Great Wall Motor takes steps to fight oil price hike

Shanghai, July 22 (Gasgoo.com) Great Wall Motor, China's largest maker of sport utility vehicles, has decided to make great efforts in four major fields to fight the soaring fuel prices, said xinhuanet.com today.

Firstly, developing and producing low-emission vehicles. In the end of 2007, Great Wall entered the sedan market, targeting at the A-Class segment of 1.5L-minus vehicles. In March this year, its first 1.3L sedan -- the GWPeri made its global debut. The GWCoolBear and GWFlorid to be launched later this year are also 1.3L-1.5L sedans of low displacements. In the coming three years, Great wall Motor will develop another 10 energy-efficiency, eco-friendly 0.8L - 1.5L vehicles.

Secondly, upgrading the powertrains of SUVs and pickups. Since the beginning of this year, Great Wall Motor has uggraded the powertrains of over ten SUV and pickup models. The Hover and Wingle models now have a 2.5 TCI electronically controlled high-pressure common-rail turbo-charged and inter-cooled engine. The power is raised by up to 5% while the fuel consumption is reduced by 1.5%.

Thirdly, building a world-class engine factory. In May, Great Wall Motor launched its sedan enegine factory to produce 0.8L - 1.5L gasoline engines, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 units. The GW 1.3L and 1.5L VVT all-aluminum engines are mass-produced in the new factory, and the two engines meet up to the world's latest standards of energy efficiency and environmental protection. 

Finally, speeding up the research and development of new-energy vehicles. In the first half of this year, the techical team of Great Wall Motor cooperated with many global professional firms in auto research and development of electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and other alternative-energy vehicles. At the 2008 Beijing auto show, Great Wall Motor displayed its three new-energy concept models: the electric Kulla, Peri EV and hybrid Hover.