China Auto News of the Week (March. 30 - April. 3, 2009)
Daimler to open Benz design center in Beijing
Shanghai, April 3 (Gasgoo.com) Daimler Northeast Asia said the German automaker is planning to open a Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center in China's capital city of Beijing, said sina.com today.
Mr. Hua Lixin, Board Chairman and CEO of Daimler Northeast Asia, indicated that "the company plans to open an advanced designed center to underline its long-term commitment to Chinese market."
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Continental opens auto tech center in Shanghai
Shanghai, April 3 (Gasgoo.com) International automotive supplier Continental opened a new automotive technical center in Jiading Industrial Zone, Shanghai yesterday. On the same day, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed to set up a new plant nearby.
The tech center, Continental's third one in China, is to conduct vehicle application development and system test of Continental's new technology and product for the local Chinese customers. With an undisclosed amount of investment, the center focuses on two main business units of Continental-- chassis and safety, and powertrain. The engineering activities cover electronic brake systems, hydraulic brake systems, engine management and system control.
GM to display 37 new models at Shanghai show
Shanghai, April 2 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors Corp said Thursday it will display 37 vehicle models at the Shanghai auto show later this month, which will include the world debut of Buick MPV concept.
The Buick MPV is developed independently by the Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center, the first joint venture research center in the Asia-Pacific area which was jointly built by GM and SAIC in 1997. No other information was revealed on the car.
SAIC to build electric hybrid car with U.S. parts
SAIC Motor Corp., one of China's biggest state-owned auto makers, is turning to American technology suppliers to engineer a gasoline-electric hybrid car that could go on sale in China as soon as next year.
SAIC is planning to use technology from A123 Systems, a closely held battery maker based in Watertown, Mass., and auto parts maker Delphi Corp., based in Troy, Mich., according to people familiar with the matter.
Yutong to produce new-energy buses in H2
Shanghai, April 1 (Gasgoo.com) China's largest bus-maker Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co. is planning to mass-produce new-energy buses in the second half of this year, xinhuanet.com said today.
In 1999, Zhengzhou Yutong began its research and development of new-energy buses. The bus maker has built seven petrol-electric hybrid bus models, which are under trial operation in Beijing, Guangzhou and Zhengzhou.
Delphi to sell suspension, brakes units to China
Shanghai, April 1 (Gasgoo.com) Delphi Corp. will sell its remaining suspension and brakes businesses to China's newly founded Beijing West Industries Co. Ltd. as part of the U.S. auto-parts supplier's restructuring efforts. Beijing West will acquire equipment, property and intellectual property in the deal, but did not disclose the price, sina.com said today.
BYD Auto 08' sales revenue up 77% to $1.27 bln
Shanghai, March 31 (Gasgoo.com) BYD Co, China's battery producer and auto maker, said in a statement that its net profit fell 37% year on year in 2008 but sales revenue of its vehicle business rose 77% to 8.65 billion yuan ($1.27 billion).
Net profit of BYD Co dropped 36.64% to 1.021 billion yuan in 2008, which the company said is mainly dragged by the decline of its mobile phone battery business, rising material spending and Chinese currency yuan (RMB) appreciation. Sales revenue of the company reached 26.79 billion yuan in 2008, representing a year-on-year growth of 26%.
GM CEO exit won't affect its China operation
Shanghai, March 31 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner was reported to step down immediately at the request of the White House, a sign of major changes in the auto giant but GM said the move would have no impact on its operations in China.
In an email statement to Gasgoo.com, a PR executive of GM China said GM's business and key projects in China will proceed as usual and the change at the company's headquarters won't have any impact on its Chinese division.
Ford China boss Cheng quits; Graziano to succeed
Ford Motor Co. said Mei-Wei Cheng will retire as group vice president and Ford China executive chairman on Wednesday.
The auto maker named Robert J. Graziano, president and chief executive of Ford Motor China, to assume Cheng's responsibilities. Graziano will become chairman and chief executive of Ford Motor China.
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