China SUV maker to join hands with Hummer

Shanghai, March 25 (Gasgoo.com) China's SUV and pickup maker Changfeng Motor Company and General Motors Corp's Hummer are reported to have reached an initial cooperative deal for Hummer to produce Changfeng vehicles in North America in future, Guangzhou Daily reported.

"Changfeng is set to provide the chassis to Hummer. In future Hummer will take the responsibility of assembly and sales of those vehicles under the Hummer brand in North America while Changfeng will in turn give support for Hummer's entry into the Chinese market," Changfeng CEO Chen Zhengchu said in an event marking the launch of the 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero SUV.

Changfeng assembles Mitsubishi Pajero SUVs under license in China. Mitsubishi technology formed the basis for Changfeng's own models. "But the concept and design are our own, done in cooperation with foreign companies," Chen says.

Changfeng has participated in Detroit International Auto Show for two straight years. By showing models in Detroit for two times, Changfeng has got a feel for U.S. consumer needs and tastes, he adds.

Currently Changfeng's product portfolio covers Leopard and Kylin SUV series. In 2007, Changfeng sold just 24,428 SUVs and pickups in China, almost no increase over the previous year.

The Hunan-based SUV maker Changfeng plans to sell 50,000 SUV vehicles and 15,000 trucks this year by launching a series of new models.