Chery Auto to build three sales companies in '09

Shanghai, January 12 (Gasgoo.com) According to the blueprint for its 2009 development, Chery Auto will launch 15 new models from three platforms and for them will set up four sales companies, said sina.com today.

Chery Auto will add a mini-vehicle platform and a high-end sedan platform. Then the carmaker will have three platforms to launch 15 new models in 2009. These new models, maybe the greatest number by a Chinese carmaker this year, will be sold by four different sales divisions that Chery will set up this year for its Chery brand, commercial vehicles, mini vehicles and global sales.

The current Chery Auto sales network will be named Chery Sales Company to be responsible for the sales of the Chery brand vehicles. In 2008, Chery Auto sold about 220,000 vehicles in the domestic market, but in 2009, the Chery brand, with three new models to come out, will increase its sales to 260,000 vehicles, and the bottom-line will be 200,000 units.

The second sales company will sell the commercial vehicle brand Weilin and high-end car brand Riich (Ruiqi). The two brands will share a sales network and will roll out a series of new models. The 2009 sales target for the two brands is set at 60,000 units, with 50,000 units as the bottom line.

The third sales company will sell the mini vehicle Kery (Kairui). This division will be lest affected by the financial crisis as its target consumers are scattered across the 2nd-tier and third-tier cities and the rural areas. To rival SAIC-GM-Wuling's Wuling mini vehicles, the Kery brand aims to sell 40,000-50,000 units this year.

In the past six years, Chery Auto has been the top exporter of China-made vehicles, with 135,000 units exported in 2008. Chery will enter the EU, North America and Brazil markets this year and will have 15 overseas plants (with 9 in operation, 6 under construction). Chery aims to export 195,000-225,000 vehicles in 2009.