Chinese carmakers hope to interest the West
Chinese auto exports more than doubled last year to 340,000 units. But persistent questions about the quality and safety of Chinese cars have kept them out of the US, which is the world's biggest auto market. But that may not be for long, if this year's North American International Auto Show is anything to go by.
The dragon came to Detroit this year. Changfeng Group, a major SUV maker, is the first Chinese auto company to showcase its products at Detroit's annual auto fest. While much of Changfeng's marketing message was translated questionably, the intent was clear: to sell its cars in America. Manager, Changfeng Group, Cheng Zheng Chu told CNBC-TV18, "Our quality, our service and our technology can meet the needs of the upscale car markets and that's what brought us here."
Chinese manufacturers like Changfeng, Chery and Geely are already exporters, mostly to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. But Western markets have been off limits so far, due to concerns about quality, safety and even copying of designs. In fact, the Chinese government will start a permit system this March, to regulate exports of vehicles and auto parts.
Automotive Industry analyst, Stephen R Polk says, "There was concern - a number of Chinese manufacturers were rushing to large markets like the US and to Europe just because of the market opportunity, but the products that they brought over simply weren't going to be accepted. What I understand of the Chinese regulations was to ensure that any cars coming out with a China brand on it, could reflect the quality standards and expectations for the markets they would run into. They didn't want to come off and essentially leave a bad first impression."
As Detroit was buzzing about Changfeng's presence at the auto show, China is set to become the world's third largest automobile manufacturer - it's the second largest auto market, with sales of over 4 million cars in 2006, four times bigger than the Indian market.
While there's no Indian presence at the Detroit auto show, Changfeng Motor is here from China, displaying various models. And the company is not just interested in selling cars in America, it says it's also looking at the Indian market.
Tags: chery geely nanjing hafei zhonghua SAIC lifan
The dragon came to Detroit this year. Changfeng Group, a major SUV maker, is the first Chinese auto company to showcase its products at Detroit's annual auto fest. While much of Changfeng's marketing message was translated questionably, the intent was clear: to sell its cars in America. Manager, Changfeng Group, Cheng Zheng Chu told CNBC-TV18, "Our quality, our service and our technology can meet the needs of the upscale car markets and that's what brought us here."
Chinese manufacturers like Changfeng, Chery and Geely are already exporters, mostly to countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. But Western markets have been off limits so far, due to concerns about quality, safety and even copying of designs. In fact, the Chinese government will start a permit system this March, to regulate exports of vehicles and auto parts.
Automotive Industry analyst, Stephen R Polk says, "There was concern - a number of Chinese manufacturers were rushing to large markets like the US and to Europe just because of the market opportunity, but the products that they brought over simply weren't going to be accepted. What I understand of the Chinese regulations was to ensure that any cars coming out with a China brand on it, could reflect the quality standards and expectations for the markets they would run into. They didn't want to come off and essentially leave a bad first impression."
As Detroit was buzzing about Changfeng's presence at the auto show, China is set to become the world's third largest automobile manufacturer - it's the second largest auto market, with sales of over 4 million cars in 2006, four times bigger than the Indian market.
While there's no Indian presence at the Detroit auto show, Changfeng Motor is here from China, displaying various models. And the company is not just interested in selling cars in America, it says it's also looking at the Indian market.
Tags: chery geely nanjing hafei zhonghua SAIC lifan
posted by Smartcar Owner at 9:35 PM
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