Great Wall Motor to tap overseas rural markets

Shanghai, January 22 (Gasgoo.com) Great Wall Motor, China's largest maker and exporter of pickups and SUVs, is planning to explore the overseas rural markets, said xinhuanet.com today. This will help boost the company's exports and sales growth amid the economic crisis.

A top executive of Great Wall Motor has specified the company's target "overseas rural markets" as those outside Europe and the United States, especially the markets in countries and regions that have weak or no auto industry. The Chinese carmaker is expected to develop and make good-quality but low-price vehicles for the rural markets.

In 2009, Great Wall Motor will focus on the production and sales of low-emission sedans, diesel SUVs and pickups. It will launch 13 new models of the three segments this year. Its sales network will extend into tier-2 and tier-3 markets, and Great Wall Motor is tapping into the overseas emerging markets little affected by the financial crisis.

Meanwhile, Great Wall Motor is also entering the MPV segment and its Cowry MPV is competing with U.S and Japanese MPVs for the mid- and low-end consumer groups. The company sees this move as the first step to the tier-2 and tier-3 markets.

In the future, Great Wall will expand its overseas sales network. After Russia raised the threshold for Chinese carmakers' entry into the Russian market, Great Wall has exported more of its vehicles to Africa and the Middle East.