Archive for September, 2010
Dongfeng Luxgen’s first vehicle in rendered splendor?
Yesterday it was reported that Dongfeng and Luxgen are working together to introduce the Luxgen brand of vehicles into Mainland China, but it seems advanced plans for a Dongfeng-Luxgen designed SUV are in hand, of course these were leaked to the internet already: On the power train side of things, it is believed that Dongfeng [...]
Hong Qi HQE – Fit for an emperer or a CEO?
The Hong Qi HQE first appeared in concept form at the Beijing 2006 Auto Show, but later became the real car for President Hu Jintao’s review of the troops earlier this year. First Automobile Works decided that the HQE could become a world class limosuine for Chinese and foreign VIP’s in China alike, and plan [...]
Hyundai Azera spotted out testing, likely China bound
Hyundai’s upgraded all of its popular sedans – the Accent, Elantra and Sonata have gone through a sea of change in the recent past. Joining the bandwagon is the Hyundai Azera, which is based on the Sonata’s platform and is marginally wider and longer. The 2012 Azera will have Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture design language that [...]
Volvo XC60 2.0T launched in China, priced from 390,000rmb and rising
China’s love of SUV shows no sign of abating over the past few months with compact SUV’s sales rise continuing. Volvo is keen to cash in on the recent love of compact high end SUV’s that has so far seen great action from BMW, Mercedes and Audi models. Volvo’s introduction of the XC2.0T is expected [...]
Guangzhou Auto’s Trumpche to launch this December
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Guangzhou Auto’s Chairman Zhang Fangyou announced that Guangzhou’s own self developed car will launch in December this year. At the Beijing Auto Show in April this year, Guangzhou showed off its first concept sedan which is based on the Alfa Romeo 166 platform that Guangzhou Auto [...]
Guangzhou Auto buys coach maker for 1rmb
China’s central government is eager to push consolidation on the burgening Chinese car industry, but Guangzhou Auto’s recent purchase of Guangzhou’s Yue Jiang Coach Company for a mere 1rmb. According to information supplied, it appears that Yue Jiang Coaches has already gone bankrupt as of 2008 and no longer has the ability to produce vehicles, [...]
Dongfeng and Taiwan’s Yulong ink deal to put Luxgen in China
Earlier today in Beijing, the Chairman of Dongfeng Auto Group Mr. Xu Ping He and Yulong Auto’s Mr. Yan Kai Tai announced the creation of a new partnership that will see Yulong’s Luxgen motors being produced in China. In front of 300 selected guests and VIP’s, Mr. Xu and Mr. Yan announced that the Luxgen [...]
Beijing Auto officially announces new brand and new logo
The forthcoming Beijing Auto brand was announced earlier today and will be officially known as BAIC Motors. Beijing Auto Works is aiming to once again become a major player in the Chinese automotive industry, and has already made major breakthroughs in the industry thanks to its partnerships with Mercedes and Hyundai that have seen it [...]
China awards 3000rmb energy saving subisdy to more models
The Ministry of Development and Finance has announced a third set of cars that are entitled to a 3000rmb subsidy due to their energy saving abilities. All of the cars awarded the subsidy are sub 1.6L and are the best in their class in terms of fuel consumption, this is the third time that cars [...]
Nissan Micra/March sedan in rendered glory
The Nissan March (Micra in Europe and India) may have only just launched in China, but it seems that Nissan are planning to extend their March offerings in China and elsewhere with the addition of a sedan March. Whilst hatchbacks are becoming more popular in China, sedans still rule the roost and this is evident [...]
Kenneth Hsu leaves Geely after just five months on the job
Kenneth Hsu was Geely’s international communications manager, his unique mix of Taiwanese heritage and American education coupled with an impressive resume via his decade long stint at Ford was set to help him push Geely’s brands into the global market, however Mr. Hsu is leaving Geely after just five months on the job. Geely has [...]
MG3 spotted out, looking hot in hot yellow
The MG3 has been spotted out again, this time in hot yellow and neon blue, and with an automatic gearbox. The MG3 will launch later this year with a 1.5L engine which has already been awarded a 3000rmb subsidy due to it being an efficient vehicle. AshAsh came to China at 18 on a whim [...]
Automatic varient of Beijing Autos C30 MPV spotted out
The forthcoming Beijing C30 MPV has certainly become a media darling over the past few months with it appearing in Chinese automotive media at least once a week, this time we can see the automatic version: By launching an automatic alongside a manual, it shows that BAIC have some understanding of the car market. Previously [...]
Long waits for imported autos, but is it all a scam?
Imported automobiles have long been the reserve of the upper middle class in China, but with the strengthening of the RMB in recent years imported autos have become much more affordable and cost as little as 150,000rmb for various models and rise to several million RMB. Dealerships seem to have wised upto the demand for [...]
China’s vehicle exports up, but still not a major exporter of cars
China’s auto exports jumped to 47,200 vehicles in August of this year, making total exports for the first 8 months of the year total 336,100 units, which is a year on year increase of 80.01% according to figures released by the China Association Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) earlier this week. Whilst China’s automotive market is obviously [...]
VW’s E-Up electric concept sighted in China
It appears that VW maybe willing to throw in its electric know how with one of its partners here in China which echoes Nissan’s stance also, and seems to go against the vitriol that was spouted in the Wall Street Journal last week where foreign automotive companies were supposedly afraid of putting electric cars into [...]
Dongfeng-Honda to launch own brand in 2011
Whilst Dongfeng-Nissan are growing their own brand, it appears that Dongfeng-Honda are getting ahead in the technology department but are lacking in the branding department. Dongfeng and Nissan announced their own plans for their new brand entitled ‘Qi Chen’ several weeks ago, their first car is expected to launch in early 2012 and be based [...]
PSA and Dongfeng to strengthen JV with expansion
PSA are eager to strengthen their market share in China and are planning to improve their multiple JV’s with Dongfeng Auto after striking a new JV with Chang’an Auto to produce MPV’s and the Citroen DS range in Guangdong province. PSA Group are planning to launch up to 12 new models in the Chinese market [...]
Nissan to improve Dongfeng-Nissan relationship with EV Tech
Whilst other manufacturers are apparently worrying over sharing electric vehicle tech with their Chinese partners, it seems that Nissan are all too eager to share with their JV partner Dongfeng, which might just be a good thing for Chinese-Japanese relations after several weeks of low level bickering that just became very high-level. Nissan’s CEO’s CEO, [...]
Will SAIC take part in GM’s IPO?
General Motors is on the verge of its own IPO in a bid to raise funds to buy itself out of government control and pay back loans it received in 2008 to avoid bankruptcy. Media reports from earlier this month indicated that the US Treasury is planning to ban foreign funds from taking a slice [...]
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