Greatwall’s Beijing Auto Show
Greatwall was one of the stronger visitors to this years Beijing Auto Show with them displaying off a multitude of new vehicles, and more importantly their first sedans and new SUV’s. GWM may have started as a SUV maker, but they are quickly branching out into other market areas, such as sedans, which are potentially big growth areas for then.
The two GWM sedans on show were very interesting, with the C30 set to launch before its frog faced larger sibling, the C50; although that is likely due to launch in the second half of 2010.
Other models at the Beijing Auto Show included the Hover H5, which is a European specified model and will be at the heart of a push into the European market. The H5 sits on the already popular H3, but with an updated front end and an improved interior. The Hover H6 is another new model which is likely to be Euro-bound in the next few months.
The most interesting part about the GWM stand were the brands – it appears that the Hover brand is no more, and has become Haval. Now you maybe thinking that Haval is a terrible name compared to Hover, but the fact is that GWM never thought too much about the overseas markets until recently, and when they did try and register the Hover brand in the 230 different markets they plan to enter they found that the Hover brand had already been registered, thus they had to give it a slight change to Haval.
Another new brand to make an entry is the Voleex brand, it is a good brand in that it will probably be understand in most Western speaking markets, as well as Middle Eastern and African markets, but UK’ers are likely to change that V to a B as soon as it launches.
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Names like Haval, Voleex and Teng Yi aside, what I see as the most interesting thing about the GWM stand is that it is devoid of any EV or other type of new energy vehicles. When subsidies become available, and things really get rolling at BYD, Geely, Dongfeng, Zotye and the rest, will they fall behind?
Or did I miss their latest e-car at the show?
They do have a hybrid.
“Great Wall is also showing a Haval crossover model dubbed SC60, a larger, more luxurious crossover with a hybrid power-train and six-speed automatic transmission, as well as such advanced tech features as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The SC60′s hybrid power-train is particularly impressive, bundling a six-speed automatic transmission with a 50-hp electric motor and a turbocharged 2.5-liter V6 gasoline direct-injection engine that makes 248 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Great Wall plans to launch a production version of the SC60, fitted with full-time all-wheel drive and possibly badged as the H7, in 2012.”
It’s really sad, since you can tell that these cars are reverse engineered versions of regular cars. The C70 is a Nissan Teana, The C50 is a Honda Civic, the M3 is a Toyota Rush, and the C30 is a Yaris Sedan (Vios).
I’m sure you can tell all of them are reverse engineered by just looking at the pictures, which aren’t even similar to the cars you’ve mentioned.
Some of them bear some similarities to the cars you mentioned, but saying they are “reverse-engineered” is a long shot, don’t you think?
Point is, Great Wall used to photocopy their designs (ie: Phenom = Toyota Yaris, Peri = Fiat Panda). Last year they shown some very awkward looking concepts (designed by Tongjian, of course). But this year all the cars they had were actually good looking and albeit derivative, they weren’t atrocious as their earlier attempts.
So I think it’s a huge step in the right direction, even with the similarities.
No, they’re not.
Physical dimensions of the cars are exactly the same. The hard points of the chassis look identical. The C50′s roofline and wheelbase are the same as the Civic Sedan’s. Change the facias, and it’s another car. The C30′s roofline and proportions are the same as the Vios. The C70′s greenhouse is identical to the Nissan Teana.
Yeah, the facias look different, but sadly these are clones (or are created with stolen technology) and nothing more.
and you know how? Do you work for Great Wall? Are you 100% SURE they are ALL reverse-engineered? I don’t think so.
Considering their track record, calling these cars original is far from the truth.
Considering their track record, it’s an improvement.
Considering your track records, comments from your mouth are hardly believable.
Ed, do you have link that I can see Haval Crossover SC60. I’m from South Asian Country, and I thk Great Wall car/ suv above is very2 beautiful. I like to see Great Wall bring thir car to our country. For my opinion, only 1 SUV have a similarity which is same as Toyota Rush.