17000 is still a lot of these Elantra model bathtubs with wheels on the roads.

SAIC management actually too time out and had a good look at the Ssanyong portfolio of cars…such as: http://lh4.ggpht.com/joemondello/RiDZIRZeawI/AAAAAAAAA3g/8_x4cypDBJk/s400/IMG_2782.JPG

then pulled out quick fast.

Best move they’ll ever make.

-SAIC is trying to find a battery pack supplier in Korea that makes compatible battery packs.

SAIC’s partners on battery is A123 and Delphi.

-the best selling car in China is a Hyundai

Are you kidding?
October sales result: BYD F3 30008, it’s 13000 more than Hyndai Elantra.
Top selling companies are: FAW-VW 65791, SAIC-GM 63808, SAIC-VW 61064, Even BYD sells more than Hyundai.

Hyundai-Kia’s business model in China market is very similar with BYD/Chery/Geely, they sells car much cheaper and highly depended on compact models(A segment). Their price range are much lower than European/Japanese/American/SAIC-Roewe/FAW-Besturn.

> A court case will get then nowhere,

Here are the facts.

1. The tech taken by SAIC is “partial” and cannot complete a hybrid or PHEV drivetrain by itself. The battery pack tech was “black boxed” even to Ssangyong, and HCU unit can only interface with Korean battery packs. In other word, this HCU doesn’t work with BYD’s packs.

2. Accordingly, SAIC is trying to find a battery pack supplier in Korea that makes compatible battery packs.

3. Hyundai-Kia in particular feels that the government shouldn’t make a big deal of this issue since what SAIC is useless without access to matching compatible battery pack. A friction with Chinese government would impact their booming Chinese business. After all, the best selling car in China is a Hyundai.