China Auto News of the Week (March 24-28, 2008)

Mazda CX-7 to be sold in China by FAW-Mazda dealers

By Ally  

Shanghai, March 24 (Gasgoo.com) – The Mazda CX-7 Crossover SUV is to be imported by FAW-Mazda for sale in the Chinese market this year, but no time has been set for the launch yet, reported Jinghua Newspaper, citing company sources.  
 
"Mazda CX-7 Crossover SUVs will be sold through FAW-Mazda's network in China together with existing Mazda 3 hatchbacks, the Mazda 5 and the home-made Mazda 6," said Yu Hongjiang, deputy general manager of the sales unit of FAW-Mazda.
 
Currently the CX-7 with front or all-wheel drive is sold at prices ranging from 203,000 yuan to 224,000 yuan, and from 218,000 yuan to 243,000 yuan respectively in Japan.

China SUV maker to join hands with Hummer

By Ally

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.

VW and Toyota face off for Chinese market

By Joanne Jiu

Shanghai, January 25 (Gasgoo.com) Volkswagen AG is eyeing to boost its global sales to 8 million vehicles in 2011 and close the gap with Toyota Motor Corp. On the other hand, the Germany automaker is accelerating expansion to keep a head start over Toyota in Chinese market.

Volkswagen is set to inject 2.4 billion euros to develop new products and increase the production output in China by the end of 2010, which is part of its 20-billion-eruo global investment plan, according to Dr. Winfried Vahland, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group China. He added that 70 percent of the investment is intended to develop new products, another 500 million euros will be used to develop power train system and the reminder will be funneled to boost output capacity.
 
"We (Audi division) aim to sell 200,000 vehicles by 2015 in China, and new car models will be introduced as long as they fit in with the local market," said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG. The all new Audi A4 is set to be locally assembled early next year, and the third generation of Q5 will make its world premiere at the upcoming Beijing auto show in April.

Car industry says OK to auto parts recycling

By George Gao 

China has recently launched a tentative program to recycle and reuse auto parts. The country is determined to increase the number of reprocessed auto parts as well as to urge innovation in recycling and rebuilding auto parts, reported CCTV (China Central Television) this week.

Three automakers and 11 auto parts manufacturers in the country so far have jumped on the recycling bandwagon, signing deals of commitment to the effort, according to national media news reports.

The recycling effort will first focus on a few products such as motors, transmissions and electric generators, as regulated by the National Development and Reform Commission. The cost of recycled parts is estimated at about 60% that of new ones.

Jaguar XF is on sale at Beijing auto show

By George Gao 

Shanghai, March 26 (Gasgoo.com) The latest Jaguar XF sedan has arrived in many Chinese Jaguar showrooms. You must have deep pockets to afford the new Jaguar, which starts at RMB 688,000 ($97,000). Jaguar China has the XK, XJL, S-type and the latest XF on sale at the Beijing auto show next month. Jaguar China only sells gasoline versions, and there are no wagons in site in the Chinese dealerships.

Jaguar says the XF must be a success, regardless of the fact that the brand will soon be under the new ownership of Indian giant Tata. The plan is for the XF -- successor to the S-Type -- to replace the slow-selling X-Type as Jaguar's volume-selling model, as Jaguar plots a new sales strategy based more on low-volume Porsche than high-volume BMW.

Great Wall Motor likely to join hands with Chrysler

By George Gao 

Shanghai, March 26 (Gasgoo.com) Great Wall Motor is considering global expansion by joining hands with international partners, following the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) deal signed between Chery and Chrysler, state media reported earlier this week.

Great Wall Motor, China's largest maker of pick-up trucks, is reportedly in talks with several multinational brands to become their original equipment manufacturer. Wang Fengying, general manager of Great Wall Motor, confirmed that the company was approached by a US carmaker for OEM cooperation, but she did not mention the name of the company. Industry insiders close to the issue note that the US carmaker is Chrysler. So far, no agreement has been inked in yet.

Chery is granted permit for hybrid sedan production

By George Gao 

Shanghai, March 28 (Gasgoo.com) China's carmaker Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. recently said that two Chery hybrid sedans have received the production permit from the country's industry regulator.

Chery SQR 7130 and Chery SQR 7190 are listed in the latest public notice of the "Automobile Manufacturers and Products" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China.

Of the two Chery models, Chery SQR 7130 is the carmaker's first own brand hybrid sedan. It's a low-emission hybrid compact car equipped with a 1.3L engine and an A5 chassis. This model is oriented to users who need the private means of transportation in urban centers.