GAC to further develop Trumpchi own brand in China, general manager says

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai December 17) - Guangzhou Automobile Group has set a 2013 sales target of 65,000 units for its Trumpchi own brand, the Nanfang Metropolis Daily reported today, citing a statement made by General Manager Wu Song. The statement was made a day after the newest entry to the Trumpchi lineup, the 2013 GA5, made its official market debut. GAC expects to sell over 32,000 Trumpchi automobiles this year.

The GA5 (pictured) is an update to the current Trumpchi sedan. According to Mr. Wu, GAC will use the two letter-one number naming format as standard for upcoming models, with the second letter representing the vehicle type and the number being what segment it is targeted at. Mr. Wu believes that the naming structure will help the Trumpchi models appeal to a more international market.

Mr. Wu also revealed that GAC has begun development work in a new platform. A new Trumpchi subcompact will be released next July, while a new compact aimed at the luxury and government car markets will debut in 2015. There are also plans to release a new minivan and compact SUV. Mr. Wu also commented that GAC is searching ways to maximize resource usage in order to lower production costs for Trumpchi vehicles.

GAC may also share its turbocharged Trumpchi engine technology with other manufacturers, Mr. Wu commented.

Finally, similar to other own brand manufacturers, GAC is striving to expand its sales network in the country. The manufacturer plans to have established 120 4S Trumpchi dealerships by the end of this year. That number will expand to 220 by the end of next year. At that time, GAC Trumpchi dealerships will be able to be found in virtually every major Chinese city.