Brilliance Auto to mass-produce $8,800 taxis

Shanghai, August 6 (Gasgoo.com) Chairman of China's Brilliance Auto said at a press conference last Friday that the company plans to mass produce 60,000 yuan ($8,800) to 70,000 yuan taxis next year.

Qi Yumin told reporters that he is impressed with Geely Automobile's black taxi cabs, which look quite different from the traditional appearance of four-door sedans.

But he said that Brilliance's taxi products would sell at 60,000 yuan-plus, much cheaper than Geely taxi cabs. Meanwhile Brilliance Auto's taxis will be based on its A-Class platform, where Junjie FRV (BS2) and FSV sedan are being built.

Other products scheduled for next year include another A-Class sedan codenamed "A4", upgraded Junjie and Haishi, as well as some special purchase vehicles (SPV). The Junjie Wagon (BS4) is also scheduled to be exported to Europe beginning next year.

The chairman did confirm that the company is in talks with Daimler AG to build SPVs for Chinese market next year.

Brilliance Auto sold 285,242 vehicles in 2008, ranking eighth among Chinese automakers. It is aiming to sell 330,000 vehicles this year and 450,000 to 500,000 vehicles next year.