Published by Ash July 2nd, 2008
in Dongfeng Automobile Company.
According to Chinese media reports earlier this week, SAIC was in talks with Ford over buying Volvo. SAIC later issued a denial, but that does not stop the automotive rumor mill from running.
Dongfeng is the latest suitor that is involved with Ford in taking over the ailing Volvo, although Ford say it will be in profit in 2009. Dongfeng currently have a joint venture partnership to build Volvo heavy trucks in China.
Dongfeng have been itching to launch their own brand of passenger vehicles for quite some time, although they havent always been very successful on the design front. Acquiring Volvo, and Volvo technology would must surely propel them to the forefront of automotive technology in China and would raise Dongfeng’s game quite a bit.
The below Citroen C-Triomphe was crushed by a landslide in the recent earthquake in Sichuan, but despite its roof collpasing the car was able to drive normally according to recent press reports.
Are Renault and Dongfeng finally ready to kick start their long anticipated joint venture in China? It may seem that way. Renault and Dongfeng have for a long time been courting each other with a view to entering the Chinese market place, currently all Renault vehicles are imported into China which basically translates into low sales due to high prices and the inability to advertise on a mass scale as they lack the infrastructure in China. Should Renault and Dongfeng enter the Chinese market together, then Renault would see its cars being made in China, at a lower cost, which would give them a price advantage against the local produce.
Renault are reportedly waiting for a ’suitable time’ in which to enter into the joint venture with Dongfeng, the Chinese motoring press are saying there is already a lack of suspense, its only a matter of ‘when‘ now rather than ‘if‘. Dongfeng and Renault joint venture agreements for car building date back to 2004, however since then nothing has come of it.
The Nissan Teana has had its price cut by a stonking 30,680rmb! Are Nissan trying to clear out stocks ahead of the new Teana launch in Beijing? Probably! The current Teana ranges from a 2.0l standard model up to a 3.5l V6 with the works installed, there is a 2.3 V6 in between the two however. The latest Teana, below, is expected to be launched at the Beijing Auto Show this month and will no doubt garner massive attention from the press. The latest Teana is based on the Nissan Intima concept that was shown off at a previous Tokyo Auto Show.
Published by Ash February 27th, 2008
in Hafei Motor and Dongfeng Automobile Company.
Hafei Automobiles actually make some of the nicest cars we’ve seen from a Chinese manufacturer, the cars are understyled, yet modern, somehow these cars just look good. The above Saibao 4, is just one example of their saloon range, Hafei also make mini MPVs (mian bao che) and two mini cars, the Lubao, and the Saima.
Yesterday China Car Times learned that Dongfeng motors, Chinas 3rd largest automotive manufacturer, had made public overtures to Hafei’s parent company, AviChina Industry & Technology Company with regards to forming an automotive joint venture. Avichina is said to be the one financing the joint venture by circulating shares of a sub company, Dongan motors, as well using its assets in Hafei automobiles.
Previously we had heard that Dongfeng was planning to offer upto 2 billion RMB to buy 50% of Hafei automobiles. If the deal goes through and obtains approval of the Chinese government, it would pave the way to further consolidation of Chinas massive automotive industry.
China Car Times cannot guess what Dongfeng want from Hafei automotive, could it be a design team? Could it be car building technology, could it be engine tech from Dongan? Possibly all of the above? Despite Dongfeng having joint ventures with some of the biggest car makers in the world, Dongfeng have yet to release their own brand of vehicles as their largest competitors FAW, and SAIC, have already done. Dongfeng did release the Joyear, but sales have been said to be less than a 1000 units to date.
Published by Ash February 26th, 2008
in Dongfeng Automobile Company.
China Car Times has a car from Dongfeng Nissan, and you could say we’re more than impressed by its quality, price, and more importantly the quality of service from Dongfeng Nissan dealers. Would we buy another Nissan? Of course we would - The Zhengzhou Nissan made Zhengzhou Aoting is catching our attention in a major way, as is the Chinese made Nissan X-Trail.
Nissan say they are going for 500,000 sales in China this year. A number which they might just meet, especially if we buy one, then they’ve only 499,999 more sales to worry about.
Continue reading ‘Nissan Going For 500,000 sales in China in ‘08′
Published by Ash February 11th, 2008
in Dongfeng Automobile Company.
Dongfeng is one of the biggest car makers in China, holding JVs with some of the worlds biggest auto players you would think Dongfeng would have started their own independent brand by now, especially with all of the experience they have gained from working with Honda, Nissan, Peugeot, and Citroen.
Dongfeng did actually create some of their own cars, but dang, they are ugly, point in case would be their coupe, on the other side of the coin, you have the Dongfeng JingYi, which looks really great, oh, and the Dongfeng Hummer.
Their latest sedan is rumored to be a B class car to go up against the Ford Focus, and Buick Excelle vehicles. Eventually, Dongfeng will cover the B, C, and D segments with its vehicles and increase its dealership network to 75 dealers.
Published by Ash December 12th, 2007
in Dongfeng Automobile Company.
The Citroen ZX has been in China since biblical times (well, maybe 10 years) and the car just keeps on selling! Dongfeng Citroen have recently rolled out a slightly updated model for 2008, although we are unsure what exactly is updated for 2008, as the car still looks the same as it did in 1991, when it was first released in Europe.
To be fair to the Fu Kang (as its known in China) it has been updated under the hood to include either a 1.4 or a 1.6 16v Euro 5 engine.
Should you be so inclined, you can pick up a brand new ZX for around 60 to 70,000rmb, depending on spec.
China Car Times never truly understood the Chinese governments stance on the environment and hybrid cars. The environment in Chinese cities in less than admirable, yet the cost of a Toyota or Honda hybrid is the same as a decent 2.5l v6 or 3.0l car in China.
It seems Honda is aiming to buck the trend and is planning on petitioning the Chinese government into giving potential hybrid buyers incentives to buy a hybrid over a traditional gasoline motor. Honda is currently planning to import the Honda Civic Hybrid into China and plans on selling at least 200 of them in China before 2008, except the car costs 269,000rmb once it has been imported, a lot of money for a car that doesnt give a lot back.
The Toyota Prius is manufactured, and sold in China but sales remain pathetically small. The Chinese just havent embraced the hybrid car yet, and Prius sales reflect that very clearly with them just selling 16 in October, from Jan to Oct this year, Toyota have sold 2116 Prius’ in China.
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