First Chinese Cars Entering Australia

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by outback_ute

That is the V220 (?) model which doesn't have any airbags

Nor does my 2005 Mazda Bravo (Courier), I'd take the GW V240 over it to be honest:-)

[outback_ute]

I suppose it depends if you compare it to other new vehicles, or other options for the same price. Considering the Great Wall utes are at best going to be as good as old-model Rodeos (early-mid 90's for the V220), if corners haven't been cut...

[vztrt]

Geely on countdown for Australian launch

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576B3001645B5

Chinese car importer has three models in pipeline for 2010, including Cruze rival

26 January 2010

By RON HAMMERTON

CHINESE car brand Geely expects to have three sharp-priced models on the Australian market within 12 months, including a Holden Cruze-sized small car designed and engineered to satisfy western buyers.

Although the scheduled launch in Western Australia of the pioneering 1.5-litre Geely MK light car – Australia’s first Chinese-made passenger car – has been pushed out from its original launch date this month to around May, Australian Geely importer Chinese Automotive Distributors is already at work on proposals for at least two more models – the 1.0-litre Panda mini car and the 1.8-litre Emgrand EC7 small car.

An executive of the Perth-based Geely importer has already driven the EC7 in China and has given it rave reviews, according to the owner of the Australian Geely distributorship, West Australian businessman and multi-franchised car-dealer John Hughes.

“We should get that later in the year,” Mr Hughes told GoAuto. “We are also looking to bring in as soon as we can the Panda – the little one-litre – so there is a fair bit in the pipeline.

“We are extremely bullish about the product, even more so now with the Volvo relationship.”

Geely Automobile parent company Zhejiang Geely Holdings Group is set to formally take ownership of Swedish car-maker Volvo from Ford Motor Company in May – a move that Mr Hughes said would add credibility to the Chinese brand as it expands into international markets, including Australia, where dealer recruitment is about to start on the east coast in readiness for a simultaneous January 2011 launch in the big markets of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide – six months after the toe-in-the-water debut in WA.



“You can’t go wrong with having a linkage to the Volvo name,” said Mr Hughes, who was instrumental in the introduction of the Hyundai brand into Australia as a director of the original Hyundai importer, Bond Motor sales, in the 1980s.

“When we are going east and getting dealers, I believe it will be a plus for us – no question it will be a plus for us.”

Geely sales will start with the MK sedan from three WA dealerships once the first shipment arrives in about April.

The Geely MK was to have received Australian Design Rule (ADR) approval last year for an early-2010 launch, but that was delayed several months and is now scheduled for the second week of February in Perth.

Mr Hughes said the type-approval inspection of the Geely MK ‘SUTI’ (single uniform type inspection) example should be a formality.

He said Geely Automobile Holdings factory representatives would fly in for the process.

Production of the first shipment of Australian-spec MK stock would then follow, with cars being loaded on to a car carrier for April delivery in readiness for the May-June retail launch in WA.

Mr Hughes declined to say how many cars would make the first shipment, but he said all would be five-speed manual because of a delay in the automatic transmission variant.

He said he hoped stocks of automatic cars would follow in the second shipment, within a few weeks of the first, and be on sale by mid-year.

GoAuto understands that the automatic transmission delay is because the Australian importer wants to start with a new-generation automatic transmission that is about to come on stream. That requires separate ADR approval.

Mr Hughes said he would take the opportunity of the visit by the Geely Automobile representatives to discuss plans for the Panda, which is also known as the LC-1.

He said no date or price had been set yet for the four-seat city car, which might end up rivaling price-leading cars such as the Proton S16 and Suzuki Alto as Australia’s cheapest car.

“I’ll be in a better position to talk about it once I have met with the people from China next month,” he said.

The Panda styling is reportedly inspired by the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games panda mascot, hence the name. In Australia, it is likely to end up being called another name, possibly LC, due to complications over the Panda name, which is claimed by Fiat.

While the Panda recently was awarded five-stars under China’s NCAP (new car assessment programme), Mr Hughes cautioned that the result might not automatically translate into a five-star result in Australia.

However, the Panda apparently already has EU type approval, and is also set to go on sale in New Zealand within months.

Mr Hughes said he originally had hoped to begin east coast sales of Geely by the second half of 2010, but because of the delay in the Geely MK start up, that also would be delayed.

He said it made sense to start east coast operations in early 2010 with fresh stocks of 2010-plate cars.

Depending on the arrival date of the Panda and the EC7, the eastern dealers might start with up to three models.

The front-wheel-drive Emgrand EC7 – a new 1.8-litre entrant that went into production last year at Geely’s Ningbo plant, south of Shanghai – is powered by a 102kW/172Nm four-cylinder engine and offers both manual and automatic transmissions.

Sales of the sedan started under Geely’s upmarket Emgrand sub-brand in China in August, and the hatchback has just hit the market in left-hand-drive guise.

The sedan sits on a wheelbase of 2650mm – slightly shorter than that of the Cruze – but measures 4635mm overall – about 35mm longer than the Holden small car. The EC7 is also a substantial 273mm longer than the Honda City-sized Geely MK light car, setting it one class above the range pipe-opener.

Made at an advanced plant built with input from Subaru manufacturer Fuji Heavy Industries, the EC7 is expected to go into right-hand drive production for export to the UK in the final quarter of this year, meaning Australia might be able to tap into deliveries before the end of the year.

Designed to accommodate the larger frames of western people, the car is said to have been engineered to qualify for a Euro NCAP four-star safety rating, and is armed with six airbags and both Euro and US emissions compliance.

In China, Geely also is set to launch a larger model, the Camry-sized 2.4-litre EC8, which is to spawn two derivatives, the EV8 people-mover and the EX8 SUV. The EC8 even boasts a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

Geely is expected to wheel out more models for its expansive range at this year’s Beijing motor show, starting on April 23.

[Kryton]

Check out these 3 at Pickles:
http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/li...TION&x=29&y=15

Dont know if they were test cars (safety crashed) or what the story is (85km old).
Either way, wouldnt want to be rolling one.

[Auslandau]

3 cars all under 100k's ..... who knows what they were used for or what they were subjected to but that wont stop everyone who has never driven, seen one or know the requirements to get cars to pass Australian standards bag the crap out of them.

But this has been done to death on the Great Wall thread ..... these as stated in the write up are anticipating a 4 star rating.



| [/url] |

[Franco Cozzo]

I'd like to see how these Geely cars score in the safety department, from the photos they dont look all bad.

[S3SR]

check these out

lets face it, cars of any origin are BUILT TO A PRICE..... you buy for $80million hilux with the impression its "INDESTRUCTABLE" ..... you are kidding yourself

fairly new model landcruisers of Japan origin......... eitherway no car is bulletproof

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-652021893

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-802018595

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-652021650

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...101761/lotid-0

[InfernoSR]

Great Wall Motors... hope their cars have measures to keep the rabbits out...

[The Monty]

Originally Posted by S3SR

check these out

lets face it, cars of any origin are BUILT TO A PRICE..... you buy for $80million hilux with the impression its "INDESTRUCTABLE" ..... you are kidding yourself

fairly new model landcruisers of Japan origin......... eitherway no car is bulletproof

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-652021893

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-802018595

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-652021650

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...101761/lotid-0

Ok, so now go put a Great Wall through the exact same accidents, and see the results, lol.

[The Monty]

http://www.pickles.com.au/damaged/ve...otid-552089985

Theres one, lol.

[vztrt]

Chery riper

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576BD00172BF9

Chinese importers ramp up model plans - including an electric vehicle by 2011

2 February 2010

By MARTON PETTENDY

THE on-again-off-again race to release the first Chinese-branded passenger car in Australia has resumed in earnest after confirmation that Chery, China’s biggest automotive exporter and largest independent brand, will be launched here in July.

Senior executives from Sydney-based Ateco Automotive, which launched Australia’s first Chinese vehicle brand last year in the form of two dual-cab utilities from Great Wall Motors, are now in China finalising pricing and specifications for two compact Chery models.

They are expected to comprise sedan and hatchback versions of the A1 light-car and a two-wheel-drive compact SUV codenamed T11 and known in China as the Tiggo3.

“We will launch Chery totally independent of Great Wall in July,” said Ateco governing director Neville Crichton at the opening of his $32 million Ferrari Maserati Sydney dealership on Tuesday.

Single uniform type inspection (SUTI) examples of both Chery models have been in Sydney since before Christmas for ADR testing purposes and should be formally approved for Australian roads by May or June.

Also announced this week is news that Ateco will launch Great Wall’s first passenger car in Australia – a light-sized hatchback based on the Chinese market’s Peri – by June or July. It will join the X240 compact SUV launched here in November.

Perhaps even more significantly, Mr Crichton said an all-electric vehicle from Great Wall would be released in Australia in 2011.

“We will have electric cars here in 2011,” he said. “We’ve been working closely with governments over the past 18 months ... issues like infrastructure and charging stations.”

Mr Crichton did not specify which Chinese brand would release an EV here first, but confirmed it will be a full electric vehicle rather than a hybrid – and that the vehicle would be profitable for Ateco.

“We’ll make money on EVs – I don’t think the EVs that come will be twice the price of petrol cars. I guess it (their success) comes down to fuel prices.

“I can see it coming quite quickly, at least in the cities. I think they’d be fantastic for Sydney or Melbourne. We’ve all got to look to the future.”

Great Wall is understood to have tested a lithium-ion battery-powered electric version of the Peri in China, but GoAuto understands GWM’s first EV will be an all-new model that could appear alongside a new three-door city-car at the Beijing motor show in April.

The local arrival of Ateco’s first Chinese cars should co-incide with first imports of Geely’s 1.5-litre MK light-car via West Australia-based Chinese Automotive Distributors.

Originally due on sale in Australia in January but now expected to be launched here around May, the Geely MK is due to receive official Australian Design Rule certification within weeks.

As we’ve reported previously, it should be joined later this year by the 1.8-litre Emgrand EC7 small-car and, possibly, the 1.0-litre Panda (or LC-1) micro-car (which will also go by a different name here).

Chery first signed an agreement to import vehicles to Australia with Ateco in November 2005 before declining exchange rates forced the postponement of an early 2009 local launch.

Similarly, Chinese car-maker Lifan was due to be launched here by Sydney importer China Motor Franchise last year before the global financial crisis and a weaker Aussie dollar delayed its arrival.

However, CEO Shaun Lane says CMF remains committed to releasing Lifan’s small 520 sedan and hatch in Australia in 2010, while the smaller new 320 could follow it.

Mr Crichton said Chery’s Tiggo-based small crossover, which will receive a different name for Australia, will come with a driveaway price of less than $20,000.

The 2.0-litre petrol-powered SUV will therefore be positioned below Great Wall’s larger Toyota 4Runner-based X240 ($23,990), which falls 10mm short of being classified as a medium SUV.

GWM’s first passenger car was expected to be based on China’s Florid model, which was ruled out because of model cycle issues and the Victorian government’s earlier than expected 2011 mandating of electronic stability control.

Little information is available about the Peri, but specifications should be close to that of the five-door Florid hatch, which is powered by a 77kW/138Nm 1.5-litre engine, measures 3900mm long, weighs just 1117kg and is claimed to return average fuel consumption of 5.9L/100km.

“The Chery (A1) will compete with (Hyundai’s) Getz,” said Mr Crichton. “But it will have four doors and it will be better specced.”

Expect the cheapest Chery to be priced around the same as the Getz (from $13,990), and fitted as standard with at least two airbags, ABS brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, a CD player and, perhaps, both manual and continuously variable transmissions.

“The next Great Wall vehicle will be an actual car, unlike the X240 which is an SUV but not a passenger vehicle as we’d call it,” said Ateco spokesman Daniel Cotterill.

Like the Lifan and Geely distributors, however, Ateco says neither the Chery A1 or Great Wall Peri – both of which are expected to follow the lead of the Great Wall utes by adopting alpha-numeric model names here – are likely to undercut the cheapest cars currently available in Australia.

“We will be ultra-competitive,” said Mr Crichton. “But we’re looking at value for money, rather than being the cheapest car.”

Malaysia’s Proton will set a new price benchmark in Australia in April, when it releases a 1.3-litre ‘G’ version of its new light-sized S16 sedan priced at just $10,990 plus on-road costs.

Revealed soon after in January was a lower $11,790 (plus ORCs) pricetag for Suzuki’s Indian-built sub-light Alto hatch, following the federal government’s five per cent import duty reduction in 2010.

“I’d be surprised if we went down the path of competing solely on price,” said Mr Cotterill. “If there are others out there that want to do sub-$11,000 cars then I’m not sure where that leaves you in terms of a business case. We’ll be competitive in terms of value for money.

“As you see with Great Wall price is certainly a component and our pricing is extremely competitive – especially in the small car market – but it’s not the only thing,” he said.

Ateco managing director Ric Hull and special projects manager Dinesh Chinnappa are negotiating final pricing and specifications for Chery’s A1 and Tiggo, as well as firming up plans for other future Chery models.

They include a larger 2.0-litre passenger car that Mr Crichton confirmed for release in Australia in the first quarter of 2011, and another unnamed model.

“Chery will launch four models in its first eight months,” he said.

Revealed at the 2009 Shanghai show, where Chery revealed no fewer than 30 new vehicles, GWM’s Mercedes-Benz CLS-style CHCO 11 concept was a large sedan powered by a 3.0-litre petrol V6 coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Great Wall also has a people-mover dubbed the Cowry which could sell here from under $30,000, while a Chery van could fill a market space vacated by the Kia Preggio.

“With Great Wall we had two utes and now the X240 has given some depth, but it (the brand) is not by any means complete yet,” Mr Cotterill said.

He also confirmed the ADR homologation process was now under way for the first Chery vehicles in Australia, following delays by the Chinese maker in providing the necessary documentation to the federal transport department.

He said Ateco was keen to avoid a repeat of the situation that forced it recall the Great Wall V240 ute to fix front seatbelt retracting mechanisms on 115 vehicles, after the V240 attracted a lowly two-star crash test rating from the Australasian New Car Assessment program (ANCAP).

Ateco will soon release a facelifted iteration of the V240 featuring a number of structural improvements to improve its crashworthiness, along with new single-cab and cab/chassis ute derivatives, while a diesel engine for the both the X240 and ute is expected to double sales.

“We’ve learned a lot from this and so have they (Great Wall),” said Mr Cotterill.

“There are a range of issues to get right so things get better as you go. I think what you’ll see with Chery when it comes to (ADR) is that the cars will tick all the boxes.

“We’ve had SUTI cars here for some time and I won’t say it’s a formality, but we’ll be very, very well prepared when we go into that process.”

Mr Crichton said Chery vehicles would be sold through a separate dealer network to Great Wall, which launched with 45 dealers nationally, now has 51 and is expected to have 80 retail outlets by July, with more metropolitan Great Wall dealers to be announced soon.

“We’re starting again with Chery,” he said. “Nobody that’s got Great Wall will have Chery.”

Great Wall sold a total of 1907 vehicles in Australia in the second half of 2009 following the launch of the SA220 and V240 utes in July. The X240 accounted for 264 of them, with 168 sold in December.

“There are lots of people talking about what they’re going to do, but we’re up to our elbows actually doing it,” said Mr Cotterill.

“The things are marching out the doors. The X240 is selling its doors off and we’ve really only actually started marketing it.”

Mr Crichton said he expected the imminent influx of Chinese vehicle to Australia to have a greater impact on sales of Japanese models than Korean models.

“Hyundai has a big slice of the market,” he said. “We’re not trying to take it off them – we just want some of it

“I have no doubt that in five years the Chinese will have a major, major share of the (Australian) market. They’re the biggest manufacturer in the world. It’s no different to what the Japanese and then the Koreans did.

“I don’t see the Koreans disappearing. In fact, the Chinese will affect Japanese imports more than the Koreans because of their price competitiveness. We see a very big future (for Chinese vehicles in Australia).”

Mr Crichton said he was not interested in gaining the Australian distribution rights for Saab, which GM will soon sell to Spyker, but did not rule out adding other Chinese brands to his portfolio, which included Kia until the Korean maker assumed direct control.

“We’re looking all the time,” he said. “But there are no contracts yet.”

Owned by five provincial governments, Chery is China’s largest vehicle exporter. Privately owned GWM, which produces 200,000 vehicles a year and exports to 100 countries, is actively pursuing new export markets.

Great Wall has a two-year model turnaround time and plans to match Lexus quality within seven years

[Yellow_Festiva]

I'm actually a little surprised by the sales number for GW cars. Was expecting less than that for the 6 month figures.

We are getting close to the '10 grand new small car'... as well it seems. Wonder if it will be Malaysian, Chinese, Indian, Japanese or Korean?

My money is on one of the first 3. Especially when India has launched 1 sub $2,500 new car (Tata Nano) and the Maruti Suzuki (MPV Eeco) at a bit over 6 grand.

[wicksy]

there are a **************** and i meana **************** of those great wall utes here in mackay

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/38997/gr...ange/#comments

Great Wall Motors to expand range

August 25, 2009 by David Twomey

Australia’s first Chinese automotive importer, Great Wall Motors, certainly seem s to be building a sales foundation, and has announced plans to add three more vehicles to its range.



Two Great Wall twin cab utilities were launched onto the Australian and New Zealand markets in late June by local importer Ateco Automotive, and since then they have been selling as quickly as they can be supplied.

The entry level SA220 is priced at $19,990 while the up-market 2WD V240 is $23,990 on road, add $3000 to that if you want the 4WD version.

Official VFACTS industry figures show Great Wall achieved 274 retail sales in July, but a spokesman for Ateco Automotive, the importer of Great Wall, has advised that dealers actually took more than 300 new orders during their first full trading month.



Ateco says the existing imports will be supplemented in coming months by new models including a well-appointed mid-sized SUV, an economical small sedan and single cab versions of the current utilities.

All are expected to be on sale in Australia before the end of the year and further enhancements to the line-up including an eagerly awaited turbo diesel engine are also in the pipeline.

Great Wall launched with 43 dealers in Australia and six in New Zealand, but the dealer network is growing as Ateco works steadily through its appointment processes.

An Ateco spokesperson said the greatest short-term challenge facing existing Great Wall dealers is finding stock for their showrooms as they meet and exceed sales targets months ahead of expectations.



Great Wall availability is expected to improve soon as increased orders of freshly produced vehicles enter the country, while dealer willingness to embrace a forward ordering system has helped Ateco to better match supply to actual individual model demand.

According to Ateco’s Managing Director, Mr Ric Hull, “No one here is getting carried away at this early stage, but we are greatly encouraged by the initial success of Great Wall’s products and the enthusiasm of our dealer network

[Burnout]

Well, I drove a GW twin cab 4x4 Ute yesterday for about 10k's.
Boy what a vehicle, it was a demo at a dealer round the joint. (A Friend sells the things).

Lets see, considering I was just taking a light load of rubbish to the tip, I can make the following observations.
The motor is too small and I for one would not like to tow something which covered the 2400kg tow capacity.
The clutch wont last.
The suspension was soft as a rubber band, how it seemed to me, although it seemed stable at suburban speeds.
Due to the small capacity engine, fist seemed low, second too high, third about right, fourth & fifth ok.

The vehicle came with standard leather seats, steering wheel which felt ok & even looked a bit like leather. The remainder of the inertia looked exactly like plastic. It was a two tone in appearance and both tones had a shade of gray underneath.
Panel fit was hard to determine as the day was heavy overcast and late afternoon with time being short. I was advised about extensive surface rust in behind the tail lights. As advised by my Car selling mate, it seems this rusting was not confined to just this vehicle. "Not bad for a truck with 4200km" was the quote, irony I believe.

I will seek another ride in the beast, giving the thing a bit better workout, where my time is not reduced by the imminent closing of the local tip. That said, may be ironic as well!

[Fled74]

Not sure if this has been posted before:

Can China Conquer Detroit With Its Cheap Car Clones

I can see it now...
"Mate, nice Hummer"
"Nah, it's a DongFeng Crazy Soldier!"
"Gesundheit."

[vztrt]

Chery targets volume segments

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25770B001B49FE

Small, light and compact SUV contenders on the way from China’s Chery

20 April 2010

By JOHN MELLOR in China

CHERY, China’s biggest domestic car brand and its most successful exporter, will target the three largest Australian volume market segments when sales of its cars commence Down Under later this year.

Together with importer Ateco Automotive, Chery has chosen the light car segment and the compact SUV segment for initial attention from the third quarter of this year, with an entrant being rolled out into the booming small car segment in the final quarter.

These three segments are the largest in the local car market.

So far this year the small car segment has attracted buyers at an annualised rate of about 236,000 units, the light segment is running at a rate of about 136,000 sales a year, and the compact SUV segment has attracted sales at an annualised rate of about 104,000 units.

The first Chery entrants will be the Chery J1 and the Chery J11 (known as the A1 and A11/Tiggo in China) to be launched in the third quarter. These are current-generation cars that have been in production for some time in China.

The J1 is a small 1.3-litre hatchback that will go up against light segment leaders Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Getz – which have had annualised sales rates of more than 20,000 units each this year – as well as 17 others.

The J11 is a 2.0-litre compact SUV (offered with manual or automatic transmission) that will take on segment leaders Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 – both of which look set to sell more than 12,000 units this year – although the true rivals are more likely to be the Kia Sportage and Hyundai’s ix35.

The J3, a newer-generation vehicle than the J1 and J11, will be launched two to three months later into the small market. It is the size of a Toyota Corolla and will most likely have a 1.6-litre engine although the exact mix of engines and transmissions is not yet finalised.

Ateco managing director Ric Hull told GoAuto: “We have not committed to engine and transmission options for the J3 yet.”

Mr Hull said Ateco and its Chery dealer network in Australia had high hopes for the J3. “It is one of their more recent vehicles and is really quite attractive,” he said.

While prices have not yet been decided, Ateco is intending to use the same pricing approach against the competition as the group used with Great Wall Motors – sharp prices as well as generous features and specifications.

Mr Hull said: “Price discussions are continuing with Chery. There are still all sorts of variables in there, such as currency.”

He said although Ateco bought in US dollars, the expected revaluation by China might not be large and that the Australian dollar was strong against the US dollar.

Mr Hull said Ateco was planning for about 7000 Chery sales in the first full year, with infrastructure and systems planning built around coping with 50,000 sales in five years.

But he conceded that number was an internal management benchmark and that actual sales were unlikely to be that high within five years.

Even though the Chery starting point will be built on passenger vehicles, he said pick-ups were also on the agenda for Chery.

“Chery has utes in China and they are in the pipeline for Australia, but the issue is getting them into right-hand drive to Australian standards,” he said.

ADRs slow Chery’s arrival

THE slow entry to Chery into the Australian market, now nine months behind initial expectations, was largely be a factor of Chery engineers being weighed down by demands at home and delays in getting Australian Design Rule compliance data from China.

But, Ric Hull, the managing director of Ateco Automotive, the importer of the Chery brand, says the arrival of the vital data is “imminent”.

“We have almost all the documentation. We are just cleaning up some of the little bits and pieces.

“One of the reasons we have been delayed in getting Chery into our market has been the ability of Chery to cope with the expansion they are enjoying domestically – especially in engineering resources.

“We also suffered a little bit by being the first mature western market of our level of sophistication that they have tackled.

“With Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia, they had been to Western Europe and North America before coming to Australia and they were more familiar with meeting ECE-type regulations.

“So it has been a journey for Chery to understand the disciplines of meeting things like ADRs. We have so many unique requirements that I am certain that have been a factor in the slow start we have had with Chery. The paperwork is very demanding; as it should be.”

[vztrt]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25770B00144BEF

Chinese cars ‘have head start over Koreans’

Fast forward for Chinese car-makers as they chase sales around the globe

20 April 2010

By JOHN MELLOR in China

THE one-time “father of Korean brands” in Australia, Ric Hull, says Chinese cars are much better developed and ready to sell in Western markets than Korean brands were when they first entered the Australian market.

Mr Hull, who has been responsible for driving the success of three Korean brands in Australia – Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia – said Chinese cars were probably 10 years more advanced than Hyundai vehicles at the same stage of entering the market.

“And the Chinese will cover the distance of the journey that Hyundai took at three times the speed,” he said.

These days, Mr Hull is managing director of Ateco Automotive, importer of Australia's first Chinese-made vehicles, from Great Wall Motors, and - from later this year - Chery.

He said he thought Chinese car-makers would catch Korean and Japanese manufacturers in a vastly compressed time frame because the massive volume base in China would allow them to recover investment in new technology and quality much faster than any other market in the world.

“Firstly, China is now the largest market in the world by a considerable margin. They did 13.6 million vehicles last year and they make roughly what they sell. Imports and exports are relatively modest and they generally balance each other.

“This year in the first quarter they have made and sold about 4.6 million vehicles so they are 72 per cent up again on last year and heading for making and selling 18 million cars, maybe 20 million cars this year which is better than it ever got in North America in their best years.

“Secondly, the Chinese car-makers have had the benefit of technology transfer from the world’s major car-makers.

“They are further ahead of where the Koreans were because there are 47 car-makers in China and they are involved in joint ventures with every major car maker in the world.

“So all of the major marques are represented in China. Every major component producer in the world is represented in China. So in terms of world-leading technology being available within the country, it is absolutely unlimited.”

He said companies like Hyundai has some technology arrangements with other car makers but spent many years developing their own in-house technology.

“Most of what they did was home grown. In China by comparison they have unlimited access to worldwide technology.”

Mr Hull added that the Australian public did not seem to be demonstrating any shyness about buying Chinese vehicles.

“We have been delighted with the acceptance of Great Wall. We could not have hoped for better sales levels and the dealer reaction has been quite astonishing.

“We are well above our expectations. Considerably above. We are of the order of 10 to 15 per cent ahead of where we though we would be at this point.

“I have always though that the Chinese brands might be easier for Australians to accept than the Koreans when they were new (to the market) because so much of what we buy and use on a daily basis is already made in China and it is all pretty good (quality).

“I know that people in the car industry see major complexities when you are comparing motor cars with electric drills but I think that is less of a problem with the public at large.”

[Yellow_Festiva]

http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor...0423-ti1x.html

Chinese camper could replace Kombi

Grey nomads could soon be able to trek around Australia in the budget priced Great Wall Motors Motor Home.

A Chinese campervan could become a spiritual successor to the legendary Volkswagen Kombi for Australian backpackers and the growing grey nomad clan.

Like the Kombi, vehicle importer Ateco - which now imports the Chinese Great Wall Motors and Chery brands - hopes it will forge a niche by being competitively priced and well packaged for those looking to explore Australia.

A single Great Wall Motors Motor Home will soon be imported to Australia for evaluation as a camper, where it could sell for as little as $50,000, undercutting more expensive rivals typically based on Toyotas, Fiats, Volkswagens or even Mercedes-Benzes.

Whereas most campervans and motor homes arrive in Australia as the basic vehicle before being built up locally, the Great Wall Motor Home would leave the factory as a built up vehicle, complete with combined toilet/shower, kitchen and sleeping space for four.

It can also take five people in its dual-cab cabin, allowing flexibility when travelling or away from home.

"We're going to assess the viability of the Motor Home ... it really interests us," said Ateco general manager of new ventures, Dinesh Chinnappa. "We're hopeful that we'll get it."

However, he warned there was a lot of evaluation to be done on the vehicle to ensure its camper accessories - including gas fittings, electrical systems and so-on - met relevant Australian Standards.

"There's so much that has to happen to get this vehicle to market. We're bringing one out (to Australia) so our engineers can crawl all over it and see what needs to be done [to ensure it meets all standards]."

As with all the Chinese made vehicles due to be sold here in the next few years - Ateco thinks they could make up 10 per cent of the market within five years - price will be a key selling point with the Motor Home.

"It would be a heck of a lot cheaper than anything else on the market - and better decked out," said Chinnappa.
Ateco won't talk pricing for the Great Wall Motor Home but hints it could be one-third or more cheaper than other entry-level vans, which can sell for less than $70,000.

That would suggest pricing in the region of $50,000.

Ateco is also hopeful that features such as a built-in toilet will make it appealing for rental fleets or grey nomads looking for a relatively affordable camper, complete with a three-year warranty.

"There's nothing like that in the market," said Chinnappa.

As well as a spacious double bed and a bunk bed the Great Wall Motor Home has plenty of head room and decent space for a couple.

The door is currently on the wrong side of the vehicle - opening to the road rather than the pavement - but Great Wall has assured Ateco it can be easily switched over.

Looks like China is planning an all out assault. Looks pretty good, wonder what the weight of the rig is, and if they will use a more powerful engine in the camper model to handle the weight?

[naddis01]

I have seen heaps of Great Walls out here. They seem to be selling much better than the Mahindras. For $50k that camper should sell pretty well you would think. Should be a bargain when they are a couple of years old. $20k? Regarding the motor, you would certainly hope they put a bigger one in it. They are meant to be a slug as it is aren't they?

[Thornie]

My mate just purchased one of the great wall 4wd wagon things he's done 800km's in it and its already full of rattles and squeaks, he was warned.

[CFOUR]

there's a ton of great walls that travel between the gold coast and brissy (and vis versa) that I see every day.

I actually bought a Chinese dirt bike for mates to use and the quality of it was so poor I'll never buy a Chinese motor vehicle. not that I would have anyway.

[Bobman]

There will soon be a great wall of these things broken down on the road to make our own Great Wall of Australia!

[vztrt]

If people are gonna consider buying one of these, one thing to remember is Geely now own DSI, and DSI are working on putting the 4-speed in their cars (not sure which ones, will have to find out) but at least it will support some Aussie jobs.

[vztrt]

This is what I was talking about in the above post.

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0429-tw3b.html

Australian transmissions set for Chinese cars
BRUCE NEWTON
April 30, 2010 - 4:57PM

Albury based transmission maker DSI showed an amazing reversal of fortunes at the recent Beijing motor show.

Australian-based transmission maker DSI has used the Beijing motor show to show off its latest six-speed automatic and seven-speed dual-clutch manual.

Chinese car maker Geely purchased the bankrupt company for $47.4 in March 2009, quickly developing transmissions that will be used in the next breed of one of China's biggest car makers.

Geely, which recently purchased Swedish car maker Volvo, also used the Beijing show to release a cavalcade of 30 new and prototype cars and SUVs, including six future energy concepts and a family of new petrol and diesel engines.

But both front and rear-wheel drive versions of the conventional six-speed autos were on display, as was a prototype of the DCT that DSI and Geely have co-developed as a joint venture.

A group of DSI executives led by managing director Mike Turner were on-hand for the reveal, although he wasn't being swarmed by the local media like Geely chairman Li Shufu, who seems to have risen to demi-God status in the wake of the purchase of Volvo from Ford.

"He's a very successful man and he has pumped a lot of money and capital into a vision he has and it seems very much to me like it is well on track," Turner told Drive as the Shifu media storm swept past.

And so, says Turner, is DSI, which continues to operate its Albury assembly plant and Melbourne R&D base, but also has plans with Geely to build three new plants in China by 2013.

The six-speed auto will be launched into six Geely 1.8-litre front-wheel drive applications in November and 2.0 and 2.4-litre fwds in March next year. The front-wheel drive DCT is set for a 2013 debut.

Considering China is now the world's biggest market and continues to grow exponentially, Turner expects demand to be substantial.

"The automatic market in China will be very large, at least 50 per cent," he said. "Nobody knows exactly how much right now, certainly it won't be like Europe where 80 per cent of vehicles are manual and 20 per cent auto.

"With technology availability there is no doubt the Chinese market has an appetite for automatic transmissions and to that end the acquisition of DSI supplements that growth strategy for Geely.

"To sell vehicles they need a sophisticated automatic transmission and our six-speed electronically controlled transmission fits straight into their vehicle range."

Both the front and rear-wheel drive autos can handle engines of up to 400Nm of torque - more than most six-cylinder engines - while the DCT has a 250Nm rating.

The primary job of the Albury plant will be to continue supplying DSI's other clients including SsangYong and Mahindra. DSI has only one Australian supply contract left, with Ford for the four-speed auto fitted to the LPG Falcon and rear-wheel drive Territory, and that expires in March 2011.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/29/r...s-on-the-rise/

Report: Chinese car quality complaints on the rise

by Zach Bowman (RSS feed) on Apr 29th 2010 at 6:59PM

Just when we thought China's automotive industry had made some headway in the quality department, we get word that complaints about new car quality in the country have risen significantly over the past few months. During the first quarter of this year, complains on vehicles purchased within the last six months climbed 15 percent over last year's figures. Those numbers come courtesy of the China Association for Quality.

Even more surprising, the increase marks a nine-percent jump over the number of complaints filed during the fourth quarter of 2009. By and large, the defects concerned engine issues as well as small parts. A total of 94.6 percent of the complaints were lodged against cars costing less than $44,000.

[Source: Gasgoo]

[naddis01]

Chinese car maker Geely purchased the bankrupt company for $47.4 in March 2009

I am assuming there are a few 0's missing there. Surely?

[Magna]

Originally Posted by vztrt

So they ran one of these utes into a wall (and not just for fun).

Budget utes criticised after poor crash-test results

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25763F001D6457

believe it or not the X240 just scored 4 stars but wheres the media making a fuss over that!

http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/_...l.php?IID=3007

not saying if its good or bad but its certainly an improvement.

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by Magna

believe it or not the X240 just scored 4 stars but wheres the media making a fuss over that!

http://www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au/_...l.php?IID=3007

not saying if its good or bad but its certainly an improvement.

http://www.ancap.com.au/results/356/

X240 being the SUV. Not bad, took a look, I see a few in my area now usually done up with window tint etc. I found the rear seat 'bum' area kinda small, might be okay for 2 adults and kids. Has triangle and rear fog (not listed in brochure).

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by naddis01

I am assuming there are a few 0's missing there. Surely?

If it was bankrupt it would be worth next to nil anyway. I'm sure the figure is correct in that case.