SAIC Motor boosts Roewe brand for better sales

Shanghai, November 21 (Gasgoo.com) SAIC Motor Corp., the own-brand division of China's biggest automaker SAIC Group, has seen the monthly sales of its Roewe 750 and Roewe 550 models nearing 4,000 units. But this achievement can't satisfy the ambition of the Chinese auto giant, and that's why SAIC Motor has decided to boost its Roewe brand further for its faster sales growth, said Beijing News today.

"This year we will not talk about Roewe's sales target any more when we're focusing on building up the recognition and popularity of this own brand for its growth in the medium- to high-end market," said Wang Xiaoqiu, general manager of SAIC Motor, to the newspaper. "As a new brand of SAIC, the popularity rate of Roewe has more than doubled to 80% this year and this is a good start to follow through."

In mid-June 2008, SAIC began selling its second self-owned car model Roewe 550 to compete with Toyota Motor and Volkswagen AG in the world's second-largest vehicle market. The Roewe 550, equipped with a 1.8-liter gasoline engine, has been sold for a price as low as 142,800 yuan ($20,900). That's more than Toyota's 110,000 yuan-Corolla with a 1.6-liter engine and Volkswagen's 2-liter Sagitar priced at 134,800 yuan.

SAIC Motor started selling Roewe 750, its first model, in January 2007. The car is based on rights obtained by SAIC after purchasing designs from UK automaker MG Rover Group Ltd.

As China's leading automaker, SAIC will build two A-class car models for Roewe and MG brands after Roewe 750 and 550. SAIC Institute is working on two new A-class cars, one hatchback and one sedan, with one model based on the MG to feature distinctive sports style.

SAIC planned to push its own-brand Roewe and MG into the A-class auto market after having launched Roewe 550 and MG 3SW. The two new SAIC models designed for Roewe and MG will go on sale in late 2009, with the selling price as low as about 100,000 yuan.