11 mai 2007
More diesel vehicles debut at Auto Shanghai 2007
On April 20, the 12th International Automobile & Manufacturing Technology Exhibition was held, attracting many automobile giants from both home and abroad to come to Shanghai New International Expo Center. Once walking into the exhibition hall, you will bump into various models of automobiles. While automakers are busy exhibiting heir brand new cars, style-modified cars and concept cars, the reporter found more diesel cars at the site. Not only SUV manufacturers, the big petroleum consumers, launched diesel cars, but also many other automakers exhibited their diesel cars and diesel engine. The Great Wall and Huatai SUV enterprises are among the first to take moves in diesel engine. They both launched new diesel cars at Auto Shanghai 2007. The Great Wall has launched many models of cars with built-in electric controlled high-pressure common rail diesel engine, such as the best-selling diesel-fueled Hover CUV, as well as the right rudder Chun Wind high-end Pickup and the Great Wall self-propelled trailer, "Ming-hao" launched at the Auto Shanghai for the first time. Great Wall self-propelled trailer, "Ming-hao", adopt the newly released chassis of Chun Wind high-end diesel Pickup, becoming the first style of trailer that assembled the diesel engine. Moreover, it is learnt that in the future, the Great Wall will put diesel engine into full application of all its Great Wall series cars. By then, there will have been more diesel-fueled cars produced by Great Wall Motor Company Limited. Huatai also launched its new diesel-fueled Santa Fe vehicle, the Upgraded Version for Huatai Santa Fe 2.0 CRDi VGT. It has enhanced the multilevel catalytic converter device and noise resistant system for engines while making VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) and CRDi (Common Rail Direct Injection) technologies applied in the above diesel engine. Therefore, it ensures energy conservation and comfortable experience. In addition, Huatai exhibited Terracan 2.9 CRDi diesel cars. With 300,000 sets of clean diesel engine being to be put into quantity production late this year, Huatai will have a more promising future in diesel engine. In Europe, diesel cars are very popular. Many European countries encourage the development of advanced diesel technologies. Some European automakers have brought highlights in this field to this Auto Show. One of Volkswagen's themes is "High-tech Olympics, Green Olympics". In accordance with such a theme, Volkswagen showed its world-leading Powertrain Technologies and car models. In diesel engine, it exhibited TDI diesel engine and Polo BlueMotion diesel cars. The V6 TDI exhibited at Auto Shanghai was equipped with piezoelectric nozzle, greatly improving the burning efficiency. Therefore, it featured the excellent fuel economy and environmental protection. V6 TDI is already able to meet the EU V emission standards to come into effects in 2009. Polo BlueMotion has been equipped with 59 kw / 80 horsepower TDI diesel engine, with the maximum speed high up to 176 km/ h, while it only consumes 3.9 liters of diesel for every hundred kilometers. Citroen also brought two concept cars, namely C-Metisse and C4-Hybride. C-Metisse concept cars adopt a unique Four-Wheel Drive (FWD) system with front wheels and rear wheels driven separately. Its front wheels are driven by a 3.0 liter V6 Hdi diesel motor while its rear wheels are driven by two more electric engines in addition to the double high torque electronical hauling system. It only takes 6.2 seconds to speed up to 100 km/h. Also, it consumes petroleum as little as 6.5L/100 km. C4-Hybride reduces its petrol consumption to 3.4 L/100 km on complicated road conditions, and CO2 emission to 90 g/ 100 km thanks to the combination of HDi diesel engine and electric engine. While foreign automakers exhibit their advanced diesel technologies, major domestic automakers also got fully prepared. At Chery's booth, there were nearly 30 car models, including many diesel cars. The Tiggo6 concept car is Chery's first premium SUV, with the biggest spotlights in free choices from 3.0 V6, 2.0 TCI and 1.9DTDI diesel engine. Its diesel-fueled 1.9DTDI even satisfied the EU V emission standards. Chery A5 is a type of representative automobiles adopting the flexible fuel technology (automobiles that can be driven by any kind of fuel such as petroleum, diesel, ethanol and CNG), which is one of the four applications of new energy sources technologies exhibited; and Chery Oriental Descendents sedan is a type of representative automobile adopting the bio-diesel technology, another of the four applications of new energy sources technologies exhibited. It was introduced by Chery staff that there was also a Chery A1 with 1.0 L diesel motor at the booth. Brilliance launched a diesel-fueled Zhonghua Zunchi car and a diesel motor DK4A. It was learnt that the DK4A diesel motor Brilliance exhibited would be mainly applied onto its Grace business cars. Among the 5 MG car models, MG 5 was also a diesel-fueled car. |
| Source:CE.cn |
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04 mai 2007
Production Begins At Ford, Mazda Joint Venture Engine Facililty In China
By Anita LaFond, News Editor
April 26, 2007
NANJING, China - Ford Motor Co. announced Thursday that production has begun at the Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co. Ltd. (CFME), a joint venture with Ford, Mazda Motor Co. and China's Changan Automotive Group.
The first BZ series engines left the production line at the $312.5 million facility, representing the latest strategic deployment by Ford to enhance its competitiveness and continue its rapid expansion in the world's fastest growing major automotive market.
CFME, with a 350,000-unit annual production capacity, will supply production operations for Ford and Mazda vehicles in China. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility consists of three major plants for casting, machining, and assembly. Five key components of the motor are being manufactured on-site, including the cylinder block, cylinder head, crankshaft, camshaft, and connecting rod.
Changan has a 50 percent share and Ford and Mazda each have a 25 percent share in the joint venture.
CFME plans to produce additional Ford and Mazda engine series as its future volume utilization expands.
16 avril 2007
New Chinese Brand Debuts at Geneva Auto Show
As if China didn't have enough car brands, over a hundred, competing for buyers, there is a new brand that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show...the Huachen.
Huachen is made by Brilliance from Auto China and marks the first time a Chinese automaker has attended an international exhibition outside of China.
Detroit, Tokyo, Frankfurt and Paris or next.
Would you buy a car "made in China?" Or is it too soon?
"Made in China" Cars Looking for Marketing Network in the United States
The Chinese automaker, Billiance Auto is looking to set up shop in the United States, now.
The company was the first Chinese carmaker to hold an exhibition overseas...in Geneva, one of the most important events in the global car industry.
Three cars were showcased:
1. Zhonghua Zunchi (BS 6) sedan
2. Junjie (BS 4) sedan
3. M3 (BC 3) sports car
Sales in Europe are planned for this year. Brilliance has an export deal with the Bremen-based HSO Auto trading company to sell 158,000 Zunchi and Junjie cars in Europe over the next five years.
America is next.
GM's prez says that Chinese carmakers should be cautious before heading to the U.S. U.S. consumers question Chinese quality.
Does anyone remember when Popular Mechanics and other car rags said the same thing about Japanese cars?
Would you buy a car that is 'Made in China?' Everything else we buy was made there.
12 mars 2007
China will get Dodge vehicles this year
The rumors, innuendo and leaks surrounding the sale of Chrysler and its brands haven't stopped DCX's plans to move into emerging markets around the globe. During the second half of 2007, Dodge will enter the Chinese marketplace, although it hasn't been made clear what models will be offered.
According to Automotive News, suppliers haven't been asked to quote prices for components, so it's expected that the first batch of vehicles made available to the masses in China will be imported, a standard practice by automakers who want to test the waters before an all out assault on the marketplace.
When local production does begin, a joint venture involving Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler will start, with the Mercedes C-class and Chrysler Sebring being the first vehicles built abroad.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
11 mars 2007
DaimlerChrysler good to go with Chery
It looks like teeny tiny (and tinny) Pentastars could be coming. They could even be good. Tme will tell, as
the DaimlerChrysler supervisory board has given its blessing to teaming up with China's Chery Motor Company. The Chinese government still needs to sign off, but that appears to be a formality at this point. What Chrysler gets out of the deal are Chery products to sell here and in Europe with Chrysler branding. This sort of harks back to the 1970s and '80s, when Chrysler was rebadging Mitsubishi products for domestic consumption. The upside is that Chrysler gets small cars in their livery immediately, though we're sure that federalization is the next hurdle to overcome before the models go on sale.
It could be a good thing for Chrysler, as they get a point of entry into segments and markets abroad that they currently have no offerings for. Domestically, they can crash the small-car party without having to engineer an entirely new platform and its associated production labyrinth. While this may help keep DCX afloat, it doesn't help the domestic workers much. Not only that, execution of the products that do make it to the US market will absolutely kill or king the Chery-sourced cars. DCX badly needs to follow up the waning success of the LX cars, and we hope they do so with more attention to dynamics, materials and fit-and-finish then they did with cars like the Sebring and Compass.
[Source: DCX via AutoNews (Sub Req'd)]
08 mars 2007
Dodge's mini car to be Chery A1?
China Car Times says that Chinese Web site Autohome is reporting Dodge will re-badge Chery's A1 mini car for sale around the world. According to China Car Times, the A1 is a QQ3 renamed for export. The new name is supposedly intended to avoid any further confrontation with General Motors' lawyers over the whole QQ vs. Spark fight.
We can't find the original article on Autohome, and China Car Times cites no official sources. So this may well be
nothing more than rumor at this time. But the A1 does appear to fit Dodge's minicar needs and is styled to compete with the Fit/Jazz, Versa, Matrix, Vibe, Soul and all those other B-cars and CUVs on the road and in development. It sure ain't the Hornet we were hoping for, though.http://www.autoblog.com/category/china/
[Source: China Car Times, Autohome]
06 mars 2007
Four Characteristics of China's Automobile Industry in 2006
source： China AutoMotive News
China's automobile industry experienced rapid development in 2006 after two years of moderate growth. According to the latest production and sales data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), we can see that the development of China's automobile industry in 2006 exhibited the four following characteristics:
First, overall production and sales maintained a rapid rate of growth, especially in terms of passenger vehicles. According to CAAM, China's auto production reached 7.28 million units with sales of 7.22 million units in 2006, an increase of 27% and 25% respectively. Of these, production and sales of passenger cars were 5.23 million and 5.18 million, an increase of 33% and 30%; commercial vehicle production and sales were 2.05 million and 2.04 million units, an increase of 15% and 14%.
Second, demand for passenger vehicles noticeably increased, especially for the basic passenger vehicle model—saloon car. In 2006, the top 10 saloon car brands in terms of sales were the Jetta, Excelle, Elantra, Santana, Xiali, QQ, Accord, Lingyu, Qiyun and Corolla. The total sales of the 10 brands were 1.39 million units, accounting for 36.37% of the total saloon car sales in China.
Third, nearly all commercial vehicle models experienced different levels of sales growth. The tractor market was particularly outstanding. In addition, the overall sales of buses were better than the previous year. According to statistics, bus sales in 2006 hit 297,600 units, an increase of 6.29% over 2005. However, the special purpose vehicle market experienced a very noticeable decline. Backbone enterprises maintained a dominant position in the industry. The top 10 commercial vehicle enterprises accounted for over two-thirds of the overall market share.
Fourth, key enterprises maintained a steady increase and took a large share of the market. In 2006, the top ten vehicle enterprises in terms of sales were: SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Chang'an, Beijing Auto, Guangzhou Automobile, Chery, Hafei, Brilliance and Geely. The sales of the 10 enterprises were 6.05 million units, accounting for 83.87% of the total vehicle sales in China.
27 février 2007
Time to develop a Chinese auto brand
Extract from China Daily
Companies with powerful brand names are benefiting the most from globalization. This is particularly true in the auto industry.
Car owners often see their vehicle as an extension of their personality and social status. For that reason, they care more about the brand name of a car than a household item such as a washing machine.
It does not matter where a Mercedes is produced or where its components are sourced; it will always commend a higher premium than, say, a Lexus, although the latter is arguably a better car. There are people willing to pay more for a Jaguar than a Lincoln although both cars ride on the same Ford-developed platform.
Volvo has built up a reputation for safety and many consumers are willing to pay more money to buy its cars although less expensive alternatives have proven to be just as safe. Ferraris look fast in the parking lot. You would want one if you have a few million yuan to blow just to be seen in it.
I could go on but I think I have made the point.
Most of us know that China is a car crazy country. Many economists and auto analysts have predicted that China will overtake Japan within a decade to be the world's second largest car market after the United States.
But has anyone ever wondered why China does not have its own global car brand? Chery is trying hard but its brand value is still behind that of other foreign names and its smaller domestic competitors are not even in its rear view mirror in the branding race.
It is such a pity. When I first visited the Chinese mainland in the late 70s, I rode a Shanghai (the brand) taxi and thought it was really neat. The Beijing Jeeps are as macho or cute, depending on who is looking, as any of those four-wheel-drive derivatives that young people love so much. And, who has not dreamt of riding at the back of a Red Flag limousine with side window curtains drawn. I did.
Those were cars with distinct Chinese characteristics, designed by Chinese engineers and fabricated in Chinese factories.
China's automotive industry struggled in the past because of a small and under-developed domestic market. Domestic sales were simply too small to finance the large investments needed for modern facilities and to develop new models. Entering into joint ventures with the major auto companies in the United States, Europe and Japan has helped kick start a modern auto industry in China.
The effectiveness of this strategy has raised the question of the need for a Chinese brand. This has become a hot topic for discussion among economists, marketing experts and leaders in the auto industry.
If the answer is yes, which I think it should be, this is the time to make a serious bid to design and build cars that will once again proudly wear Chinese brand names.
The domestic market now is certainly large enough to support the development of a few domestic brands. To attract buyers, domestic manufacturers must produce cars that are competitive in all aspects to the foreign brands. Pricing alone is not enough to win market share. A new brand will have to stand the test on overall quality.
If it succeeds, the manufacturer should be able to sell enough cars in this growing market to generate the needed capital for further refinement and development. The ultimate goal must be to produce cars that can compete with the best from Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) in the global marketplace.
Joint ventures with foreign manufacturers should be encouraged to re-invest a part of their profits into developing China branded cars for the domestic market.
It is understood that some joint venture companies have established design facilities in China. But making minor alterations here and there to make the products more suitable for the mainland market is not enough. These facilities should be equipped to design the entire car.
Developing a new model should not be all that technically challenging. But the cost of tooling up the factory for production is necessarily high, although much of the parts and components, including the engine, can be sourced from outside.
The question is which Chinese auto manufacturer is willing to take the first step.
Before you write off the idea as too risky, think Hyundai. The ROK car maker is giving the powerful Japanese auto giants a run for their money in the US market. Not too long ago, its products were largely dismissed as nothing more than tin boxes on wheels. Now, it is a serious player in the world market.
31 janvier 2007
China’s WTO accession impacts on domestic automobile industry
As a result of successful domestic economic reforms combined with a fast-developing international market that is willing to purchase its labor-intense products, China’s economy has grown approximately 10% per year over the past 28 years and the GDP per person has grown up to 10561RMB in 20041. This remarkable development has made China the second largest beneficiary of direct foreign investment, behind only the US. China has by far the largest developing economy—more than 30% larger than Brazil’s. China’s ranking in the world economy is expected to continue improving in the coming decades [1]. Fueled by the favorable open environment for MNCs (multinational corporations) to invest in domestic manufacturers and the increasing income for urban residents, China’s automobile industry is likewise experiencing the fastest growth in its history. The total output (including saloon cars, camions and other special types) increased from 1475 thousand in 1996 to 5700 thousand in 2005, and the automobile possession rate per person increased from 0.2364% in 1996 to 1.1364% in 2004. On November 15, 1999, US and Chinese officials reached a bilateral agreement on China’s bid for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) [2]. Upon its admission to the WTO in 2001, China agreed to make several major reforms (including the Tariff Reduction Schedule and the Ration Abrogation Schedule) that will bring about great impacts on China’s automobile industry.
Much research has focused on the potential damage to domestic automobile producers when they have to compete with foreign magnates, some has given recommendations for China’s less developed automobile industry to meet the challenges, and others even claims that China’s inchoate automobile industry will not survive. But little has been written from the perspective of benefits, specifically the opportunities for the producers to enhance the manufactural technology and benefit from scale economy. This article attempts to fill this gap, offer evidence and data to prove that the expectation of potential competition when China is involved in WTO forces the automobile manufacturers to pursue industrial concentration, which will lead to scale economy and decrease the average cost in China’s automobile industry. This trend will ultimately narrow the price gap between domestic market and world market and the total social welfare will increase.
For other details, please refer to the http://www.mech.pku.edu.cn/robot/fourleg/members/shipengyi/paper21.pdf