China Auto News of the Week (Oct. 13 - Oct. 17, 2008)

China's top 10 passenger-car makers in Sept

Shanghai, October 13 (Gasgoo.com) In its latest report, China Passenger Car Association said that passenger cars sales (including minivans) in the country rose 2.3% year on year and 26.3% month on month in September after declining for two consecutive months.

Passenger vehicle sales totaled 548,684 units in September, including 406,167 units sedans (-1.3% y/y), 14,622 MPVs (-25.1% y/y), 34,443 SUVs (14.0% y/y) and 93,452 units minivans (24.6% y/y).

FAW VW was the top seller in China's passenger-car market in September with 39,453 units sold, followed by Shanghai VW and Shanghai GM with sales of 38,478 units and 35,867 units respectively.

(Click the title to read the full text of the article)

GM brings ASEP program to China for tech training

Shanghai, October 13 (Gasgoo.com) Last Saturday, Shanghai General Motors, GM's joint venture in China, announced it has launched the GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP) in the country for the first time, an educational partnership with a carefully selected local college to produce more talents for the booming aftermarket business.

Executives from Shanghai GM and Chiway Holding Group signed the cooperation contract at the Wuxi South Ocean College of Chiway, where seven brand new Shanghai GM-produced vehicles were handed over to the college on the site.

BBDC delays board vote on Chrysler departure

Shanghai, October 13 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler Automotive Co., Ltd. (BBDC) has postponed its first board meeting with new members to the end of this year to allow more time for distribution of assets, Chinese media the Economic Observer reported today.

Though detailed information is not available yet, a source familiar with the case told the newspaper that Chrysler is set to quit its Chinese venture with Daimler AG and its company name will also be formally dropped from the venture during the board meeting at the year end.

The source further revealed that according to their initial agreement reached so far, Daimler AG will pay some 650,000 yuan to BBDC to compensate for the losses caused by its separation with Chrysler, and Chrysler will also get hundreds of BBDC dealers in China.

BYD to launch all-electric car in H2, 2009

Shanghai, October 14 (Gasgoo.com) Chairman of BYD Auto Co said at the China Hi-Tech Fair yesterday that the company plans to launch its pure electric car by the second half of 2009, reported the Shanghai Securities News.

In a high-level CEO forum during the fair in Shenzhen city, southern China, Mr. Wang Chuanfu said the battery-powered all-electric car to come next year can run 400 km at one charge.

Buffett, the chairman and chief executive of Berkshire, has expressed his wish to drive the car at first hand by the time of its launch, added Wang Chuanfu.

Bosch to see '08 China sales revenue up 30%

Shanghai, October 14 (Gasgoo.com) Bosch Chairman Franz Fehrenbach announced in Beijing on October 13 that Bosch' sales revenue in China is expected to reach 2.3 billion euros, a 30% increase over last year, xinhua.net reported today. It will be the fourth consecutive year for Bosch to score such big growth in China.

Franz Fehrenbach said that China will remain to be the major driver for Bosch group to achieve growth in the Asian market. In collaboration with China's sustainable development policy, Bosch is blessed with vast development prospect by its innovation emphasizing resource-saving and energy efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz Sept sales up 60% y/y in China

Shanghai, October 15 (Gasgoo.com) The September sales of Mercedes-Benz grew 60% year on year to 4,400 units in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, said xinhuanet.com today.

The sales increase in September brought the brand's total sales of the first nine months in the China market to 32,400 units, which exceeded this brand's whole-year sales of 2007 in China.
 
In September, the monthly sales of Mercedes-Benz cars topped 4,000 units for the first time in China's mainland market. The S-Class sedan, SUV, R-Class luxury crossover and coupe saw faster sales growth than expected. Sales of the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and C-Class locally made in China also gained steady growth and achieved a single-month sales high at 1,7000 units in September.

GKN Driveline launches new facility in Shanghai

Shanghai, October 17 (Gasgoo.com) The Shanghai-based new wholly-owned facility of GKN Driveline Torque Technology has started operation, the company said on October 15.

Mass production at the plant of 4,400 square meters in the Shanghai Pudong Kangqiao Industrial Zone began with the manufacture of transmission differentials for major domestic and overseas carmakers.

"This is an important milestone for our expanding presence in China," said Graeme Walford, managing director of GKN Driveline Torque Technology. "From our new strategically-located base, we now can offer a wider range of our torque products to the Chinese car industry, as well as for export."

GM to move money from China to save U.S. market

Shanghai, October 16 (Gasgoo.com) A senior GM executive said the company has plans to move money from Chinese operations to compensate for its North American losses, the National Business Daily reported Thursday.

Bob Lutz, GM's vice-chairman said yesterday that besides selling the Hummer brand, GM is also mulling transforming revenues earned in the Chinese market into its home market to cover significant losses the automaker has made there.

"We do not rule out such a possibility under current conditions," he said.