China’s Youngman bids for bankrupt Saab again
Published on February 3, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Chinese group Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile has made a fresh bid for Swedish carmaker Saab, which went bust in December, Swedish radio reported on Thursday, citing sources.
Saab, one of Sweden’s best-known brands, shut down production early last year after running out of money and was finally declared bankrupt after protracted rescue efforts by owner Swedish Automobile.
Spy Shots: China-made Chevrolet Sail Testing in India again
Published on February 3, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
GM is getting very serious with its push into India. GM will bring several China-made cars to the car-hungry Indian market. One of those is the Chevrolet Sail sedan, made in China by the Shanghai-GM joint venture.
New BYD F3 will be called ‘F3 Su Rui’
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
The new BYD F3 will debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April, it will be called ‘F3 Su Rui’, best translated as ‘quick (and) sharp. This might mean the current BYD F3 will continue as a buget-alternative.
Old pic: the Shanghai 58 on Parade in China
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have a very old ‘n pretty picture of a very old ‘n pretty military vehicle. This is the mighty Shanghai 58, based on the American Willys CJ3A. It was made from 1958 until 1960 by Shanghai Auto Works in very small numbers, the grand total is likely less than 50 vehicles. First pic was taken during a Communist-style parade in the early 1960′s.
Volvo Concept Universe = Volvo S100 (?)
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
The Volvo Concept Universe debuted at the Shanghai Auto Show in April. It was seen by the time as a sorta sweetener for Mr. Li Shifu, owner of Geely and thereby from Volvo. Li wanted a big Volvo badly to compete with the S-class, 7 and A8.
How to sell a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG in China
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is a very fine sportsmachine. Big engine, long bonnet and gullwing-doors. But still, it won’t sell all by itself, not even in supercar-hungry China. Benz therefore hired two big guns for an event at the otherwise very local Hubei Auto Show in the great city of Wuhan in Hubei Province. If those don’t sell the SLS, well, what does?
Patent Applied: Toyota Prius G’s will be Made in China
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Toyota has applied for patent on the new Toyota Prius G’s for the Chinese car market. The G’s is a strangely urban-cool named sporty Prius that is so far only destined for the Japanese market. China will get it too, likely as another try to get the young into hybrids.
Friends for 24 Years, a man and his Jianghuai HF142C truck in China
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
It is a sunny day today in Beijing so it is time for a human interest story. Here we have a great man who bought a Jianghuai HF142C truck in 1989 and still has it. The Jianghuai HF142C was only the second generation trucks made by the Jianghuai Automobile corporation, these days better known as JAC.
Lexus China wants to sell 50% more cars this Year
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
After a year of sluggish growth partly due to a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan last March, Toyota’s luxury unit Lexus aims to boost sales in China by more than 50 percent to 88,000 units this year. The company said in a statement that by the end of the year, it will have 100 authorized dealer outlets in operation, up from the 81 dealerships to date.
New Roewe 750 gets a ‘Shanghai’-brother
Published on February 2, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Earlier this week we heard that SAIC will revive the good old ‘Shanghai’ brand. At the time however we didn’t know for which cars they wanted to use it. Now we do. The new Roewe 750 (pic) will also be sold under the Shanghai brand, likely as ‘Shanghai 750′.
