First Chinese Cars Entering Australia

[vztrt]

Great Wall Motors will be releasing two utes into the country.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/33544/gr...-in-australia/

Great Wall Motors will be the first Chinese manufacturer to release a vehicle in Australia when its two twin-cab utes go on sale tomorrow.

The V240 (pictured above), which is available in 4×2 and 4×4 configurations, will be priced at $23,990 and $26,990 respectively while the SA220, available in 4×2 only, will go on sale from just $19,990 on road.

The base model SA220 (pictured below) will feature a (78kW/190Nm) 2.2-litre four cylinder petrol engine that GWM claims will achieve a combined fuel economy return of 10.8 litres per 100km and offers a 855kg payload.

The upper spec V240 models on the other hand will come with a (100kW/200Nm) 2.4-litre four cylinder petrol engine that manages 10.7 litres per 100km in both 4×2 and 4×4 spec and can carry a full one-tonne.

All three models feature alloy wheels, AM/FM single CD tuner, electric windows, leather trimmed seats, disc/drum brakes and air-conditioning and will be backed by a comprehensive three year / 100,000 kilometre warranty.

Great Wall Motors have been around since 1976 and are one of the most popular manufacturers of commercial vehicles in China with an annual capacity of 800,000 units expected by 2010.

GWM vehicles are available nationally through 45 ATECO importer dealerships.

[TC200six]

Nice cross between a Navara and a Rodeo

[vztrt]

Go Auto Article

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2575DF002A21E8

Chinese invasion begins – at $19,990

Great Wall becomes first Chinese brand into Australia with a pair of utes

By RON HAMMERTON 24 June 2009

GREAT Wall Motors today became the first Chinese car-maker to nail up its shingle in Australia, staking a claim on the light-commercial vehicle market with a pair of twin-cab utes and a sub-$20,000 on-road entry price.

With leather trim, alloy wheels, electric windows and air-conditioning all included as standard equipment, the five-seat, four-cylinder petrol Great Wall SA200 and V240 – known in China as the Sailor and Wingle respectively – will go on sale this week through a new 45-dealer network in Australia, as well as six dealerships in New Zealand.

The cheaper of the two utes, the 4x2 2.2-litre five-speed manual SA220, will debut at $19,990 on-road – a price that importer Ateco Automotive says enables buyers to get into a new vehicle for a second-hand price.

Until now, the cheapest dual-cab ute on the Australian market has been the Indian-built turbo-diesel Mahindra Pik-Up, with a retail price of $23,990, plus on-road costs.

The $19,990 entry price is higher than the “well-below $20,000” Ateco had anticipated, but it now include on-roads and the healthy list of standard features has also grown.

The SA220 is only available in a single specification at launch, with no automatic or diesel option. Nor does it have airbags, ABS brakes or high-mounted stop light, which will not endear it to safety-conscious buyers.

All of these safety features are, however, fitted standard on the bigger, 2.4-litre V240, which is available in both 4x2 and 4x4 guise, but again, without automatic transmission or diesel alternatives at launch.

An advanced 2.8-litre four-cylinder diesel engine is already available in China, and GoAuto understands it is in the pipeline for future launch in Australia.

For now, Ateco hopes to sell about 300 of the petrol-powered utes a month. It has flagged an expansion of the range in due course, but sources indicate that no “stripper model”, minus leather and other goodies, will be in the offing.

Great Wall’s Aussie range will be expanded later this year with the arrival of two more vehicles with broader appeal – a 1.5-litre hatchback, known in China as the Florid, and the Toyota 4-Runner-based Hover SUV. Like the utes, both will be renamed for Australia.

The arrival of the Great Wall vehicles in Australia caps three years of negotiation by Ateco, which also plans to import a second Chinese brand, Chery, once Australian Design Rule compliance can be completed.

Ateco managing director Ric Hull said the company had been impressed with Great Wall “from day one”, targeting the company because of its discipline, organisation and leadership strengths.

He said Great Wall had been consistently at the top of the Chinese car market with its ute and SUV sales, and had set a production benchmark in China where world-class production facilities were becoming commonplace.

“What sets Great Wall apart is the corporate culture that permeates through the organisation,” he said today after the first Great Wall dealer launch meeting in Sydney.

“The company motto is ‘improving little by little every day’, and from what we have seen, the staff really do live and breathe this philosophy.”

Founded in 1976, Great Wall is based at Baoding, 140km south of Beijing. Employing a staff of 22,000, it has a production capacity of 400,000 vehicles per annum, which it plans to double next year.

The Hover became the first Chinese vehicle to be exported to Europe in 2006, when it went on sale in Italy. The company claims to have sold cars in 108 markets, but many of those were tiny volumes.

Great Wall expanded overseas when it opened a plant in the Ukraine in 2007, and reportedly plans to follow up with a new factory in Russia.

Ateco says Great Wall has been the number-one brand in Chinese pick-up sales for 10 years.

For Australia, the base model SA220 is powered by a 2.2-litre petrol four offering 78kW/190Nm, in contrast with the V240’s 100kW/200Nm from its Mitsubishi-derived 2.4-litre four.

Despite the V240’s larger engine capacity and heavier mass, Ateco figures show it uses marginally less fuel – 10.7L/100km compared with the SA220’s 10.8L/100km – on the combined fuel test cycle.

While the SA220 is longer than its big-engine sibling – 5160mm versus 5040mm – it is superficially smaller in most other dimensions – 110mm narrower (the V240 has flared guards), 50mm lower in height and 25mm shorter in wheelbase.

It also carries a smaller payload – 855kg compared with the one-tonne limit of the V240.

The SA220 weighs in at 1525kg, while the V240 tips the scales at 1660kg kerb weight in 4x2 form and 1780kg in 4x4.

The front suspension on both models is double-wishbone with torsion bar springing, while the rear is conventional leaf-spring solid axle.

Both utes are braked by ventilated disc on the front, and drums at the rear.

ABS and electronic brake-force distribution are standard on the bigger vehicle, but unavailable on the SA220.

Apart from leather upholstery and alloy wheels – 15-inch on the SA220 and 16-inch on the V240 – the list of standard equipment on both vehicles include foglights, electric windows and central locking.

[vztrt]

pics

[vztrt]

[private9]

Anyone got some crash test footage of these babies?!

[CADSKY]

OMG! its hideous!! :

[vztrt]

Drive Article

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...7&vf=7&IsPgd=0

GWM Chinese made utes arrive in Australia
Jaedene Hudson, drive.com.au, June 24, 2009

Price is the key selling point for the new Great Wall Motors range of utes, which went on sale here today.

The first Chinese-branded cars went on sale in Australia today in the form of two utes from Great Wall Motors.

Like Indian maker Mahindra, Great Wall Motors' range will, for now, comprise solely of utes.

The Chinese car maker also builds four-wheel-drives, light and small cars and plans to expand the range in Australia to incorporate a full model range, but at this stage there is no confirmation on what models will come and when.

The GWM SA220 ute is rear-drive only, the V240 ute comes in either rear-drive and 4WD. All three seat five people in a dual can configuration.

The GWM V240 2WD debuts as the cheapest ute in its class (the Proton Jumbuck is cheaper but also smaller and seats only two people), at $23,990 on the road. The GWM V240 four-wheel-drive costs $3000 more.

The GWM SA220 is priced from $19,990 on road. It is not the cheapest in its class though - that is held by Mahindra's Pik-Up ute.

While the GWM utes come packed with equipment such as power windows and mirrors, alloy wheels, leather seats, fog lights, CD player and air-conditioning, key safety items are missing.

The GWM SA220 does not get any airbags nor does it get anti-lock brakes. The more expensive GWM V240 models get both.

Safety experts have expressed concerns about the safety of Chinese imports after one of the first Chinese cars exported to Europe, the Brilliance BS6, scored one star out of a possible five in a crash test in 2007 that used the same frontal offset collision as the Australasian New Car Assessment Program.

Some have labelled the impending influx as “scary” and urge new-car buyers to expect and demand high levels of safety in any vehicle sold in Australia.

ANCAP's limited budget means it is unlikely to crash-test every imported model but it will assess models for testing based on their popularity and safety attributes.

Daniel Cotterill, spokesman for Great Wall Motors, defends the ute’s safety.

Great Wall Motors SA220 uteGreat Wall Motors V240 4WD ute

“In terms of their quality of materials used, the soundness of the engineering and the depth of the knowledge the guys have in running crash tests in their research and development centre I don't see it being a problem,” he said.

Neither GWM ute has been independently crash tested yet.

The car maker has bucked the trend towards offering diesel engines instead offering an all-petrol line-up.

The GWM SA220 - as the name suggests - is powered by a 2.2-litre (78kW, 190Nm) four cylinder petrol engine. The GWM V240 models get a 2.4-litre (100kW, 200Nm) version. All are matched to a five-speed manual gearbox only. Average fuel consumption is 10.8 litres per 100km for the GWM SA220 and 10.7L/100km for the V240 models. This is considerably more efficient than many of its petrol-powered rivals.

Cotterill says diesel engines are likely to appear down the track.

The top selling Toyota HiLux V6 petrol models use between 12.6L/100km and 13.1L/100km while the Nissan Navara uses between 12.9L/100km and 14L/100km.

Great Wall Motors will be sold and supported initially in Australia by a nationwide network of more than 45 dealers.

Ateco Automotive has been negotiating to being the car brand to Australia for more than three years and its introduction was delayed due to the economic crisis and associated drop in the value of the Australian dollar that made imports more expensive.

“Great Wall is one of China's leading car makers and it has been consistently at the top of its domestic car market with its Ute and [soft-roader] models,” says Ateco managing director Ric Hull.

“This year China will make and sell more vehicles than any other country in the world … access to technology is virtually unlimited. China's car industry has come a long way in a very short time.

“Every time we go to Great Wall's head office in Baoding, we are impressed by the progress that has been made since our last visit. We targeted Great Wall for our Chinese plans because they are highly disciplined, organised and well led.”

Originally, Great Wall specialised in utes and says it has an “outstanding reputation in the domestic and some overseas markets”.

GWM has been China's number one manufacturer of utes for the last 10 years and for the past five years has been China's market leader in soft roaders.

Great Wall has recently expanded into light and small passenger vehicles as well as people movers.

At present, it has a production capability of 400,000 units which is set to expand to 800,000 units by 2010.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by CADSKY

OMG! its hideous!! :

No it's just ugly, the Hideous tag belongs to the ssangyong musso ute.

[Mongoose]

lolololol 1600 odd kg's with 78kW? that thing will be such a nugget.

[duaned]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

lolololol 1600 odd kg's with 78kW? that thing will be such a nugget.

I reckon my n/a diesel van will give it a run for it's money in the performance stakes!

[JG66ME]

Don't worry, there will be plenty of "patriotic" Aussies out there ready to buy them.

[XR6_190]

one word will cover this thing...

AVOID!!!!!

What a seriously out of date death trap this thing will be, and they will sell like hotcakes, just like that other seriously out of date death trap, the Mitsubishi Express van!

[Kryton]

bit over priced considering the quality (lack of) that is put into these things.
wonder how long before they realise that Australia isnt interested in Chinese rubbish.

[Matt47569]

Nice 12 inch alloys

[geckoGT]

Fuel economy is crap too, reminds me of the 4cyl commodore. People assume it is good on fuel because it is a four but in reality it is so under powered you have to thrash it to keep up with traffic.

[JG66ME]

Originally Posted by davway

bit over priced considering the quality (lack of) that is put into these things.
wonder how long before they realise that Australia isnt interested in Chinese rubbish.

Mate

You are judjing the average person on how YOU and I think.

They will buy it, lap it up.

[Mark351]

Hope they are not made like these two...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOFIt9iw1Fs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D827IxEJVS4

[egosfast]

The trouble with Chinese vehicles is they're like Chinese food, you buy one,
and an hour later you need a new one.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Mark351

Hope they are not made like these two...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOFIt9iw1Fs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D827IxEJVS4

Isn't that first one a VB/VC commodore?

[paule11]

This thread should be renamed ugliest vehicles

[Yellow_Festiva]

Lack of quality? Based on what? Your test drive and experience with these vehicles??
Wonder how many people here making comments have driven in a Chinese built car?? Or sampled these cars Perhaps?

Yes they are cheap, yes they are Chinese. But lets wait and see what our Aussie road testers say about them.

From what I can see, they seem under powered, not all that safe seeing as even a single drivers airbag is lacking on some models. They are also incorrectly specced for the market here. Leather seats in a perceived cheap and cheerful workhorse?

I would like to also know how a car with the same engine uses the same amount of juice in 2wd as the upper model does in 4wd with 100kg more weight?

Cheap is what people want. Look up the last Vfacts post in the pub. Sales down 15-20% yet Hyundai and Kia are posting a hike in sales. The top end of the market has also had modest gains, but not as much as the Koreans.

In my opinion, China left it too late. It will take them years to shed the rubbish stigma it already has even before landing. The Koreans are smarter, as they gave us a go over 2 decades ago and have earnt a great deal of respect since then building cars equally as good and equally as reliable as the Japanese.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Lack of quality? Based on what? Your test drive and experience with these vehicles??
Wonder how many people here making comments have driven in a Chinese built car?? Or sampled these cars Perhaps?

Yes they are cheap, yes they are Chinese. But lets wait and see what our Aussie road testers say about them.

From what I can see, they seem under powered, not all that safe seeing as even a single drivers airbag is lacking on some models. They are also incorrectly specced for the market here. Leather seats in a perceived cheap and cheerful workhorse?

I would like to also know how a car with the same engine uses the same amount of juice in 2wd as the upper model does in 4wd with 100kg more weight?

Cheap is what people want. Look up the last Vfacts post in the pub. Sales down 15-20% yet Hyundai and Kia are posting a hike in sales. The top end of the market has also had modest gains, but not as much as the Koreans.

In my opinion, China left it too late. It will take them years to shed the rubbish stigma it already has even before landing. The Koreans are smarter, as they gave us a go over 2 decades ago and have earnt a great deal of respect since then building cars equally as good and equally as reliable as the Japanese.

I think they have got the timing perfect!

Cheaper car in a tight market.

They have let the Koreans break the waters in this area with many looking at this type of vehicle as a much of a muchness. 'Normal' people will look at this as a cheap run about in the same vein as the others.

If Ssangyong can sell ONE of their abominations, these should sell very well

The "Its made in China so its crap" isn't as valid as it was a few years ago. Many may try to aqvoid it but when price and a resonable quality is there, it is hard to ignore.



| [/url] |

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Mark351

Hope they are not made like these two...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOFIt9iw1Fs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D827IxEJVS4

Those are 2 of the most bastardised clips on youtube.

Neither are Chinese, and, from what I have read about these clips already BOTH are not crash tests in the traditional sense. The yellow car was used to test the crash mechanism prior to the real tests on modern cars, and the red truck was loaded to 2 or 3 tons, and they were actually testing the wall to see how the concrete would hold up in the event of a similar impact.

[BTTB]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

No it's just ugly,

Yep... 80's Hyundai UGLY

only here.. and now...

[mik]

surely in 2009 in AUSTRALIA we would`nt allow a pos to enter the country without at least having abs brakes fitted.....would we???

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Lack of quality? Based on what? Your test drive and experience with these vehicles??
Wonder how many people here making comments have driven in a Chinese built car?? Or sampled these cars Perhaps?

If they build these cars like they build there heavy duty earthmoving equipment it will be complete rubbish. Also there's a difference bewteen Chinese built and Chinese designed.

Originally Posted by mik

surely in 2009 in AUSTRALIA we would`nt allow a pos to enter the country without at least having abs brakes fitted.....would we???

ANCAP 2 star Barina...so yes we would.

[Watto_Cobra]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Drown it..........






Quickly.................






Please.

Originally Posted by Mark351

Hope they are not made like these two...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOFIt9iw1Fs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D827IxEJVS4

OMFG :

[Mark351]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Those are 2 of the most bastardised clips on youtube.

Neither are Chinese, and, from what I have read about these clips already BOTH are not crash tests in the traditional sense. The yellow car was used to test the crash mechanism prior to the real tests on modern cars, and the red truck was loaded to 2 or 3 tons, and they were actually testing the wall to see how the concrete would hold up in the event of a similar impact.

Ahh well, makes for interesting viewing anyway!

[SB076]

Interesting thing is our government has legislated that our local manufacturers (Ford, Holden and Toyota) must have vehicle stability control on all cars manufacturing in Oz from 2011 (I think on) Yet they allow the these two cars to be inported without airbags or even ABS brakes - talk about mixed messages.

Edit (refer this thread http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11264278)