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Toyota is planning to launch a new small car designed specifically for China in 2013, according to a report from Reuters citing the Nikkei business daily newspaper.
The new small car will be a little larger than the low-cost Etios that is sold in India. A 1.5-liter gasoline engine will power it and prices are expected to begin from under 1 million yen (approximately US$12,853).
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It may have been a while since we last showed you a "Made in China" doppelganger, but rest assured, the economic giant from Asia, never sleeps.
As if it weren't troublesome enough that China reaps all the benefits of free trade to sell its products everywhere while enforcing all kind of rules when it comes to imports (did you know, for example, that only 20 foreign films are allowed for release in China each year?) or opening a local business, the country has also established notoriously lax patent and copyright laws.
While not in significantly large numbers, many Chinese companies have targeted the automotive industry creating various knock offs of European and Japanese vehicles. Longtime Carscoop reader John F.T. from Norway* discovered yet another copy while browsing on a local online marketplace.
Small boutique sports carmaker Caterham is looking for ways to expand its sales reach by entering Asia’s most lucrative car market. The UK-based company announced today that it has signed an exclusive deal with import firm Courtenay Trading International (CTI) to sell its iconic Seven model in China.
Caterham said that even though it has had a “long-standing presence” in the Far East, most notably in Japan, this will be the first time the Seven will be available in China.
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At a press event on Monday, BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said that he expects the brand’s sales in China to grow, albeit not at the extraordinary rate of 61% that it achieved in the first half.
"In the second half of the year we will not have such a fast growth rate in China as in the first half because of the high year-earlier level of comparison, but will still have growth," said Robertson.
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Volvo wants to increase its sales in China by at least 60% this year, to 50,000 cars, and to 200,000 by 2015. And how does the Swedish carmaker, which is owned by China’s Geely, intend to do so? By adding user-friendly comforts and a touch of luxury, according to Volvo’s CEO, Stefan Jacoby.
The reason for this shift is that Volvo’s greatest asset, safety, is not a unique selling point any more now that most rivals have made similar advances in this sector.
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The first Fiat 500 to make its way into China was presented today in Shanghai by Fiat Group Executive Vice President for International Operations, Lorenzo Sistino.
To celebrate the launch, Fiat crafted a special version named 500 “First Edition” featuring bodywork graphics by five young Chinese designers. The special edition will be available in a limited run of just 100 numbered units ahead of the city car’s regular launch in China on September 15.
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Car buyers’ preferences in China are shifting towards European models and away from domestic and even Japanese vehicles, according to a new study published today by JD Power Asia Pacific. This is the third year that the study takes place.
The latest edition included 65 brands and 161 separate models in nine segments and is based on responses from 4,979 potential buyers of new-vehicles located in 53 cities.
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China has a problem. Although it has the financial and material resources to compete with the world’s automakers, it lacks the design and engineering knowhow.
The solution – to companies such as BAIC, Dongfeng, Chang’an and others – is to seek talent abroad; in Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and USA. Research and development centres are popping up in Nottingham and Detroit and recruitment fairs are being held in Munich, Stuttgart and Aachen.
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Saab’s parent company Swedish Automobile NV said on Monday it converted the non-binding memorandum of understanding with Pang Da Automobile Trade Co. and Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile Co into a final agreement. However, the deal is still subject to regulatory approval from Chinese and Swedish authorities as well as the European Investment Bank.
In addition to the above agreement, Saab announced the formation of a Sweden-based joint venture company between itself and Youngman called NPJV, which will focus on the development of three new product models.
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Crisis? What crisis? For you and me, perhaps, but not for Bentley buyers. The VW-owned British luxury carmaker announced today a 20% increase in global sales for the first half of 2011 with 2,978 cars delivered to customers, the best start for the company since 2008. Read more »
China opened today to the public not just one or two, but amazingly four of the world’s longest over-sea bridges. Three of the bridges are part of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed Railway, which made its maiden trip today.
This project began in 2008, cost around US$33 billion and employed approximately 10,000 workers. It is expected to carry double the number of passengers than before (80 million versus approximately 40 million), whilst also reducing the time it takes to make the journey from 10 to less than 4 hours!
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The picture may seem familiar: Chinese and German businesspersons on the same table signing some papers, while German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel, and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, standing behind them with their country flags are floating in the background.
Only this time the Germans are Daimler’s executives, not Volkswagen’s, and the other signatory is BAIC (Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation).
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The Chinese government has given, as expected, the green light to the Volkswagen Group for the building of two new automotive plants in the cities of Foshan and Yizheng. The final approval for the project was signed today, June 28, in Berlin during a meeting between Chairman of VW’s board, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, and the Presidents of the Chinese partner companies. Read more »
China is the world’s largest car market: last year alone, more than 18 million vehicles were sold there, of which 13.76 million were passenger cars. Furthermore, analysts McKinsey & Company predict that it will grow tenfold between 2005 and 2030.
Do you want to know Chrysler’s share in this massive car market? A measly 31,000 in 2010 and a projection for just 40,000 in 2011. Therefore, it is only natural that the American carmaker is looking for ways to increase its share in this rapidly expanding market.
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