Archive for August, 2010
Ehai gets major investment
From Reuters: The Chinese company eHi Car Rental said Monday that a consortium led by Goldman Sachs has agreed to make a $70 million investment. Existing shareholders of eHi Car Rental are also part of the group, including Qiming Venture Partners, CDH Ventures, Ignition Capital, JAFCO Asia and New Access Capital. The deal is expected [...]
Nissan March launched in China, priced from 69,900rmb and rising
The Nissan Micra has followed in the Japanese market footsteps and launched in China under the March name. The March is being built via Nissan’s China joint venture with Dongfeng that has exploded in popularity over the past four years due to an aggressive model launch that has propelled them to one of the larger [...]
Official pictures of Riich Z5 roadster leaked
The Chery Riich Z5 has been in development for a very long time, and is something that we have all been looking forward to seeing hit the roads. When the car was in development it was known as the Chery A6CC, and was likely to join the Chery A-series of cars but with the development [...]
BYD backing away from worlds biggest car company dream
Late last year BYD announced it would be the world’s biggest car manufacturer by 2025, now it seems that BYD are backing out of that goal in a bid to shore up meager sales in their home markets. Two years ago, BYD Auto announced its ambition with certainty to become the No.1 automaker by sales [...]
Greatwall’s new crossover SUV sighted
So far Greatwall’s SUV range have all been based on traditional chassis, which makes them great for hauling stuff which needs to be hauled, but it doesn’t give them great fuel economy and also keeps them large in size, the way forward for many other companies is to ditch the traditional body on frame SUV [...]
GM considered listing in HK to gain access to Asian savings
From Reuters: General Motors Co GM.UL considered an Asian exchange for its historic return to the public markets, but ruled it out because it would have delayed the IPO, people familiar with the matter said. GM, which filed plans for a dual listing in New York and Toronto this week, as recently as several weeks [...]
Luxury is going to the village too
Whilst the government is eager to promote cars to the rural areas, there has been a large amount of luxury car buying in the second and third tier cities, which seems to be growing on the back of high real estate prices. The consultancy firm Mckinsey indicated that 30% of China’s rich life in Beijing, [...]
Next generation Chevrolet Aveo spotted out testing
Chevrolet’s latest Chevrolet Aveo is on the verge of launching at the Paris Auto Show, but it seems that development on the car is at an advanced stage in China according to these spy shots: The Aveo is based on GM’s Gamma II platform and will be packing a 1.2L, 1.4L, and 1.6L naturally aspirated [...]
Opel planning to reinforce China market
Opel are actually still in China, but currently selling the last generation of Astra and Antara, but plans to come back to China with a stronger line up: From TTAC: Opel now received the o.k. to expand into markets outside of Europe. You probably can guess which markets they have in mind. “We will begin [...]
Hover H5 launched – priced from 92,800rmb and rising
The Greatwall Hover H5, known as the Hover ‘Euro Spec’ model has launched today and is likely to become one of the models that is at the forefront of GWM’s European expansion plan. For the Chinese market the H5 will come with a choice of three engines, and in three specifications for each. The base [...]
MG3 looking close to production in latest spy pictures
It seems the MG3 is very close to production with this latest set of spy pictures, which include the Roewe W5 SUV that seems to be accompanying the MG3 out and about: The MG3 appears to have leather seats and also an AMT gearbox, interestingly the car has white sporty inserts which is fairly similar [...]
Lifan to launch three new cars next year
At the Beijing Auto Show earlier this year it was thought that Lifan were on their last legs with a meager auto show presence, but now it appears that Lifan have found their new wind and are planning to launch three new cars in 2011. Over the course of 2010, Lifan have been working on [...]
BMW X3 spotted out testing in China – but is it a long wheel base version?
The Chinese automotive media are getting rather excited about this set of spy pictures of the BMW X3 SUV, as it appears to be a long wheel base version: In recent months BMW, Mercedes, and Audi have been in a three way battle for control of the luxury market, but it appears that Audi are [...]
Greatwall planning to invest 5 billion RMB over 5 years
Greatwall are making great headway with their plans to become a major automotive player in the Chinese market with their mixture of SUV, pick up truck, and small car range which gives them a finger in many different pies, however Greatwall Motors (GWM) are planning to invest a lot more into their operations over the [...]
China’s 60 mile traffic jam – whats it all about?
Foreign media outlets have been going crazy for China’s latest ‘worlds biggest’ extrvaganza, which has turned out to be the worlds longest traffic jam that is spreading over 60 miles and is expected to take months to clear. The Chinese press have reported on the event, but not with the gusto that the foreign press [...]
BAIC aiming to buy Zotye
Whilst Guangzhou Auto is slowly swallowing up its neighbours in Changfeng and GoNow, it seems that Beijing Auto Industry Corp (BAIC) is aiming to take over some of the smaller players in the Chinese market and complete the governments aims to consolidate the Chinese car industry. BAIC purchased Bao Long Auto last week, and an [...]
Lifan confirms in talks with Subaru
Lifan’s sales company CEO Mr. Liao Xiong Hui confirmed the rumors that Subaru are in talks with Lifan regarding the establishment of a new joint venture in the Chinese market. Mr. Liao remarked “This issue has already been raised with our CEO, Lifan really wants to work with Subaru on this project, and we also [...]
3.5L Honda Crosstour to launch in China on September 1st
The Honda Crosstour is on the verge of launching and will officially launch on September 1st following its unveiling in Beijing earlier this year. The Crosstour will first be launched with a 3.5L engine, but other smaller engines are due to launch at a later date. Pricing is currently unknown, but it is likely to [...]
PSA to formally land in Shenzhen on the 26th
The strategic contract between PSA and Chang’an Auto, which will see PSA move into Hafei Auto’s factory in the strategically important city of Shenzhen was signed today and will take yet another car maker into the metropolis. PSA’s entry into Guangzhou province represents one of the first smart moves that PSA have achieved in China, [...]
Chinese auto makers and fuel companies to form electric car alliance
Sixteen of the largest state owned Chinese auto makers are set to form an alliance that will push for the development of electric vehicles in China, and will be a major linchpin in the governments plans to push the electric car industry in the right direction and have a lesser dependency on fossil fuels. The [...]
Twitter!
