Sales of the Swift have increased by 30% year on year, any addition of a sports car is only bound to increase sales.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Gasgoo is reporting that Suzuki have only sold 15,000 units since going on sale in China – even that number seems rather high. Currently the Kizashi has a 40,000rmb (6,512USD) discount across the range, which is making it look slightly more appetizing to the Chinese consumer.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Engine power will come from a 1.4L inline four economy model, expect the stretched model to be launched in early 2011.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Suzuki’s rep office in Beijing overseas Suzuki China’s joint venture with Changhe and Chang’an Automotive. Changhe automotive belonged to the AVIC group of automakers, an arms group that spread out into auto making as a way to earn more cash now that the cold war has officially ended. Chang’an is also controlled by an arms group but managed to merge Changhe and Hafei into its own subsidiaries. Suzuki aimed to expand its joint venture partnerships with Chang’an but it appears that Chang’an spurned them in favor of working with the French giant PSA earlier this year and subsequently booted Hafei out of its strategically important Shenzhen factory that will give PSA easy access to the Guangdong auto market, although Chang’an says that Hafei isn’t getting the lethal injection treatment as of yet. Suzuki’s current China up consists of the super cheap Alto, the Swift and the SX4 whilst the Kizashi, Jimney and Vitari models are imported from Japan which makes them less competitive against locally produced models.

To further add to Suzuki’s misery in 2010, its flagship sedan the Kizashi has only sold 50 models in Beijing alone – statistics for the rest of China are unavailable but its likely to be just as miserable all over China.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The sedan version of the SX4 has never been as popular as the hatchback, and it is likely that the hatcback will gain similar styling later in the year. The sedan will launch at the Guangzhou Auto Show and will have the choice of a 1.6L or a 1.8L engine.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The above Swift continues to have its handsome stance that has helped it become one of the best selling small cars in the Chinese market, the interior has also been updated with two tone leather seats and an improved stereo system, that this time allows for SD card access. Pricing is expected to stay in the similar 60,000rmb to 100,000rmb that has so far become a sweet spot for joint venture produced cars.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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WagonR E+

The WagonR is set to get stretched for the Chinese market in 2011, it appears that Changhe Suzuki have decided that the fun little box is no longer long enough to cope with consumers and plans to stretch its wheelbase to allow more rear leg room and also plan to offer larger engines including a 1.0L, a 1.2L and a 1.4L, and there will be a large sales push on the smaller 1.2L and 1.0L engines to rural buyers.

Changhe Suzuki recently launched the Suzuki E+, but by making it longer they possibly plan to make it into a small van that would make the car popular in Western and rural areas.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Suzuki Splash - to be Made in China

The Suzuki Splash is set to launch at the end of the year according to media reports and will be the eighth small car from Chang’an Suzuki in the Chinese marketplace.

Since Chang’an Motors took over the Changhe and Hafei auto companies from AVIC group, Chang’an was able to solidify its Suzuki joint venture and currently produces the best selling Suzuki Swift, Alto, Liana, WagonR, SX4, Landy MPV and the Ling Yang (mark2 Suzuki Swift sedan), the eighth addition to the line up of course being the Splash.

The Splash is expected to retail for between 50,000rmb and 70,000rmb and will launch at the end of the year, although an exact date has yet to be announced.

Why Suzuki has decided to launch yet another small car in the Chinese market is a mystery, although it seems that Suzuki’s forthcoming plans for a three way tie up with VW and SAIC might see the Suzuki SUV range produced in China are likely to give Suzuki a major boost in China. Suzuki also recently launched the Kizashi sedan in China.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Chang’an Suzuki will launch the Swift Champion model tomorrow (10/06/2010) and will see the Swift get a sporty facelift but the 1.5L producing 138Nm of torque will stay the same, meaning that no Suzuki Swift GTi anytime soon.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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From Peoples Daily

China’s quality watchdog said Friday that Chongqing Chang’an Suzuki Automobile Co., a sino-Japanese joint venture, would recall 10,326 Alto vehicles due to gas filter problems on the Chinese mainland as of Feb. 5.

Oil leaks may occur due to gas filter faults caused by improper manufacturing techniques, and will post potential safety risks, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (GAQSIQ) said in a statement on its website.

The recall involved Alto models produced from July. 6, 2009, to Jan. 17 this year, and the manufacturer would fix the problems for free, said the statement.

Owners can contact Chongqing Chang’an Suzuki Automobile by phone on 400-1077988 or contact the GAQSIQ on 010-65537365.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The WagonR is available in China with a 1.4L engine, making it perfect it for city life, according to Chinese media reports the 2010 model will have a longer wheelbase at 2360mm, making it 25mm longer than the current model.

Pricing or an actual picture of the model has yet to be released, however it is expected that the WagonR will be the same as the 2009 Japanese WagonR.

We will keep you upto date with Chang’an Suzuki news.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Reuters tells us like it is:

GUANGZHOU (Reuters) – Changan Automobile Group, China’s No. 3 automaker, said on Monday it had slowed down plans to set up a Mexican plant but remained committed to breaking into the North American market.

“We are still doing market research there. There won’t be any big investment for the time being,” Zhu Huarong, head of Changan’s research and development division, told Reuters.

“We have slowed down the pace of the plant a bit because of the financial crisis, but our plan is unchanged,” Zhu said in an interview.

The company said the Mexico plan would secure a foothold to North America.

Changan, a Ford Motor (F.N) China partner, signed a deal last year to set up in Mexico.

Changan is among a growing group of Chinese automakers, including its top player SAIC Motor Corp, hoping to emulate the global success of Japanese carmakers like Toyota Motor (7203.T).

SAIC, which bought MG Rover’s 10,000-unit Longbridge plant in Britain in 2007, wants to start making its MG 6 sedan in the UK, its president Chen Hong told reporters on Sunday.

GOING HIGHER END

Chinese automakers are mostly focused on the lower end of the domestic market, leaving the lucrative higher end to foreign brands, such as General Motors GM.UL and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE).

But as wealth grows in what is now the world’s top auto market, many Chinese manufacturers are looking to boost their patriotic profile by offering higher-end models.

Chery Automobile, whose QQ sells for as little as 30,000 yuan ($4,394), unveiled its first premier car G6 under the Riich brand in April, followed by G5 six months later.

Changan, which currently makes small cars, such as Yuexiang and BenBen, is also working hard to tap the upper end of the market, Zhu said.

“We have been investing heavily in research and development. We will not stay at the lower end forever. If fact, you can see our first self-made saloon within months,” he said, declining to provide further details.

When asked why Changan did not acquire western brands to raise its own profile like some of its peers, Zhu said: “We had some initial contacts with some foreign brands but decided to give up in the end.”

“After all, it’s still a foreign brand even after you take it over. We want to make expensive cars on our own.”

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The upcoming 600CC Turbo engine could be finding its way into the recently launched Suzuki Alto, and the soon to be launched Suzuki WagonR.

Should Chang’an-Suzuki get this baby into production in time, then they may well be able to flood the market with cheap, powerful cars.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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It’s likely that the Suzuki Kizashi will be produced in cooperation with Chang’an Suzuki in South West China early next year complete with a 2.4l 4 cylinder engine.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Obviously trying to be a hit with the ladies, the pink Swift will launch next month alongside a ‘cool black’ Swift.

The Swift has been a major hit for the Chang’an Suzuki group, and they continually launch new colors to keep sales up. Earlier this year, a chocolate Swift complete with a tan interior was launched . These two new colors will be available with 1.5 engines. The warranty has also been raised to an impressive 5 years, or 100,000km as well on all new Swift sales.

Despite the cool color range, the question remains, are they going to introduce the GT as a final outing? That’s what we, and a lot of other people, are really waiting for.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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As the Elysee was originally ZX derived, it appears that the ZX may well never go off silently into the night as the Suzuki Alto recently did.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Chang’an Suzuki have an inventory of 5000 Alto’s on hand which will be sold by the end of the year, and furthermore, a supply of parts will be continued for the next ten years.

The new Suzuki Alto which was unveiled last week in Paris, is expected to be produced in China by September 2009, giving Chang’an Suzuki yet another car to add to their line up.

Chang’an Suzuki curently offer the SX4, Swift, and the aging Suzuki Cultus/Swift saloon from 1983, as well as the various imported Suzuki SUV range. Suzuki are also expected to introduce the Suzuki Splash into China as well.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The model shown above is actually a limited edition model, with some slight alterations such as the addition of the spoiler, and a limited edition logo. We think the seats may have actually been swapped for the sports style seats as well. If we found ourselves living a huge city with bad traffic, we’d be straight down to the Suzuki dealer to pick one of these up!

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The 1.8l is part of a special edition SX4 that will only run for a certain amount of time. The exterior of the SX4 has pretty much continued with the same lines, however, the grill has been updated slightly which gives it a much more sporty look, it looks like the lower plastic chrome has been added around the front skirt as well.

The SX4 has had reasonable success so far in China, but with the small crossover market hotting up, the latest incarnation of the SX4 may well help it further against its nearest rivals, the Livina C-Gear, PoloCross, and the MG3 SW.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The exterior has been given new silver door handles, as well as nicer roof bars. The interior sees the most dramatic change, with the SX4 getting cool new twin tone seats.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Swift:

The Suzuki Swift has been on the market in China for roughly 4 years, in that time the engine has been increased from a 1.3 to a 1.5, various sports editions (note: two tone paint job) and now a summer special edition. The summer special edition is a 1.5l engined model, the Chinese motoring press said that the car has undegone some changes, but fails to list exactly what. Perhaps a new range of color schemes?

The Suzuki Swift has always been a China Car Times favorite, its cheap, it goes reasonbly quick, and its cute. We just wish the GT version would be introduced into China as well!

SX4:

The SX4 was introduced into China a year ago, it came as a small car with rugged looks, a decent interior all at the reasonable price of 120,000rmb, or $16,000USD at the time. If you look beyond China’s vast borders, especially to the USA where the SX4 could be had brand new for $14k with all wheel drive technology its no small wonder China Car Times didnt buy one. For 2008, Suzuki have installed a sunroof on the SX4, both on the hatchback and the saloon variant.

Suzuki SplashThe Suzuki Splash is the only new car from Suzuki this year, although we have to ask why they are planning to introduce another small car into China – perhaps it would be wiser to see some domestic production of their SUV range instead.  The Splash is expected to go into production at the end of 2008, and will be on sale in early 2009. The Splash is expected to be cheaper than the current Swift (thus in the 50,000rmb range) and may well be a replacement for the WagonR, unless Suzuki plan to bring out the new WagonR via their Changhe joint venture. The Splash is expected to be packed full of safety equipment that is only usually located on mid range sedans, which Suzuki hope will attract more people to this model.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Chang’an have been making Bread Vans – aka Suzuki Carry style vehicles for ages now, they even managed to sell one million of the same model. Now it seems Chang’an are planning on making a larger MPV aimed at the business users.

It seems Chang’an may well be working with their partner, Suzuki, to bring the Japanese designed, but Indonesian built, Suzuki APV mini van to China.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The Suzuki Swift has been popular the world over, especially in China and India where low labor costs have made the Swift one of the cheapest cars on the market, is also a damned good looking car in its price range, when compared to the other competitors. Developing lands have always been favorable to sedans, China has the Tiida (versa) sedan, and the Fiesta Sedan, so will we get the Suzuki Swift sedan? We certainly hope not!

Click the above picture for a bigger version.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Rumors are starting to circulate that Chang’an Changhe Suzuki are getting ready to make the newer, more up to date version of the Suzuki WagonR to increase sales in China. We hope its true, the new generation WagonR looks quite good (pictured, left) There is even talk of a 4WD edition. China Car Times will keep watching this one with a keen interest.

update: Thanks to Erik for point out that the WagonR is made by Changhe Suzuki and not Chang’an Suzuki. We got our Changs mixed up.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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The Suzuki SX4, some kind of cross between a Suzuki Vitari and a Suzuki Swift, will have its pricing announced at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month. The SX4 sales in North America are going through the roof, probably due to its its low price $14,999 for a 142bhp 4×4 model complete with power door locks, power windows, power mirrors etc. Quite a bargain if you were to ask China Car Times.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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This month will see its debut on the Chinese market, aimed at families who joint combined incomes is around 100,000rmb per year. A great car no doubt for Chinese families who want to take out both sets of in laws plus their kid. Those seats must come in great use, but imagine trying to turn a corner in the Landy at speed, it seems too be too high and not broad enough, like those little Suzuki jeeps that were famous for rolling over on corners.

We think the car looks really cool from the front, however its a bit long overall. Still, it is a cheap multi functional MPV – it can be used to carry people or it would make for a great cargo carrying vehicle. Smaller than a Ford Transit and probably a lot cheaper.

The Landy will cost 80,000 – 100,000rmb, and unlike the other Landys available in Japan the Chinese Landy will come equipped with a tiny 1.4 16v engine. The Japanese version contains a much more powerful 2.0l engine.

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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Have to say, Zhong Hua’s cars are looking great – it must be the BMW input!

Ash

Ash came to China at 18 on a whim and never left. Some 10 years later he collected a degree and a family along the way and now focuses his time on watching the Chinese car industry develop. He has witnessed the market change from being minor backyard market in to the world's biggest and most important market for all car manufacturers. You can contact or connect with him via Linkedin by clicking the 'Website' link.

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