BAIC to increase dealer network by 400% in 2011

Shanghai December 27 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp (BAIC) plans a 400 percent increase in its dealer network to 200 dealerships before the end of 2011, auto.163.com reported Monday, citing the company's deputy general manager Zhang Xin.

BAIC held the inauguration ceremony for its new production base in Zhuzhou, central China's Hunan province on December 26, when the BC301Z, a high-end sedan model, rolled off assembly line and will be launched to the market around the spring festival, Zhang said.

BC301Z

The A0-class BC301Z is BAIC's second own-brand model after the BC301Z, measures (LxWxH) 4038mm x 1720mm x 1500mm and has a wheelbase of 2500mm.

The BC301Z, formerly known as C30, is similar in appearance to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class with engines sourced from Mitsubishi: a 1.3L with 73kW and 126Nm, and a 1.5L with 83kW and 141Nm. The two engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT (continuously variable transmission), respectively.

Decent and fashionable, the BC301Z features a 6.5 inch screen, GPS, auto-sensing headlamps, automatic windows, parking radar and 6 airbags, etc..

BAIC will also roll out the bigger BC302Z sedan next year, and thereafter the BC303Z wagen. These two models will share the same platform with the BC301Z.