GM India to launch SAIC cars, LCVs by late 2011
Shanghai, May 31 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors India announced on May 27 that it will launch commercial vehicles and passenger cars from the product line-up of GM's Chinese partner SAIC Motor by the end of next year, India media reported.
In late 2009, GM formed a new investment company with SAIC and converted its Indian operations into a 50:50 joint venture with the Chinese auto giant. GM India has appointed on its board three members from SAIC and will also have nine Chinese executives for senior positions.
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China to have 2nd-most vehicles in the world by 2011
Shanghai, May 31 (Gasgoo.com) With its auto sales growing rapidly, China is expected to overtake Japan to become the country with the second-most vehicles on the road by next year, Shanghai Securities News reported today, citing an industry expert.
Xu Changming, a research director at the State Information Center, said last week that vehicle ownership in China may has been rising annually and may reach 75 million units by the end of this year or early next year from 63 million units in 2009.
Changan Ford recalls 230,000 Focus cars in China
Shanghai, June 1 (Gasgoo.com) Yesterday, Ford Motor's Chinese venture Changan Ford Mazda began to recall 230,000 Ford Focus 2009 cars in China to fix a calibration software problem, Chongqing Commercial Daily reported.
The calibration software behind the electronic throttle control system may result in extinction when engines are operating at low speed and low load. As for the problem, Changan Ford will conduct a free examination of the affected cars and upgrade the software.
GM China Jan-May sales exceed one million vehicles
Shanghai, June 1 (Gasgoo.com) GM, which makes vehicles in China mainly with local partner SAIC Motor, sold more than one million vehicles in the country in the first five months, half of its 2 million sales target for this year, Xinhua News reported, citing company's top executive.
At the ceremony of delivering this year's 1 millionth vehicle on May 28, Kevin Wale, president and managing director of GM China, said GM became the first global automaker in 2007 to sell more than one million vehicles in the Chinese market, and this year GM China achieved this volume in the first five months.
China sells 1.19 mln vehicles in May, down 13.95% m/m
Shanghai, June 2 (Gasgoo.com) China's vehicle output in May reached 1.37 million units, down 14.36% month on month, while sales came to 1.19 million units, down 13.95% m/m, China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC) said on June 1 2010.
Reportedly, passenger vehicle sales (including sedans, SUVs and MPVs) in May fell 10.85% m/m, rose 25.02% y/y, to 885,000 units. In January-May this year, passenger vehicle output and sales rose 53.73% and 28.70% from a year earlier, to 5.31 mln and 4.57 mln respectively.
Honda China parts plant resumes production today
Shanghai, June 2 (Gasgoo.com) Honda Motor Co. said a key car parts factory in south China had resumed full production today, more than two weeks after some workers had gone on strike demanding higher wages, Reuters reported today.
However, Honda still has no timetable for resumption of the four vehicle assembly plants in China.
"Today, we will decide on whether we can resume operations at our main assembly lines starting on June 3," Honda spokeswoman Akemi Ando said.
BMW Brilliance new plant to make BMW 3 Series, X1
Shanghai, June 3 (Gasgoo.com) BMW Brilliance will start producing the elongated version of BMW 3 Series and the BMW X1 model in the venture's second plant, located in Shenyang city, northeast China's Liaoning province.
And after capacity is expanded, models made by BMW Brilliance will not only meet the domestic demand, but also be exported, said Qi Yumin, chairman of Brilliance Auto Group, at the ground-breaking ceremony of the new plant on June 2.
Changan Auto may buy into Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus
Shanghai, June 3 (Gasgoo.com) Chongqing Changan Automobile Group, one of China's top four carmakers, is planning to buy into Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus Co., Ltd., in order to expand its presence in the commercial vehicle sector, SinoCast reported yesterday, citing insiders.
Xiamen Golden Dragon Bus, based in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, Fujian province, has been a major player in the Chinese commercial vehicle sector. The bus company is controlled by Xiamen King Long Motor Group (60%) and Hong Kong-based Jarlung Group (40%).
Green-car subsidy to benefit plug-in hybrid vehicles
Shanghai, June 4 (Gasgoo.com) China has recently released the green-car subsidy program designed to boost the nation's auto industry and cut vehicle emissions. Subsidies of up to 60,000 yuan ($8,784) will be given to buyers of all-electric vehicles, and buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles will receive up to 50,000 yuan in subsidies, Xinhua News reported.
However, in light of difference in battery cost, the plug-in hybrid vehicle (using the hybrid battery) actually enjoys a more favorable financial subsidy granted by the Chinese government, compared to the all-electric vehicle (using the lithium-ion battery).
Honda: China vehicle plants restart production today
Shanghai, June 4 (Gasgoo.com) Honda Motor, Japan's second largest automaker, said its vehicle assembly plants in China resumed full operations today, more than a week after production was suspended by a strike at its auto parts factory in southern China, media reported.
"Operations have resumed today", Zhu Linjie, a Beijing-based Honda spokesman, told AFP, referring to Honda's Chinese assembly plants, mainly operated by its two Chinese joint ventures: Guangqi Honda (in southern Guangdong province) and Dongfeng Honda (in central Hubei province).
