French carmaker Renault to launch 14 new cars to China

On Feb 26, French carmaker Renault began to sell its imported new Laguna car in China and announced it will bring 14 new models to the Chinese market in the 2009-2011 period, by Xinhua.

The new Renault vehicle models to be imported to China will include SUV, MPV, sedan and RS models. Of the 14 new Renault models, the all-new Laguna went on sale in China last week, priced at 298,000 yuan ($43,630), and the new Koleos, Renault’s first crossover SUV model, will be imported to the Chinese market next month to compete with numerous city SUVs locally made in China. Its retail price may start from 242,000 yuan.

Starting with the new Laguna model, Renault has resumed its imports to the China market. The new Laguna buyer can get a three-year or 100,000km warranty like the buyer of an Infiniti model. Some all-new Laguna-derived models will also come to China, including the Laguna CC. The Renault MPV model Scenic being sold in China will be replaced by its revamped or upgraded version as well.

An early report said Renault was likely to restart its cooperation talks with China’s Dongfeng Motor Corp and, together with Dongfeng’s partner Nissan Motor, they would form a new three-way joint venture likely to build Renault cars for the Chinese market.

source: xinhuanet.com

Baoya electric car heading to U.S.

This year to date, Chinese carmaker Shandong Baoya Vehicle Co., Ltd. has received orders from the United States for 4,800 Baoya electric cars.

The Baoya electric car features the company’s own core car-making technologies, including driveline technology for the chassis of electric cars and technologies for adaptation and optimization of drive motors.

Currently, all Baoya electric cars are for export. Last year, Baoya exported 500 cars to the U.S. market, and this year to date Baoya have received orders from the U.S. for 4,800 Baoya electric sedans.

The Baoya electric car meets western countries’ maximum weight limit of 400 kilograms for low-speed sedans, and can reach a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

The Baoya electric sedan can be fully recharged within five to eight hours, with each recharge costing about 30 yuan ($4.4) and enabling the car to run 150 kilometers.

source: gasgoo.com

Top ten destination countries of China ’08 automotive exports

Data released by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed that the total value of the top ten destination countries of China’s automotive exports(total of parts and assembled cars) exceeded $25.208 billion in 2008, accounting for 51% of China’s total auto exports value in the year.

All these countries but the U.S. witnessed a double-digit growth in auto imports from China year on year, with Brazil showing the most significant increase.

Top ten destination countries of China ’08 automotive exports by value:

Country     Value

U.S.           $9.406 billion
Japan       $4.533 billion
Russia     $2.133 billion
Korea       $1.916 billion
Germany  $1.490 billion
Iran           $1.220 billion
UAE          $1.219 billion
Nigeria     $1.165 billion
Brazil        $1.113 billion
Italy           $1.013 billion

source: gasgoo.com

Future Saturn: The quarry of Chinese automaker?

Saturn has been told that its production will come to a stop in 2010 to relieve the parent company, GM, of any loss making brands. This leaves the entire Saturn sales network up for grabs, which given the current amount of speculation has hinted that an up and coming Chinese car company may well be interested in grabbing the sales network which covers the prodigal auto market of the USA which Chinese automakers have made a great deal of fuss about entering.

Pricing, or potential suitors for the Saturn network have yet to be leaked, but possible buyers maybe BYD, or Brilliance, or even Chery. All of which have made a great deal of noise about entering the US automotive market in and around 2010.

GM are currently in full survival mode, and are keen to off load any superfluous brands that they may have laying around, Hummer, Saab, and now Saturn all appear to be leaving the nest at some point in 2009.

source: chinacartimes