Fujian Daimler hopes to further penetrate Chinese minivan market

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai October 2) - Following explosive sales in the Chinese minivan market this year, every major manufacturer has been increasing their investments in the segment. According to statistics, the minivan market is anticipated to grow 30 percent this year (530,000 sales predicted), following near 80 percent growth in 2010.

In order to increase its presence in the market, Fujian Daimler introduced its new Sprinter (pictured) van in Fujian's capital of Fuzhou. The van will be aimed towards high-class consumers, joint venture CEO Rene Reif said. The interior adornments and space are all made in order to appeal to Chinese demands.

In an interview with the National Business Daily, Mr. Reif confirmed that China had become Mercedes-Benz's fifth largest market for commercial use vehicles, with combined sales of its Viano (pictured below) and Vito exceeding 10,000 units. He believes that the minivan segment would prove to be the driving force behind the Chinese automobile market in the future. Fujian Daimler hopes to increase its market share to 8 percent in the future, with a localization rate of over 40 percent. "We plan to raise our localization level to this rate [in order to] decrease production and transportation costs, [as well as] better satisfy the needs of Chinese consumers.