Archive for November, 2011
Whole nation calling for safe school buses
The news about a bus accident has been headlines for days in China. On Nov 16, a kindergarten’s small school bus crashed into a heavy-duty truck in Gansu, a northwest province. The death toll has risen to 21. In the accident, there were 64 people in the bus. Except one driver and one teacher, they [...]
China’s next step: Making a second hand car market
Chinese consumers have bought several million cars per year for the past six years, but where are those cars going once they reach their lifetime limit? The Wall Street Journal’s Norihko Shirouzu has written up an excellent article on the foundations of the second hand car industry, and how it might morph into something much [...]
Ford announces new power train options for the China market
Ford are planning to bring 20 new engines and transmissions to the Chinese market over the next few years according to a press release issued on the first day of the Guangzhou Auto Show. Ford’s goal is simple, introduce their Ecoboost technology into China along with new transmissions and save 20% fuel across the Ford [...]
Kia K2 spotted outside GZ Auto Show Hall, will shine on Monday
Kia’s are the new hot brand in 2011, thanks to their new design theme it seems the old Kia has been relegated to a thing of the past, the Kia K2 is ready to take on the Chinese market and the world market at the Guangzhou Auto Show where it will have its world premiere, [...]
Suzuki Splash ahead of the GZ Auto Show
Getting air time for a small car at major auto shows is hard work, so Suzuki made the most of it and launched the Splash ahead of time. Suzuki operates two joint ventures in China, one with Chang’an and the other with Changhe. Changhe was started by a AVIC, an arms manufacturer that decided to [...]
China announces new unified rules for new joint venture companies
The first application for an automotive joint venture came in 1983, a brave American company called AMC thought that the Chinese market might be a good place to sell its Jeep Cherokee line up, by 1983 they had nailed the contract and were ready to build, a few months later Volkswagen got the similar deal [...]
Did you just buy a Mazda3, or a Focus, or a Chevrolet Cruze? God still loves you. This is the MG5.
Other websites might be able to give you some fuzzy pics of a camouflaged MG5 out testing, but China Car Times is 100% (that’s ten tens!) dedicated to bringing the latest news on the Chinese auto industry. Thus we are able to give you the MG5 in full before it launches on Monday morning at [...]
Chang’an playing catch up with Wuling by launching ‘Ao Nuo’ MPV
When Wuling launched the Hong Guang they opened a new niche market of minivans, a van that could mix the utilitarian load baring capacity of the traditional bread van paired with the comfort of a more traditional passenger car. Sales of the Hong Guang have been strong and it is expected to be one of [...]
Are global auto makers preparing for the electric rush in China
When it comes to electric cars it seems that everyone is pointing towards the Chinese market as the foundation to guide the way into a new era of cheap and whirring automotive transportation. On the ground in China it seems to be a different story, of course there is a massive impetus on building an [...]
Chevrolet Camaro to come to China with Transformers edition
Perhaps the Chevrolet Cruze Transformers edition was just there to test the water ahead of the real Transformers edition rolling into town, rich Transformers fan boys will be able to lap up the city destroying fun in the new Transformers edition Camaro in the next few weeks. GM are planning to bring the special edition [...]
Kia K2 hatchback spied ahead of Guangzhou Auto Show, and world launch
Kia’s in 2012 are no laughing matter, only an idiot would mock a new Kia and we’re fairly sure that old world manufacturers are watching Kia’s rise very closely. Early Kia’s were a laughing matter, odd Mazda based cars with unusual proportions and all the style and charisma of a dead street pigeon, but Kia [...]
Surprise Surprise – new Venucia range from Nissan looks exactly like old Tiida sedan
When Honda announced its plans for a new sub brand between itself and Guangzhou Auto everyone in the auto industry was expecting the new brand to make the most of the situation, i.e. mixing the old Honda City’s platform with a new skin and brand, instead the Li Nian was born which looked exactly like [...]
Saab lives on as the BAIC C70
BAIC are going to upset their regional rivals next week by launching the C70 sedan, the Guangzhou Auto Show is in the backyard of the relatively new Guangzhou Auto Company and will be the center piece for their new product launches, Beijing being Beijing will want the world’s eyes on the C70 sedan ahead of [...]
Chinese automotive media getting excited about Seat
Seat has already had its brand launch in China at this years Shanghai Auto Show but the company has not yet had its model launch, which is expected to happen at this years Guangzhou Auto Show which of course starts next week. As you can see, Seat models have been sighted out testing several times [...]
Next generation Ford Focus to launch at the Guangzhou Auto Show
The Chinese love the Ford Focus, as we have said many a time on China Car Times the Focus has become a symbol of Middle Class life in China, if you can afford a Focus you’re doing pretty well it seems. However, the current Focus is a little bit outclassed and out styled by other [...]
Zotye Z300 spied ahead of GZ Auto Launch
The Zotye Z300 is Zotye’s latest mid size car, although the car looks like a completely new car it does have some interesting technology under it. Power comes from a 1.5L Mitsubishi engine owing to Zotye’s lack of self developed engine technology, but the platform itself comes from the Lancia Lybra platform, although thankfully the [...]
China auto brands and their stereotypes
The New York Times is running an interesting story on automotive stereotypes in China, albeit based on a taxi drivers anecdotes and a PR lady: Mercedes-Benz, a brand that in much of the world suggests moneyed respectability. In China, many people think Mercedes-Benz is the domain of the retiree. and now for Buick: The Buick, [...]
Hawtai releases Baolige SUV renders ahead of GZ Auto Show – doesn’t look like a Porsche Cayenne
Hawtai’s SUV concept at the Beijing Auto Show last year raised more than a few eyebrows as it looked overly like a car we had already seen from Porsche before, namely the Cayenne SUV. Hawtai named their own version the Bao Li Ge (English name pending) and it rides on a modified Hyundai Sante Fe [...]
FAW’s OuLai brand to satisfy economy market with economy sedan
First Automobile Works owns multiple brands, at the top end they have the flagship Hong Qi (Red Flag), then in the middle they have Besturn, then Xiali in the economy section, and now they are planning to add OuLai. Oulai will sit at the bottom of the range and its first car will be based [...]
Dongfeng releases final pictures of A60
The Dongfeng A60 is shown below, do not confuse it for the last generation Nissan Bluebird Sylphy as it is now the A60. Nissan has been overly generous with their joint venture partner, Dongfeng, the two have made Nissan branded cars in the Chinese market for a number of years but Dongfeng has been slow [...]
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