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Filed under: China, Crossover, Honda, Beijing Motor Show
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Click above for high-res image gallery
The Honda Accord Crosstour has been less than critically acclaimed here in the U.S., but it's far too early to tell if the bulky hatchback will resonate with customers. While it may be too early to declare the Crosstour's success or failure here in the States, Honda may already be planning on introducing the hatchback/crossover/wagon to the transportation-hungry Chinese.
A new report from Gasgoo states that Honda is working with China partner Guangzhou Honda to build the Crosstour in The Land of the Great Wall. The Crosstour, which evidently carries the codename "Accord QE," has reportedly been spotted testing in China, and the Asian news site proclaims that the Accord-based "lifestyle vehicle" is set to be introduced next month at the Beijing Auto Show.
Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
Photos by Chris Paukert / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Gasgoo]
Honda to build Accord Crosstour in China? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: SUV, China, Government/Legal, Hummer, Earnings/Financials
It looks like General Motors' deal to sell its Hummer brand to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery is on shaky ground. According to Reuters, the likelihood that the Chinese government will give its approval to Tengzhong has been waning in recent weeks, leading the would-be purchasers to consider making the acquisition using an offshore investment vehicle to skirt the need for Chinese regulatory approval. GM and Tengzhong had originally set a January 31st deadline to complete the sale, later extending that time frame to February 28th.
The Chinese National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce are thought to have taken issue with the idea of such an environmentally unfriendly automaker coming under Chinese ownership. Further, Tengzhong has never actually made a passenger vehicle, and China already has over 100 companies producing automobiles and the government has gone on record saying it would like to reduce that number. Stay tuned.
[Source: Reuters]
Hummer deal with China's Tengzhong looking shaky originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Convertible, China
Although it probably plummeted off your radar around the time "My Humps" and "Don' Cha" were topping the charts, the MG TF remains in production. Well, kind of - the factory was idled last year, but it will restart in April. After this year, however, the owners of MG, China's SAIC, have called full-time on the mid-engined convertible. As an encore, MG is considering building a front-engined, rear-wheel-drive convertible that has the cojones to say "I'm looking at you, punk" to the Mazda MX5/Miata.
Of course that will necessitate light weight chassis, peerless dynamics and a cozy cabin. It also necessitates a new RWD platform, which is something SAIC isn't currently in possession of and doesn't want to foot the bill for alone. Assuming SAIC can hook up with a partner or the MG6 and its sibling sell like bottled water when they're introduced to Europe, the new roadster will come online around 2013. The odds are long, surely, but the fact that we're still talking about the possibility of a brand new MG warms the cockles.
[Source: Autocar]
Rumormill: Chinese-owned MG planning TF roadster successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Geneva Motor Show, China, Videos, Hummer, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Smart, Citroën, Australia, Middle East
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to check out what you missed
This slightly belated Weekender is extra full of the week's car news, starting off with a union of cars and alcohol that only Aussies would think of putting together. In the opposite hemisphere but the same corner, reporters with China's Caixing news site take an uncharacteristically critical look at BYD and find suspect claims and institutionalized corporate cloning that has made its CEO and Warren Buffet even richer. Back on this side, Smart hasn't lost its relevance, just its place in people's minds, so it's using hot dogs to try and get its mojo back while Citroën uses John Lennon and Marilyn Monroe. And when is a model car not a model car, when does an AMG float, and where in the world do you use an H2 to tow a snowplow out of the snow? The answers are right after the jump...
Continue reading Autoblog Weekender: Full-of-Questions Edition
Autoblog Weekender: Full-of-Questions Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: China, Etc., Videos, Hummer, Humor
Click above to watch the video after the jump
Hummer may be the most hated automotive brand in the history of the green movement, but even Al Gore has to admit that there are times when a big, hulking SUV is necessary. The snowed-in residents of Baltimore City are likely very happy there was at least one H2 nearby when one of their massive snow plows got stuck in a couple feet of the white stuff. We're not talking a 20 year-old Super Duty with a blade here folks. Nope. We're talking one of those massive International trucks with four full-sized doors and a plow bigger than your typical midsize sedan.
Hit the jump and watch as the H2 digs deep and rescues the much larger plow truck from the indomitable snow drift. That's enough of a sign of force to make a Chinese company very proud. Or not.
[Source: WBAL TV]
Continue reading Video: Hummers still good for some things, like towing giant snowplows
Video: Hummers still good for some things, like towing giant snowplows originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: SUV, China, Government/Legal, GM, Hummer, Earnings/Financials, Off-Road
As readily illustrated by the dramatic and protracted sale of Saab to Spyker - a process that itself is not yet concluded - it's clear that extracting brands from General Motors is a time-intensive process. No surprise, then, that GM and Chinese manufacturer Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery have reportedly decided to extend the deadline on a Hummer sale until month's end.
The two companies have been working to sew everything up on the SUV brand deal since it was first announced last October, but the original deadline expired yesterday without a resolution. According to the AFP, the holdup actually stems from the fact that the sale needs to get approval from Chinese regulators, an issue that has been noted before. As you may recall, China's commerce ministry previously went on record as saying that they hadn't received an application for approval from Tengzhong, and it is just one of the Chinese government agencies that need to sign off on the deal.
In a related news, Reuters notes that Suo Lang Duo Ji, a Chinese entrepreneur considered to be the mastermind behind the tie-up, hopes that the Hummer deal can be completed by this spring, an admission that could suggest that further extensions could be in the cards.
[Sources: Just-Auto, Reuters | Image: Scott Olson/Getty]
Report: GM, Tengzhong extend Hummer sale deadline until end of February originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Sedan, China, Peugeot, Beijing Motor Show
Peugeot 408 - Click above for high-res image gallery
In another sign of China's growing importance as an automotive market, Peugeot will use the upcoming Beijing Motor Show to debut its new midsize 408 sedan. The 408 was jointly developed by Peugeot stylists in Europe and China with the aim of appealing to the latter market. The mid-sized segment where the 408 competes comprises 45 percent of the market in that country, so this car could represent a major growth opportunity for the French brand if it succeeds. Peugeot is hoping to follow up its 44-percent sales growth in China last year with another 30-percent jump in 2010.
Aside from the 4.68-meter length, Peugeot hasn't revealed any other technical details at this time. The new sedan will be produced in China by the Peugeot Dong Feng joint venture for the local market. The press release is after the jump.
Gallery: 2011 Peugeot 408
[Source: Peugeot]
Continue reading Beijing Preview: Peugeot to debut new 408 in the middle kingdom
Beijing Preview: Peugeot to debut new 408 in the middle kingdom originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: China, Europe, Volvo, Rumormill, Geely
See you in Shanghai - click above for high-res image gallery
With all the Saab hullabaloo clogging up the virtual pipes as of late seems that folks have been neglecting the fate of the other fancy Swedish brand purchased by a pipe-dreamin', pie in the sky American car maker whose coffers were overflowing with SUV money. That's right, Ford purchased Volvo in 1999 for $6.45 billion dollars. Many scratched their heads at the time, as Mercury and/or Lincoln certainly could have used a $6 billion infusion. Also, both Mercury and Lincoln compete with Volvo, on paper at least. But, just like General Motors purchased Saab, Ford had their Swedish brand.
In retrospect, probably not the best idea ever hatched.
Proof? Rumor has it that Ford is inking in the details of a sale of Volvo to China's Geely Holding Group Co. for $1.8 billion by February 8. That's a nearly $4.7 billion bath on Ford's part in just eleven years. But here's the thing: according to the same rumor, Ford might let Volvo go to Geely for as little as $1.6 billion. There's a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo still to be worked out (this agreement runs out after one year, that regulatory board must approve X in a timely fashion) but it's looking more and more that Volvo is about to become a Chinese company. We'll keep you posted.
Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: 2010 Volvo C30
[Source: Trading Markets]
Rumormill: Ford to sell Volvo to Geely for 1.8 billion on Feb. 8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Car Buying, China, India, Tata
BYD E6 - Click above for high-res image gallery
With the possible exception of a trip to the dentist, visiting a car dealership is the least pleasant activity in which we participate. Unless you walk in with mound of cash, you can be sure that using their cruel four square method, U.S. dealers have a quadrangled plan of attack to bend you over. But what if it wasn't like that?
China's BYD (known colloquially as Build Your Dreams) will begin selling cars in the U.S. within the year. That much we know. But where are they going to sell them? Put a better way, how are they going to sell them? According to USA Today, the big fear among other automakers and U.S. dealers is the latter question.
The possibility exists that incoming players like BYD or India's Tata or Mahindra could sidestep the middle man and sell vehicles directly to customers. Obviously, this would be a rather large selling point to those of us who don't enjoy the feeling of being cheated and fleeced during a round of three-card monte (i.e. the typical dealer experience). Another option might be selling the cars through big-box stores like Walmart or Costco. The shape of things to come is getting interesting, if nothing else.
Gallery: Detroit 2010: BYD E6
[Source: USA Today]
Will a Chinese or Indian automaker scrap the traditional dealer model? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 16 Jan 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Budget, Sedan, China, Chevrolet
2010 Chevrolet New Sail - Click above for high-res image gallery
While all kinds of reveals are occurring at the Detroit Auto Show, halfway 'round the would, General Motors has unveiled its 2010 Chevrolet New Sail to China, the world's largest auto market. The New Sail is a joint venture between joint ventures: General Motors' local partner in China is Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. (SAIC), and the subcompact was developed by Shanghai GM and Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, which are both jointly owned by GM and SAIC. It's the first time such a collaboration has produced a locally created car.
The New Sail will start around RMB 60,000 (circa $8,800 USD), putting it in direct contention with fully homegrown brands. The NS wants to lure buyers away from domestics with best-in-class fuel economy from its 85-horsepower, Variable Geometry Intake System (VGIS) 1.2-liter S-TEC II engine that returns 41.2 miles-per-gallon. The slightly larger 1.4-liter has 102 hp yet still turns in 39.8 mpg. Both engines work through a five-speed manual transmission.
You can get GM's exhaustive details in the press release after the jump, and check it out from numerous angles in our gallery of high-res photos below. In spite of the Cavalier epithet reference we made last time we met this car, it's not a bad looking piece of kit.
Gallery: 2010 Chevrolet New Sail
[Source: Chevrolet]
Continue reading GM releases Chevrolet New Sail in China
GM releases Chevrolet New Sail in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Car Buying, China
What's that Bruce Springsteen song? "Glory Days?" You know where this is going, and if you don't, take a seat. America is no longer the largest auto market in the world. The People's Republic of China is. Mao would be so... proud is not the right word.
Here's the specifics. Before we start, China has around 1.3 billion citizens compared to our 310 million or so souls - let's not forget that. That said, China closed 2009 with consumers buying 13.5 million cars, whereas we sold 10.9 million here in the U.S. Running the numbers, the U.S. demand for cars fell off by 20 percent, whereas the Chinese market charged ahead, up by 40 percent.
Is the playing field totally level? Probably not, as the politburo greased the skids a bit by cutting taxes on vehicles with motors smaller than 1.6-liters. The central planners also encouraged the sales of alternate fuel vehicles, such as what's being offered by BYD. There were also programs in place to assist rural farmers in need of wheels.
Unfair comparison? Maybe, and there are also claims of the Chinese government purchasing and stockpiling vehicles to keep factory output up. Of course, we had Cash-for-Clunkers, federal and state incentives for green vehicles and giant tax loopholes that allow Hummer H2s to be taxed like farm vehicles. Also, the Federal Government, the UAW and Canada owns General Motors. And finally, does being the world's largest car market actually matter? Isn't it akin to having the world's tallest building?
[Source: The Detroit Bureau | Image: Frederick J. Brown/AFP/Getty]
Report: China officially eclipsed U.S. as world's largest car market in 2009 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Car Buying, China, GM
2010 Chinese-market Chevrolet Sail - Click above for image gallery
Needless to say, global auto sales were incredibly bad in 2009, with one extremely big exception. The Chinese market boomed thanks to an expanding economy and plenty of government subsidies to keep the country's fledgling auto industry running strong. Few automakers saw more success in the land of the Great Wall than General Motors, with the automaker and its Chinese partner registered 1.8 million sales - a 67 percent increase over 2008 levels. Sales have been so good that GM China's sales surpassed those in the US in nine of the first 11 months of the year. The General put an exclamation point on a splendid 2009 with December sales that were up 96.6 percent versus the same month in 2008. If only the General could see that kind of success in the U.S.
As impressive as GM's Chinese sales were in 2009, the automaker sees bluer skies in 2010. GM China president Kevin Wale said in a statement that the company feels 2010 will be stronger than 2009, adding "the industry outlook is strong, and we expect more growth, albeit on a somewhat slower pace." That's great news for GM, especially given the company's painful struggles in North America and Europe.
While GM is being very thrifty elsewhere in the world the General is spending money and expanding in China. The company opened a laboratory and safety facility in 2009 and it will also open a massive proving ground in the near future.
Gallery: 2010 Chevy Sail
[Source: Detroit News]
Boom Time: GM reports 67% sales increase in China originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: Car Buying, China, Volvo, Geely
Volvo's pending sale to Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group could lead to big changes (or not) for the Swedish automaker and its thousands of employees, but what about its hundreds of Volvo dealerships here in the States? Could Volvo dealers be granted Geely franchises? Will the Chinese automaker utilize its new sales channels to slowly introduce low-cost Chinese vehicles to the U.S. market? Automotive News asked dealers from around the country if they would be interested in selling Geely models, and the responses were mixed at best.
According to AN, many dealers were "receptive" to selling low-cost Geely models; a seemingly expected answer for any good business type. Mark O'Steen of O'Steen Volvo in Jacksonville, Florida reportedly called the possibility of selling Geely models "appealing," adding "it is just another niche that we don't cover, and hopefully they do have some potential in the United States." Mike DiChristofano, vice president of Volvo of Tucson in Arizona had perhaps the best answer of all, pointing to the inability of General Motors to selll off Saab (at least to this point), adding "until this deal goes down, I'm not even thinking about selling a Geely car."
Even if Geely does plan to begin selling Chinese vehicles to the U.S. market by using Volvo dealers, the plan will likely take a lot of time to materialize. Geely reportedly has a lot of work to do to improve safety and quality before being ready for the U.S. market. Global Insight analyst Lin Huaibin told AN that Geely is at least five years away from having products ready for American showrooms.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req. | Image: David McNew/Getty]
U.S. Volvo dealers interested in selling Geely models? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: China, Government/Legal, UK
Just when there was beginning to be good news associated with MG, tales of woe return. This time it has to do with British entrepreneur Will Riley, who somehow established himself as the force behind the MG X-Power even though MG branding rights had been purchased by China's Nanjing.
Riley is in boiling water on three counts: Nanjing is suing to prevent him from using the MG name, employees are suing him for non-payment, and a Canadian man is suing him for theft. Riley bought a subsidiary division, MG Sports and Racing, from the failed company's administrators, PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Nanjing contends that the subsidiary never had the right to use the logo and image of the parent company.
The employees say that they haven't been paid for their time, with Riley's second-in-command claiming that he nearly lost his house for having not been paid and that the company never produced even one car beyond the prototype. The Canadian, who was working to raise investment for Riley, was given that one prototype in exchange for his assistance. When he sent it back to the factory to have work done on it, he later discovered the car was put up for auction and sold to someone else who crashed it. The court proceedings have only just begun in all cases, meanwhile Riley claims he is still committed to bringing back the brand.
[Source: Birmingham Post via China Car Times]
Report: MG X-Power revivalist arrested originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFiled under: China, Japan, Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota, Earnings/Financials
Booming auto sales in China are credited with pushing Toyota Motor Corp's Asian auto sales higher than those solely in its domestic market for 2009 - a first for the Japanese automaker. Toyota sold 1,354,000 units in Asia during the first 11 months of the year (an increase of 4.5 percent compared to the previous year). In contrast, the automaker sold 1,256,000 vehicles in Japan during the same period. China is credited with 622,000 units sold (a 20.7 percent increase) - that number is expected to pass 700,000 units by the end of the year. Toyota's North American market is still the sales leader, with 1,770,000 vehicles sold January through November of 2009. However, now that Japan has been bumped aside, the Asian market is expected to solidify its position as the automaker's second-largest market once the numbers are finalized for 2009.
[Source: Japan Today]
Report: Toyota sells fewer cars in Japan than rest of Asia for first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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