China Auto News of the Week (August 30 - September 3, 2010)
Toyota expects to develop new technology with Chinese partners
Shanghai August 30 (Gasgoo.com) Following GM's further cooperation with SAIC on new energy technology, Toyota Motor Corporation now expects to cooperate with its Chinese partners to develop new technology as well, Ya Kato, general manager of Toyota Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd. said in an interview with Beijing News Last week.
Toyota has since 2002 started auto production in China, with hopes to import as many as its global strategy models into China as soon as possible. However, the table has turned-- automobile industry in China is advancing rapidly with special characteristics and particular needs, given which Toyota will discuss with its Chinese partners what technology the Chinese people will like, Ya Kato said.
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New Renault Latitude sedan coming to China in 2011
Shanghai August 30 (Gasgoo.com) Renault will import its all-new Latitude sedan into the Chinese market next year, further increasing its market share in China's middle-class car segment, Beijing News reported Monday.
The new Latitude, which is developed by Renault in collaborations with Nissan and Samsung using a platform of Renault / Nissan D Platform, measures (LxWxH) 4887mm x 1832mm x 1483mm and has a wheelbase of 2760mm, much bigger than the existing Renault Laguna but quite similar to the locally produced Nissan Tiannai.
Changan's auto output ranks China's first -OICA
Shanghai August 31 (Gasgoo.com) Chang'an Automobile Group, the parent firm of Ford's Chinese partner, produced approximately 1.43 million autos in 2009, ranking first in China and thirteenth in the World, Chongqing Evening News reported, citing statistics released by OICA.
Among the top 25, Changan is the only Chinese automaker whose auto output and sales both broke the 1 million barrier, followed by SAIC, FAW and Dongfeng Motor with a combined auto output of about 1.7 million units. In terms of production of self-developed models, Changan is obviously a big step ahead of the other homegrown automakers in the country.
Chery Auto opening sales network for new energy vehicles
Shanghai August 31 (Gasgoo.com) Chery Auto has recently started establishing sales network nationwide for its new energy vehicles, and has already brought 29 dealers into its network, Jin Gebo, assistant to Chery's general manager told Securities Daily.
In late June, Chery New Energy Automobile Technology Limited Company, a subsidiary of Chery Auto, held its first dealers business alliance conference in Wuhu Conch International Convention Centre, at which investment dealers from Anhui, Shandong and Henan province signed contractual intention with the Anhui-based automaker.
Guangzhou Auto H1 net profit up 260%
Shanghai September 1 (Gasgoo.com) Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (02238, HK), posted a net profit of 2.31 billion yuan ($339 million) for the first half, up 260% from 640 million yuan a year earlier, Hexun reported, according to a company filing.
In the same period, the company gained sales revenue of 28.9 billion yuan, up 39.8% from 20.9 billion yuan a year ago. Moreover, its gross margin increased to 18.3% from 16.6% last year.
New Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG coming to China this month
Shanghai September 1 (Gasgoo.com) German luxury carmaker Mercedes Benz will import its new super sports car SLS AMG to the Chinese market this month in a bid to enhance its product line up, encouraged by continued growth in China's luxury car market, Beijing Youth Daily reported Wednesday.
The new super sports car from Mercedes-Benz and AMG makes for an alluring proposition with its unrivalled technology package: aluminium spaceframe body with gullwing doors, AMG 6.3-litre V8 engine developing 420 kW/ 571 hp peak output and 650 Nm of torque, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sports suspension with aluminium double wishbones, etc., according to sources.
China August passenger-car sales up 59.26% to 977,300 units
Shanghai September 2 (Gasgoo.com) China's passenger-car sales rebounded strongly in August, helped by government subsidies for energy-efficient vehicles and a stronger currency.
According to data released by the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, sales of the country's passenger vehicles reached 977,300 units last month, up 18.85% from July and 59.26% from a year earlier, of which sales of passenger cars with displacement of 1.6L and below increased 20.25% month on month and 56.34% year on year to 652,000 units.
China to issue 15 electric car standards in second half
Shanghai September 2 (Gasgoo.com) To boost domestically-produced electric vehicles, the Chinese government will issue 15 relevant electric vehicle standards in the second half after figuring out it should mainly focus on promoting pure-electric vehicles to develop its automobile industry, Beijing Times reported Thursday.
Reporters learned from the drafting standards for electric vehicles that related items such as battery box specifications, voltage/current reference, battery recycling, batter replacement requirements, charging station monitoring, billing, security, battery box number will all be standardized.
Foton Motor to set up R&D center in Germany
Shanghai September 3 (Gasgoo.com) China's biggest commercial vehicle producer, Beiqi Foton Motor, will invest 5 million euros ($426,000 yuan ) to set up a R&D center in Stuttgart, Germany, Shanghai Securities News reported Friday.
Foton Motor, a subsidiary of Beijing Automotive Industry Holding (BAIC), said establishing overseas R&D center is currently an effective way to enhance the company's research and development capacity in battery and electronic control system.
BAIC to roll out self-made C60 sedan in'11
Shanghai September 3 (Gasgoo.com) Two years after its acquisition of Sabb's technology, Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co (BAIC) is set to roll out its first self-developed sedan, the C60, at the end of 2011, Beijing Times reported, according to a source familiar with the matter.
BAIC's C60, which is based on the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan, will come with 2.0LT and 2.3T engines of which the 2.0T will be available in four models. It is unlikely that many changes will be made to the car's body and appearance.
