Tianjin FAW to launch 9 new car models by '12

Shanghai, June 24 (Gasgoo.com) Tianjin FAW, an economy car subsidiary of FAW Group and a Chinese partner of Toyota Motor, will roll out a new model next month as the start of its plans "to launch 9 new car models by 2012,"  said xinhuanet.com today.

A sales executive of Tianjin FAW has told reporters that a 400,000-unit engine plant will start production soon, and the Huali factory's expansion is under way. The new models, new powertrain and new facility will combine to drive the new development of Tianjin FAW.

Tianjin FAW is carrying out the mission to build an own-brand economy sedan manufacturing base of FAW Group. To ensure the auto-parts supply, the new engine plant will make 400,000 engines annually, including the 1.3L, 1.5L and 1.3T engines.

The company will produce its first A-level car based on Toyota's ninth-generation Corolla platform. It will be the second time for Tianjin FAW to build its own-brand cars by technical transfer from Toyota after the Chinese automaker introduced Xiali in its early years and built its V-series car -- Vizi, Vela and Vizhi (Weizhi) -- based on the Toyota NBC platform.

The Toyota RAV4 SUV rolled off the production line of FAW Toyota at the end of March. This mini SUV shares the Corolla platform and is powered by 2.0L or 2.4L engine. Tianjin FAW Toyota plans to sell 50,000 units of the RAV4 this year.