Archive for March, 2010
Facelift Suzuki WagonR to launch in April this year
Suzuki’s WagonR has been a fairly good seller for its makers Changhe-Suzuki over the past few years, however stiffening competition from other super mini’s has pushed the WagonR to the back burner sales wise. Changhe Suzuki are hoping that the below facelift version, now named the WagonR E+ will give the boxy vehicle an added [...]
China mulling subsidies to new energy car buyers
For a long time hybrid vehicles have been overpriced in China, but if the government gets its way then it could see the Chinese people being applicable for a range of subsidies for green car purchases. Chinese auto manufacturers have already produced a range of hybrid and electric vehicles, but they have been slow to [...]
What do Youngman have up their sleves? Youngman-Lotus 007 spotted out testing!
Youngman-Lotus was originally a tie up between Malaysia’s state owned Proton Motors and China’s very own Youngman Group who are more famous for their coaches and buses than they are cars. Youngman do have asperations to become one of the larger car makers in China, but they do have some catching upto do with their [...]
Honda Crosstour spotted out testing, possibly to be produced in China
The Honda Crosstour caused a storm in the USA when it was initially launched, American consumers really couldn’t place the car in the Honda line up, was it to be an SUV or was it to be a wagon or somewhere in between. It does have the AWD system from the Honda CRV, but it [...]
China turning bitter sweet for Toyota
From Xinhua: EIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) — For the first time in years, Toyota has dropped from the top 10 list of the best selling cars in China in February, the China Daily reported Tuesday. FAW Toyota, the Japanese automaker’s joint venture in China, disappeared from the top 10 sales list for the first time, [...]
New Greatwall SUV to spearhead Euro invasion?
GWM are planning to launch the below SUV at the Beijing Auto Show, which they plan to take into Europe. The renderings show that the forthcoming SUV, codenamed CHD021, appears to have taken on a more softer CUV stance than its body on chassis hulk-like brother, the Hover. The question remains, have SUV’s gone out [...]
Second hand car market improving in China
The Chinese second hand car market is still in its infancy, and as a result residual prices on second hand motors remains rather high, however if China’s car market continues to grow as it does then it is likely that second hand motors will drop in price as with the American and UK second hand [...]
BYD to kick start car sales in Europe in 2011
BYD have been slated to start European car sales for quite some time, but due to economic troubles this has continually been delayed or put off. BYD have stepped forward with the 2011 time frame to introduce the BYD E6 pure electric vehicles, as well as other hybrid models into the European market in 2011. [...]
Mark 5 Polo to be put into production in China
The mark5 version of the VW Polo has been spotted out in China amid rumors of an eventual August 2010 launch of one of the worlds most popular super minis. Information on the specification of forthcoming car is still low on the ground but rumors indicate that it might have the 1.2TSI and possibly come [...]
Brilliance FSV sports model spotted out testing!
Brilliance have always had an issue with the front end of their cars, they just have never looked great. The rear ends have always been fantastic (think BS4, BS6, FRV and Coupe) as have the side profiles but the front end of their models have always been lacking in the desirability aspect. The FSV, the [...]
Chinese car market slows in Feb due to long holidays
From China Business News: Mar. 8, 2010 (China Knowledge) – The growth in sales of passenger cars in china slowed to 45% year on year in February due to weak demand amid the Chinese New Year holiday, the China Passenger Car Association said on Friday. The world’s largest auto market saw passenger car sales total [...]
2010 Honda CRV launches in China
For Dongfeng-Honda, the CRV has been a massive hit. Month after month it was one of the best selling SUVs in the Chinese marketplace and easily trumped its nearest rivals, the Toyota RAV4, and Nissans Qashqai and X-Trail. 2010 is set to be a decisive year for Honda, with the launch of the VW Tiguan [...]
Before 2013, Greatwall to release 5 high end SUV’s
Greatwall is one of China’s more succesful automotive companies, they have built up their business slowly and surely by tapping into market needs. When the market required pick up trucks and SUV’s to haul heavy loads, they produced them, when the market turned towards small cars they quickly adapted to market needs and produced a [...]
Toyota to start China marketing campaign to woo Chinese drivers
According to Bloomberg, but is it all a little too late now that the damage has been done? March 5 (Bloomberg) — Toyota Motor Corp., the world’s biggest carmaker, will begin a marketing campaign in China today to lure customers amid the company’s recent recalls, the Wall Street Journal said. The promotion, which runs through [...]
BMW X1 SUV to be produced in China by JV partner Brilliance
Recently BMW and its JV partner Brilliance announced that their Chinese factory would stop production of the 3-series sedan and imports would pick up the sales slack until the factory comes back online. The new factory will becoming back online with an increased capacity for a new range of models, one of which will be [...]
Facelift Jetta rolls off the line, but with only 3 models available are its days numbered?
As always mentioned on CCT, the VW Jetta has a very special place in Chinese consumers hearts, its bought by civillians and government departments alike, and not forgetting the all important taxi fleets. The Jetta is loved for its cheap price, and seemingly indestructibility. The Jetta is built by FAW-VW in Changchun and has been [...]
Geely to expand production capacity to 1.5 million vehicles
Geely are betting heavily on their brand expansion, which will see them expand production capacity to an impressive 1.5 million vehicles by 2015 according to Asia Pulse. Geely is more famous in China for its low priced vehicles, but they have plans to go further upmarket with mid level and premium cars for the Chinese [...]
Huatai B11 to be produced this – one to look forward to!
The Huatai B11 is set to roll off the production lines this month from its Inner Mongolian factory, and will officially launch at the Beijing Auto Show in April. The Huatai B11 is probably one of the more anticipated cars of this year, it gives Huatai an entry into the semi premium market that Chinese [...]
Insurance premiums for Chinese Toyota drivers rise!
From the China Daily: Influenced by the Toyota recall crisis, insurance companies in China have raised premium rates for the Japanese carmaker’s most products, Changsha Evening News reported on Tuesday. A Toyota car owner who seeks to renew his vehicle insurance told a reporter that he found premium rates given by the insurers he contacted [...]
How GM wanted to give China a Hummer
On February 26nd, GM announced that the sale of Hummer to Tengzhong Heavy Industries was dead due to a deal not being made within the allotted time frame. GM announced that they would be winding down the Hummer business over the course of the year, but they said the same of Saab which ultimately was [...]
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