Archive for August, 2009
Geely’s first SUV to launch in October ’09
Geely’s first SUV is set to launch this year in October according to news that was released earlier today. Geely will be building their first SUV in a new Chengdu facility, in which they have invested 3 billion RMB. Geely is expected to begin production in mid September and have the car in showrooms in [...]
China to begin hoarding precious metals used in hybrids
From The Telegraph: A draft report by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has called for a total ban on foreign shipments of terbium, dysprosium, yttrium, thulium, and lutetium. Other metals such as neodymium, europium, cerium, and lanthanum will be restricted to a combined export quota of 35,000 tonnes a year, far below global [...]
The Chinese automotive design trend – where will it go?
From GM Inside News What creates an automotive trend? Is it aesthetic appeal? Perhaps it’s practicality….I don’t think so. While it would be fool hardy to dismiss social conscience, even this latest wave of public pressure will not be the primary influence in the next automotive cultural shift. As always, it is the largest market [...]
A brush with the law – drink drivers beware!
From The Telegraph: China is in the midst of a serious drink-driving crackdown at the moment following a series of high-profile cases in which drunk-drivers have killed and maimed pedestrians. The most serious of these resulted in the death penalty being handed down to a 30-year-old company executive in Chengdu, Sichuan province who killed four [...]
Chinese Astronauts prefer Volvo
From Wired.com Four pioneers in Chinese space exploration have made it their mission to purchase Volvo S80L sedans. That’s one small step for man, one giant sedan for the garage. After returning safely from the Shenzhou 7 space mission, taikonauts Yang Liwei, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng purchased matching luxury cars. According to [...]
Hafei-PSA to set up Joint Venture?
Hafei and the French automaker PSA have long been rumored to be putting together a joint venture in China that would probably see Hafei and PSA building Citroen MPV’s in the Chinese marketplace, but talks seem to have been on going since mid 2007 with not much in the way of action since then, The [...]
Chery losing talent FAST
An interesting report from ChinaBizGov A few days ago, the Wall Street Journal’s ace auto journalist in China, Nori Shirouzu, reported that Beijing Auto has recruited away Chery’s current Chief of R&D. While this news, in and of itself, is certainly no cause for alarm, it seems to be part of a larger trend that [...]
MG6 to become a UK race horse
There’s no secret about it on CCT, the MG6 is one of CCT’s favorite Chinese cars, even though its only Chinese through ownership we still think it qualifies. Hopefully the MG6 will qualify for its upcoming races as well: From Autocar.co.uk MG6 – The first MG in years The new MG6 will go straight into [...]
BYD F3DM and Zotye Electric cars to launch soon
According to a recent list of new cars which are set to launch soon, it appears that there are five new energy vehicles ready to be launched in China very soon. Nanjing, JAC, and Jiangling are set to launch various electric and hybrid trucks for commercial use, but Zotye and BYD are readying their hybrid/electric [...]
Chinese cash for clunkers program to be extended into 2010
The Chinese cash for clunkers program is to be extended into 2010 according to media reports. The Chinese cash for clunkers program has not been as sucesful in stimulating car sales as it has been in Europe or the USA due to the fact that there wasnt a large ‘clunker’ base in China to begin [...]
BAW building mini car base in China
BAW are currently awaking from a deep sleep that will force them into becoming a world player instead of a sleepy backwater SUV and truck maker for the military. BAW is situated close to Beijing and has the National Governments ear when it comes to policy making, and also the first decision on acquisitions. BAW [...]
Ex-Chery man to head up Hummer sales division in Shanghai
Chery’s former president of international business, Mr. Huang Zhi Qiang has been poached from Chery by Sichuan Tengzhong who are expected to take over the Hummer brand very soon. Tengzhong currently have a memorandum of understanding with GM to take control of Hummer, Tengzhong are expected to formally take over Hummer at the end of [...]
GM to launch 4000USD super cheap car in Asia
As Chinese auto makers have been racing to the lower price ranks over the past few months and years, it seems that GM are eager to jump into the race as well. The race to the bottom was initially started by Chery and their popular QQ model, but was soon joined by the likes of [...]
JAC and Chery Merger Plans to be shown at end of year
Although it has been mentioned in the news and on CCT previously, Chery and JAC do have plans to merger although both have said it will be a long process which will see the appearance of Da An Motors. A plan of action is set to be released at the end of the year which [...]
2010 Chang’an Ben Ben Spotted Out
The 2010 Chang’an Ben Ben is well under development, and has been spotted out testing. The Chang’an Ben Ben has offered stiff resistance to the march of the Chery QQ in 2007/8 but has suffered slightly in 2009 due to the launch of other super cheap, super cool super minis such as the BYD F0 [...]
Greatwalls first sedan rendering: A notchback thing
Greatwall have jumped into the hatchback game feet first once they realized that SUV and Truck sales were about to fall through the floor. Their first model was the Great Wall Peri, which they followed up with the Greatwall Florid, the Coolbear and the soon to be unknown hatch. Their first concept sedan was shown [...]
JiangLing N350 Pick Up Truck and SUV
Jiangling have a new car and truck up their sleeves, and it has been spotted out testing: Jiangling is based in Nanchang city, and is famed for its Landwind brand that failed in Europe, but is possibly on the verge of a comeback with the Landwind X8. The above SUV and Truck are based off [...]
Chang’an Ford builds 400,000th Ford Focus
From Fords Press Release: CHONGQING, AUGUST 11, 2009 – Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. (CFMA), Ford Motor’s joint venture in China, today celebrated the 400,000th Ford Focus rolling off the line at its manufacturing facility in the southwestern city of Chongqing.”We’re proud to celebrate the production of the 400,000th Ford Focus, which was launched [...]
Geely’s procurement of Volvo almost over
From China.org.cn Geely’s procurement of Swedish auto giant Volvo is approaching the final stage, the National Business Daily learned from Sweden. Volvo and its owner Ford Motor Company are expected to make the final approval as early as this month.In addition to Geely, which will get the majority of Ford’s stake in Volvo, a Swedish [...]
Toyota Camry Hybrid – Possibly China bound at last
The Toyota Prius is not a common site in China, possibly due to its high price and a general populace that is more interested in buying a car that gives more bang for your buck rather than less bang for your buck, but more green credentials. Even producing the Toyota Prius in China via the [...]
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