Chinese mini-car makers seek growth by export

Shanghai, August 29 (Gasgoo.com) China's leading makers of mini-cars are all looking to overseas markets for further growth, because the global market demands for Chinese mini vehicles are growing annually by more than 80,000 units, said China Business News today.

As China's largest maker of mini vehicles, SAIC-GM-Wuling set up an overseas sales division in 2007 as the warm-up for its global growth. In July 2008, the joint venture began exporting the Chevrolet N200 minivan to Peru. SAIC-GM-Wuling manufactures a range of Wuling brand mini-trucks and minivans as well as the Chevrolet Spark mini-car.

Changan Motor began to export its mini-cars to other countries in 1991 and since then it has never stopped exploring the global markets. The Chinese carmaker aims to built eight overseas production bases and sell 200,000 mini vehicles outside China by 2010. This global growth plan also includes launching eight major mini models, including four commercial car models.

Hafei Auto is another pioneer in exporting mini vehicles to global markets. In 2001 the company sold about 200 mini-cars overseas and the annual export volume has risen exponentially to about 40,000 units now. In the next few years, Hafei Auto's exports are expected to make up 35% of its overall sales.

After it began to make mini vehicles in 2005, Dongfeng Yu'an exported 5,000 units the next year and over 10,000 units in 2007. And the exports in the first half this year topped 10,000 units. The company aims to become China's second largest exporter of mini vehicles in five years.

Although the global markets have great potentials for China's mini-car makers, the overseas competition between Chinese mini-cars is getting as fierce as in the home market. Many mini-cars for export are of similar quality, features, and prices, and several Chinese carmakers would swarm the same market.