Chery may cooperate with Anhui and Wuhu governments to manufacture Cowin models

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai July 19) - Reports have been circulating across the Chinese media that Chery Automobile will cooperate with the governments of Anhui and Wuhu to manufacture its Cowin models at the Jiangbei Industrial Park. According to a report appearing in the Anhui News today, Chery's parent company, Chery Holdings Group, has confirmed that it is in fact negotiating such a cooperation, however no official agreement has been signed of yet. If the agreement goes through, several of Chery's Cowin models will be manufactured at the Jiangbei Industrial Park.

Jiangbei, which is funded by the Anhui provincial government and Wuhu municipal government, will manufacture 330,000 Chery vehicles annually if the deal goes through. Wuhu will reportedly invest two billion yuan ($323.61m) towards the project. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2015.

The project is being spearheaded by Lu Jianhui, Chery founder and former deputy general manager. The majority of staff assigned to the project will be coming from the Chery division responsible for production of Cowin models. According to a report appearing in the Beijing Times, nearly 200 workers will be transferred. The Wuhu government has also confirmed that there are plans to establish auto part and new energy automobile projects at the Jiangbei Industrial Park.