Rover morphs to Roewe for Chinese production

Shanghai, China - Chinese carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC) has launched its first own-brand car based on technology from the defunct British carmaker Rover.

SAIC said it expected sales to start at the end of 2006 or early in 2007 from 60 selected outlets in China.

The introduction of the "Roewe 750" is the company's first competitive automotive project outside of its existing joint ventures with General Motors and Volkswagen
Roewe cars will be based on Rover 75 technology purchased from BMW

Roewe cars (the name means "glory and authority" in Chinese) will be based on Rover 75 technology purchased from BMW.

The Chinese auto company attempted to buy the Rover name from BMW earlier this year but failed when Ford exercised its option to buy it.

Ford bought luxury SUV brand Land Rover from BMW in 2000 and acquired the right of first refusal to protect the Rover brand name. - AFP


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