Berichten in May 2010
Daimler, BYD to Make Electric Car
Published on May 28, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
International media reports on a deal between Daimler and BYD to make electric cars. Strangely, Chinese media reports nothing yet. It is 10:13 AM now in Beijing and all woke up. It might have to do more with the fact that parties still need government permission to start with their plans.
That permission is essential, as proved by the Hummer-misery in Januari. But in this case it is about electric cars which are, so most believe, not as bead for the bears and the bees as a Hummer. Permission therefore, is unlikely to be denied.
More on the Daimler-BYD deal in this excellent article from Wall Street journal:
“BEIJING—Germany’s Daimler AG and China’s BYD Co. set up a 50-50 joint venture Thursday to develop an all-electric car for the Chinese market, saying they believe China has the potential to be among the world’s largest markets for zero-emission vehicles.
Daimler, owner of luxury-car brand Mercedes-Benz, and BYD, one of China’s leading battery and auto makers, are expected to invest a total of 600 million yuan ($87.9 million) in the joint venture, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. The money is to be used as registered capital for the joint venture in the southern industrial city of Shenzhen.
Strike hits Honda China plants
Published on May 28, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
China Daily reports that workers are on a strike in all four of Honda’s assembly plants in China. Workers want more cash. Instead of talking money Honda came up with an an agressive plan to make much more cars which would likely mean, so feared the workers, that they had to work even harder for their rmb. That did it and all workers went on strike. China Daily talks:
“GUANGZHOU – Honda’s four auto assembly plants in China have ground to a halt after workers at the company’s parts maker went on strike demanding better wages.
The strike, the largest industrial action ever reported in China, was continuing on Thursday after negotiations broke down between the management of Honda’s supplier factory in China and its 1,900 workers, according to an executive in Honda Auto Parts Manufacturing Co in Fo- shan, Guangdong province.
Spotted in China: FAW-Hongqi CA7460
Published on May 27, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
A very nice one close to my house and in my own street. This FAW-Hongqi CA7460 was based on a Lincoln Towncar and assembled in FAW’s factory in Changchun. Kits and other parts were shipped in from America under a deal with Ford. The CA7460 debuted in 1998 at a cost of 690.000 rmb.
Supercar-Day at the Shanghai F1 Circuit
Published on May 27, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
It was supercar-day at the Shanghai F1 Circuit. Very rich people showed up with their friends and machinery to race a bit around and drink some wine. On the first picture a very special Pagani Zonda which I can’t identify. It loox a lot like the 2009 Zonda R but has two more very large air intakes at the front. Mysterious, but very likable.
Spy Shots: new FAW-Toyota Vios
Published on May 27, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The Vios is a medium-sized sedan from FAW-Toyota that doesn’t sell very well. Just like in the rest of the world people get tired of Toyota’s boring design. The new Vios might change that a bit, it got an all new front with an almost over-designed grille. And… there will be a sporty version!, oh yes, a sporty Vios.
Spy Shots: Guangzhou Auto Trumpche
Published on May 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The new Guangzhou Auto Trumpche is based on the Trumpche concept that debuted at the Beijing Auto Show. Earlier spy shots showed a black car as well but that one was hiding in white. The Trumpche on this lonely picture is all naked. The price mentioned is an estimate: 130.000 to 180.000 rmb, guess it ain’t far off. What is sure now however is that the Trumpche is indeed based on the Alfa 166 platform that Fiat sold to Guangzhou Auto earlier. Sure as well the engine: an Alfa/Fiat 2.0 Twinspark with 165hp@6400rpm and 206nm@3250rpm. The Trumpche is expected to fire up la market in September.
Spy Shots: new Chery QQ3 (or Cowin … ?)
Published on May 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
New spy shots of the new Chery QQ3 show a new front that loox very much like the front of the new Chery Cowin 1, which is basically the new Chery QQ6. Earlier we heard Chery would ditch the QQ-name altogether and the Chery Cowin 1 proves that rumor true, at least partially. How Chery will name the new ‘QQ3′ is yet unsure, it could be either ‘Chery Cowin …’ (most likely ‘Cowin 0′) or Chery could stick with the old name and call it QQ3 again.
“Honda to expand production by 36 pct in China by 2012″
Published on May 25, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
From: Xinhuanet, 250510
Honda Motor President and Chief Executive Officer Takanobu Ito said Tuesday the company plans to increase its manufacturing capacity in China by 36 percent by 2012, in a move that will expand the presence of Japan’s second-largest automaker in the world’s biggest auto market.
The move will raise Honda’s production capacity in China to 830,000 vehicles by the end of 2012.
A factory operated by Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., a joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., will double its capacity to 240,000 units by 2011.
A new factory operated by Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co, another joint venture, will begin operations soon. Read more »
Opel Ampera to be Imported in China from 2011, branded ‘Buick’
Published on May 24, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
The Opel Ampera will be imported in China in the first half of 2011 so GM had to apply for a patent in China to prevent BYD and others from copying it.
The fact that GM went for the Opel-design instead of for the orginal Chevrolet Volt-design likely means the ‘Ampera’ will be branded as a ‘Buick’ in China, like the Opel Astra is the China-made Buick Excelle and the Opel Insignia is the China-made Buick Regal. It makes sense, Buick is the stronger brand in China and might so persuade more people to go for a hybrid.
The European Opel Ampera is scheduled to debut in the second half of 2011, so it loox like China will get it before Europe does. All 3 cars, Chevy Volt, Opel Ampera and Buick XX, will be made in the same factory in America, thank you very much.
Luxgen7 SUV Unveiled in Taiwan
Published on May 24, 2010 by Tycho de Feyter
Luxgen is a brand from the Taiwanese Yulong Group. The new Luxgen7 SUV will be made in Taiwan by Yulong and in China by a joint venture from Yulong and Dongfeng. The made-in-China car will be on the Chinese market before the end of the year. Car on pics is the Taiwan-made machine. Size: 4800x1930x1750, wheelbase is 2910. Seating is 5+2. Engine a 2.2 turbo with 175hp and a 5-speed tiptronic. Price in rmb for the Taiwan-car: between 180.000 and 240.000.
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