Changan Auto says to sign JV deal with PSA by June

Shanghai, April 26 (Gasgoo.com) Changan Automobile (Group) Co., China's third largest automaker, has confirmed its talks with France's PSA Peugeot Citroen to form a joint venture in China is in progress and the JV deal may be signed by June, media reported Friday, citing a Changan official.

Two months ago PSA Peugeot-Citroen said it was in deep talks with Changan Auto Group to set up the French car company's new Chinese venture. Earlier media reported said the venture might be based in southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, with an agreement likely to be signed in April.

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Chrysler to resume China production in Changsha

Shanghai, April 26 (Gasgoo.com) Reporters got the news on the press day of the 2010 International Automotive Exhibition on April 23 that U.S. auto giant Chrysler plans to return to the mainstream segment of the China auto market.

After Fiat Auto Group's re-planning its vehicle business, Chrysler Group is about to resume its production in China. In the next five years, the Chrysler Jeep and other products will be mass-produced in the joint venture with Fiat-Guangzhou Auto in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province in south central China. This is also the first official resumption of Chrysler's China production after terminating its joint venture with Nanjing Auto in 2008.

Toyota may operate new plant in NE China in 2011

Shanghai, April 27 (Gasgoo.com) Toyota Motor Corp. recently said that it plans to start production at a new plant in northeastern China as early as 2011, Bloomberg reported, citing an executive of the Japanese carmaker. This new facility will raise Toyota's production capacity in China.

The new plant, located in Changchun, Jilin province, will start production in late 2011 or early 2012 and have a yearly production capacity of 100,000 vehicles, Masahiro Kato, president of Toyota's China business, told the press at the Beijing Auto Show.

Toyota, Honda SUVs sell better than hybrids in Beijing

Shanghai, April 27 (Gasgoo.com) Beijing dealers of Toyota and Honda vehicles say they need more sport-utility vehicles to meet demand, while hybrid models are selling at a loss, Bloomberg reported today.

Customers at a Honda dealership in the capital city's Chaoyang district wait two months for a CR-V SUV, enabling the outlet to charge a premium for the model, while customers won't buy the Civic hybrid unless its 270,000 yuan ($39,550) sticker price is lowered.

BYD, Mercedes close to EV join venture deal

Shanghai, April 28 (Gasgoo.com) Recently, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz CEO Dieter Zetsche said in an interview that Daimer and BYD are about to sign a formal co-operation agreement, according to which the two parties will establish a joint venture to produce electric vehicles, whch is the first time for a Chinese enterprise to output technology among JVs.

BMW to introduce EV to China market, to launch in 2013

Shanghai, April 28 (Gasgoo.com) Reporters recently got the news that BMW plans to introduce electric vehicles to the China market by 2013, and to start local production of the future EV models in mainland China.

On the eve of the ongoing 2010 Beijing Auto Show, BMW launched its all-electric Active-E concept sedan, which is a zero-emission car based on the BMW 1 Series Coupe. The car's initial launch in China indicates BMW's plan to put electric cars in the Chinese market in the future.

Dongfeng Nissan to launch March minicar in H2

Shanghai, April 29 (Gasgoo.com) Recently at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, Dongfeng Nissan's chief engineer of vehicle design said to reporters that the March minicars to be produced in China will have the same wheelbase as the overseas version for 2450mm, and as that imported the other 160 countries. In addition, the March minicar will be launched in the second half of this year, with the estimated price of about 70,000-100,000 yuan ($10,200-$14,600).

Jianghuai Auto to assemble, sell vehicles in Taiwan

Shanghai, April 29 (Gasgoo.com) Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Ltd. (JAC) is set to sell its vehicles in the Taiwan market by cooperating with a local partner, SinoCast reported recently, citing people familiar with the matter.

Under the cooperation agreement, Taiwan's Shengrong Auto, a subsidiary of Prince Motors, will import and assemble auto parts from Jianghuai Auto, and then sell the locally-assembled JAC-branded vehicles in the Taiwan market.

Hyundai-Kia targets 23% growth in 2010 China sales

April 30, 2010 (Reuters) South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp are aiming to bump up sales in China by almost a quarter this year, heating up competition with global and local rivals.

Chung Mong-koo, chairman of the automotive group, on Thursday warned of rapid growth in China's local brands, which have stepped up their quality standards, and called for efforts to make Hyundai and Kia premium brands in China.

Honda seeks cheaper local parts to compete in China

April 30, 2010 (Bloomberg) Honda Motor Co. plans to buy more parts from Chinese suppliers to cut costs at its auto assembly plant in Wuhan, central China, as demand grows for affordable cars in the world's largest auto market.

The carmaker aims to raise the proportion of locally made components bought from China-based companies to about 15 percent within three years from 10 percent now, said Mitsuo Yamamoto, a division head in charge of procurement at the plant, a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group Co. That may result in cost savings of about 1,000 yuan ($147) per vehicle, he said in an interview at the factory this week.

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