Changhe Auto aims to quadruple sales by 2010

Shanghai, June 23 (Gasgoo.com) Changhe Automobile, a partner of Japanese compact vehicle maker Suzuki, unveiled plans to sell 400,000 vehicles in China by 2010, the Beijing News reported today.

In its latest five-year plan, the automaker vows to make profits in 2008 since it has been losing money over the past year due to a sagging compact vehicle market; and it will rise its vehicle sales from last year's 107,700 units to 400,000 units by 2010.

The automaker will also build an independent network for its Changhe brand so as to sell Suzuki and Changhe vehicles through separate sales channels.

"We now want to build two separate network for the two brands to boost their sales," an official from the joint venture told the newspaper.

Changhe Suzuki has an annual capacity of 100,000 units. Its product portfolio includes the Ideal / Ideal II subcompact cars, the Friend (called the Fuga in Mexico) tiny mini-van, the Freedom mini-van and mini-truck.