Nissan NV200 spotted out testing, to be made in China soon
The Nissan NV200 concept van was on show at the Shanghai Auto Show in April this year. Nissan top brass were out to say that the Chinese market would be among the first markets to receive the van, and it would go into production via the Zhengzhou-Nissan JV later this year. The NV200 van has [...]
New Buick HRV spotted out testing
The current Buick HRV is based on the Daewoo Lacetti which has been passed around various GM brands and branded as a Chevrolet, a Daewoo, and as a Buick depending on the market. The Buick HRV has long been rumored to be swapped with an Opel Astra, but this is the first time we’ve seen [...]
Fiat and Guangzhou JV deal signed
On July 6th, the Fiat and Guangzhou Auto joint venture deal was finally signed and agreed on. Fiat has been out of the Chinese market place for two years since the Najing-Fiat joint venture died. The deal was signed under the watchful eyes of both Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao and Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, both [...]
What is happening at Geely?
Geely have made 2009 their year to turn their business around, to stop relying on cheap low end products, and turn their business into one that is respected for it’s quality products, in simple terms, they are trying to become the Chinese Honda. Honda and Geely are running on similar historical lines, both set up [...]
MG6: Fun really is back
Over the past few years, we’ve heard time and time again that MG is Back, although its back from the dead it’s brought a few old tired threads with it too. It’s like the Zombie that came back from the dead wearing the clothes it was buried in, but this time this automotive zombie has [...]
Greatwall M1 to launch in August priced at 60,000rmb
In the first five months of the year, Great Wall sold nearly 80,000 cars which was an increase of 83.2% over the same period previously. Sales for Great Wall were down slightly in June by 5%, but sales are expected to be increase for July, although in 2008 Great Wall achieved its sales of 100,000 [...]
Chinese car sales tax not to be changed
The Chinese car industry was saved from a depressing future earlier this year when the government stepped forward and slashed tax on sub 1.6l cars which propelled the Chinese car industry from the World No2 spot to the Worlds Largest Market, surpassing the American market in terms of monthly sales. There has been chatter about [...]
Ford sales on the up in China
Although Fords home market might be in a bind at the moment, the Chinese market is on the up in a serious way according to half year performance figures released by Ford this morning: Ford Motor Company’s joint-ventures and wholly-owned entities in China posted best-ever first-half sales of 197,212 units, or 14% year-on-year growth Ford [...]
BAW sticks out 924 million USD for Opel
From the WSJ: MUNICH — China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holding, or BAIC, made a concrete offer for General Motors Corp.’s Adam Opel GmbH unit, a GM spokeswoman said. A person familiar with the situation said Friday that BAIC handed in a nonbinding offer valued at €660 million ($924 million) for an equity stake in GM’s [...]
Internet storm after Nanjing drunk driver kills 5
On the evening of June 30th in Nanjing Jiang Ning District a drunk driver named Zhang Ming Bao fell asleep at the wheel of his Buick Lacrosse which with an unconcious Zhang at the wheel managed to hit 9 people at the side of the road, and then crashed into six parked cars. When the [...]
Chang’an CV5 Spotted Out
Suzuki have undergone a technology transfer with their Chinese joint venture partner, Chang’an, which will see Chang’an build their own super mini car. The Chang’an CV5 is based on the current Suzuki Alto platform, and is expected to be put into production at the end of 2009, and be launched in early 2010 with the [...]
Roewe 95 – spotted again – but will it ever be made?
The Roewe 850Roewe 950 has been spotted again, this time in a Shanghai Roewe dealership’s shop: The Roewe 95 is based on a Ssangyong Chairman, and uses an ex-Mercedes gearbox and engine. Since the Ssangyong bankruptcy, SAIC has been kicked out of the Ssangyong stable, so did the rights to the Roewe 95 get transfered [...]
Work on Fiat factory to begin in August
Fiat may have been given a bloody nose by the Chinese car market once before, but this is not putting them off from having another stab at the Chinese market place, this time with a new joint venture partner. Fiat and Guangzhou Autos have been getting quite cozy with each other over the past 18 [...]
Chinese Airbus rolling off the lines in Tianjin
From the Telegraph: Once a month, an Airbus A320 passenger jet rolls out of an airy hangar on the outskirts of northern port city of Tianjin, China’s window to Western ideas for a century and a half. Within two years these $72m (£43m) twin-engine jets will be emerging once a week. The number of French, [...]
Haima’s QQ Fighter undergoing testing
The QQ3 is a best selling car in China, despite its age (it was launched in 2002) it has continued to sell well into 2009 with virtually no exterior updates. The QQ3 sold a combined 9832 cars in May, its nearest rival, the BYD F0 sold 7224 units in May, the QQ is clearly unstoppable. [...]
Reviewed: Chang’an Ford Mondeo
Since the death of the Ford Sierra, the Ford Mondeo has quickly become the class standard for the sales rep mobile across Europe. Some sales reps aspire to the BMW, some go for the latest Opel Insignia, but the vast majority opt (or, at least, their fleet manager opts) for the safety of a Ford [...]
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