Archive for February, 2011
BYD sales down – slashes prices to stay competitive
BYD was China’s wonder brand in 2009 when it rose from nowhere to become one of the leading car companies in China, just over 12 months later BYD’s sales are falling faster than a disgraced politburo cadre. According to BYD representatives quoted in Chinese media reports, 5 BYD models are to get their prices slashed [...]
Beijing January 2011 sales down by 89%
In late December 2010 Beijing Muncipal government enacted a new policy that would see car sales restricted to just 240,000 new cars per year as they limited the number of new license plates being issued to just 20,000 per month. January sales for 2011 have just been released and indicate that sales in the Beijing [...]
Chinese auto exports recovering in 2011
From People’s Daily: With economies throughout the world entering into recovery, China’s auto industry is beginning to shake the effects of the financial crisis and auto exports have begun to rebound gradually in 2011, according to an annual report released by the automotive section of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of [...]
Dongfeng Liuzhou starts work on Auto-Town
The foundation-laying ceremony of the Auto Town in Liuzhou, Guangxi, southwestern China, was held on February 16. SGMW’s passenger car production base with a capacity of 400,000 units and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor’s commercial vehicle production base with an annual output of 100,000 units started construction on the same day. The Auto Town is located at [...]
Chinese auto sales at 1.15 million units in January 2011
Although the Chinese car industry is still extremely hot, sales were down 9% over December 2010 figures. December was an extremely good month for Chinese car makers due to the end of favorable tax on small displacement vehicles – sales tax rose from 7.5% to 10% on the eve of December 31st in a bid [...]
GM to invest more into China
From People’s Daily: General Motors will continue “investing aggressively” in the world’s biggest auto market, according to the company’s top executive. The biggest foreign automaker in China by sales volume has also promised to bring more than 20 new and upgraded models to the country in the next two years. “As our largest market, China [...]
MG Motor UK gets new logo and MG6 sedan launches in the UK
The MG6 sedan has launched in the UK alongside the new MG logo. The MG6 sedan was first unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show but SAIC have moved fast to make sure that the car is going on sale in the UK in EU specification, the MG6 sedan and fastback will be sold from May [...]
GM announces that China is Crown Jewel in GM empire
From Reuters: General Motors Co is expanding the range of cars it sells in China, a step that could help build on its position in the world’s biggest auto market as it tries reclaim the No.1 global carmaker spot from Toyota Motor Corp . General Motors Chief executive Daniel Akerson said GM will add over [...]
Guangzhou Auto’s X-Power SUV spotted out
Guangzhou are developing their own self developed Trumpchi car brand at a rapid rate, their first sedan has only just launched but they are eager to follow it up with the SUV concept that they displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2010. The X-Power SUV concept has been spotted out several times but [...]
Chevrolet Volt to launch in China this year
The market for hybrids in China is currently in its early stages, the numbers for hybrid sales in China in 2010 were in the low 1000′s but in the USA its a different story where the Nissan Leaf and also Chevrolet Volt appear to be picking up strong initial sales. GM are planning to launch [...]
Chery and Great Wall are potential partners of Jaguar and Land Rover in China
Chery and Great Wall are contending for the role of local partner of Jaguar and Land Rover. Sources reveal that Tata CEO Carl Peter Forster visited Great Wall’s Tianjin base on Monday, and flew to Wuhu, Anhui, where Chery is based, for a thorough negotiation that night. Jaguar and Land Rover plan to build a [...]
My QQme and I
Editorial Note: This was written by Phil Shellhaas, the proud and possibly sole owner of a rather unique QQme in China. Phil is an American lecturer living in Beijing and giving regular classes at Beijing Agriculture University. I’m a proud, happy, new owner of a QQme in Beijing. This car has brought me great satisfaction [...]
Chery to work with Subaru in Dalian
Dalian City is quite the magnet for Japanese investment in China, just as Qingdao has become the epicenter of Korean investment in China, so it comes as no suprise to learn that Chery are close to putting the final touches on a deal that will see Subaru working with Chery in Dalian. Chery established a [...]
Chery sells 86299 cars in January
Chery has cleared a record 86,299 cars in January 2011 marking a new record for the young company. Sales rose 17.52% over January 2010′s on a surge of pre-Chinese new year good will which usually boosts all car makers across China, in addition Chery also exported 10,505 cars, an increase of 132.5%. Chery is aiming [...]
A chat with Lifan’s CEO
Yin Mingshan, 73, chairman of Lifan Group, a Chongqing-based private company that makes motorbikes and automobiles, accepted an interview from the auto channel of 163.com, telling his vehicle-making philosophy and stories. The Lifan Group was founded in 1992. Similar as BMW, Honda, Suzuki and Kia, Lifan started with motorcycle business. It entered the automobile field [...]
BYD sales fall in January
From Reuters: Chinese carmaker BYD Co Ltd , backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, reported a 15 percent drop in January auto sales, partly due to production constraints, which could put further pressure on its stock. The battery and carmaker sold 52,054 vehicles in January at the wholesale level, down from 61,215 units in the [...]
Toyota and FAW to work on self developed electric car
According to recent reports the partnership between FAW’s Tianjin subsidiary and Toyota is readying a self developed electric car for the Chinese market. The new EV will be pushed into yet another sub brand from FAW, development on the brand and the first model are currently in negotiation with Toyota regarding the vehicle, and it [...]
MG3 to launch in mid March, priced from 70,000rmb and rising
The MG3 was first unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show in December 2010 to an impressed crowd, the MG3 is the first small MG in quite a few years and appears to be setting its sights on the joint venture made cars such as the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit in terms of its pricing. [...]
Wuling to become GM’s dumping ground for old models
Wuling are going to have a much improved line up in the next 24 months according to reports from Chinese automotive outlets. BaoJun was set up by Wuling and GM to house GM’s end of line technology that Wuling and GM were going to repackage into new models for the Chinese and possibly overseas markets, [...]
C-NCAP to get tougher standards
In recent months several Chinese cars have reached the 5-Star safety requirement from the Chinese crash testing authority, CNCAP. Now C-NCAP are planning to raise requirements to get a 5-Star safety standard in their 2012 standards that they are assembling this week. The current crash test speed used in CNCAP is set at 56kph, but [...]
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