DR Automobiles

[dragin]

Martin:
I think Toyota and Daihatsu clones can be had for the asking in China. Take this short-lived Beijing Auto (BAIC) knock off of the RAV4, called the Heroic.

And here's that Feide "UFO" RAV4 knockoff you mentioned.

[erik (laofan), cmvdc]

I agree DR used other panels, could me Chery Tiggo and Feidie, but also could be old Toyota RAV 4 panels. Gonow will just build the copied (not paid) Tiggo/Feidie panels, this is China, man!

[CCF mod]

Pics of DR5:

[CCF mod]

And DR3:

[pnegyesi]

For what it's worth, we paid a visit to Gonow recently.

Jason Zhang, who's a regular contributor to this forum was a very nice and helpful host - thanks for that.

We found no trace of anything, related to this DR SUV and Mr Zhang highlighted that DR is working with other companies and he never heard that GOnow would supply DR with bodies.

On the other hand, Feidei is very close to Gonow, so it is possible that DR will source the bodies from Feidei. At the airport there was a huge poster of the UFO

Regards,
Pal

[CCF mod]

Thanks for information.

So Feidei UFO is definitely providing Italians with three-door body. As they don't offer five door version we still have to find out who is shipping that to DR company. I still suspect Chery...

Here is a pic of UFO:
https://www.chinacarforums.com/forum/...ead.php?t=3681



And link to DR Motor Company official site:
http://www.dr3.it/

[erik (laofan), cmvdc]

I don't understand this, Pal as I read in the Italian press: "Tutta l'operazione e la creazione del marchio Katay è gestita dal DR Motor Company di Macchia d'Isernia." Katay is the Italian sales name for Gonow, see for instance: http://www.autoblog.it/post/6258/katay-victory-e-troy

[erik (laofan), cmvdc]

This is the Katay (Gonow) sold in Italy by DR!
So either Mr. Jason doesn't know what he is talking about or he deliberately is not telling the truth, for what reason I don't know.

I agree the DR models are base on the old Toyota RAV models and that the swb is copied by Jonway (Feidie UFO) and the lwb by Chery (Tiggo); but it is still Gonow that is involved in DR activities. And it is DR that announces that Gonow is going to build the platforms and bodies for them.

[CCF mod]

I didn't know that Katay is also part of DR group. In that case it's indeed very probable that Gonow will be making bodies for DR3 and DR5.

I'm really curious about sales results of DR company.

[mememe]

Chinese carmaker starts production in Europe
Posted on Monday 26 November 2007


In a big step forward for Chinese automakers, Chery Automobile has had its first European-assembled car roll off the production line at a brand new €11.8 million factory in Italy. The Chery Tiggo 3, a mid-sized SUV, is being assembled from kits imported by DR Motor from Chery to be sold in the Italian market as a rebadged DR5.


CEO of DR Motor, Luca Falasca, says there are plans to launch the DR5 in Germany, France and Spain by next summer, reports Automotive News. They also intend to boost production from 12,000 to 40,000 units by 2009.

The DR5 is being sold in Italy with both diesel and petrol options. The 1.6L petrol version costs €16,900 and comes packed with 109hp (81kW), while the 1.9L diesel with its 120hp (89kW) output is priced at €21,900.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/i...ion-in-europe/