[chinacartimes]

Does anybody know if there is any manufactures in China? Something akin to Caterham?

I couldnt find much in my searches, although I came across this Chinese TV new s clip about Japanese kit cars:
http://dv.ouou.com/play/v_e3a8779147a66.html

 

[fightingtorque]

i saw something kit-ish looking at one of the motor shows a few years ago. the problem is that there would be no market in china for road use as there is no facility to get such cars road registered. even modified cars is a problem.

there would be some potential to do a chinese kit car for export to kit friendly markets (mainly uk actually, as the usa is not easy either).

there is a slight problem that most kit builders in the uk quote about a 6 week delivery time, so they are making to order, but to match that from china you'd need to build to stock, and generally one thing these little companies don't have is cash to fill a build to stock pipeline, esp. if you add delivery.

but it could be done. let me know if you are serious about it we might be able to put a weekend business together.

from china it would be quite easy if you could use some pickup truck or those micro van running gear for some of the parts - obviously there aren't a load of parts makers tooled for rear engined saloons - most uk kits were rwd escort or sierra based, while more recently some 3 & 5series bmw and mx5 derived kits are coming. nice thing about china, you could give a comprehensive kit with all new runnning gear at low cost to save the customer scratting around scrapyards and cleaning up old parts.

 

[chinacartimes]

I would imagine there is a lot of Jetta engines around in China... Maybe even some Jetta GT's - that would make for a mental kit car - but not rear wheel drive. Anyway, Im practically broke after buying 2 houses, and next week 2 cars so just a pipe dream now.

So I will call you next time I have fat pockets.

 

[Squire]

Hi, I spoke to a few companies a little while back about making Cobra bodies. The bodies were stupidly cheap, about $7000 for the mould then $700 for an FRP body. They could even do Carbon ones for $1250. This is a business I would still love to attempt but, I don't know much about the chassis and electrics.

I even found a company that could replicate engines, gerboxes and diffs. Send me a message if you are keen to talk about the possibility of a JV.

 

[van staveren]

dear, i would like to get in contact with you regarding kit car and bodies of cobra and other models
'thanx guido

 

[van staveren]

Hi, I spoke to a few companies a little while back about making Cobra bodies. The bodies were stupidly cheap, about $7000 for the mould then $700 for an FRP body. They could even do Carbon ones for $1250. This is a business I would still love to attempt but, I don't know much about the chassis and electrics.

I even found a company that could replicate engines, gerboxes and diffs. Send me a message if you are keen to talk about the possibility of a JV.

i squire, would like ot discuss this with you. thanx guido

 

[Jinal]

very nice car.:thumb:

 

[green car driver]

I guess chinese people don't have enough car culture to do kit cars. If you travel around England, you will see plenty of people working on their cars, old cars, modified cars, or just ordinary cars that their owners service themselves.

And there are thousands of car clubs in the UK. I've only done quick trips to China, but I've never seen anything like that.

I've seen a few people working on their bikes...

 

[raton]

Car Kits in China wouldn’t find a buyer; Chinese people are not mechanically minded, besides unlike in the west cars in China are considerate an expensive status symbol. Fill them up, make sure the black is shiny and push their way to the front. I think, before we talk about car culture, car clubs, modifications and whatnot, this guys here need to learn before anything is a driving culture.

The owner of western automotive service center has tried to educate the Chinese car owner, the Chinese wants his pads replaced, the manager of the service center mentions that his discs are RS and installing new pads would be not safe unless he had his disc’s replaced, not wanting to lose the business, the Chinese gets his new pads on the old disc. In the west one could face jail for that.

I have see too bikes getting repaired and have you noticed this guys here work squatting and on the floor…

 

[andre555]

Just to bring this up again. Any updates?

Ariel Atom has a factory in Qingdao - Have you been there ***************************************?

How about to import such a kit from UK and put a local engine or even electric drivetrain into it? If just for the fun of it?

Cheers
andre555

 

[gear]

Hi I'm Danny originally from Barbados I live and study here in Chengdu China. Doing an bachelor degree in Vehicle Engineering. I know this post is a bit old but I came across it when I was considering the idea of designing and building a kitcar here in China. I would have to agree with Raton on the point of chinese not being mechanically sympathetic or even knowledgeable but I do know some who are, I work part time at a local race team and some of the people I have met in the racing scheme here are very knowledgeable and passionate.

I have recently been designing in my spare time a kitcar based loosely on the Sylva Riot ( because of its simple clean design, ease of manufacture) that would use most likely use an MG or VW 1.6/2.0L engine as they are easily sourced here in China. My issue is that I keep having to remind myself that cars, no matter the function are a status tool here in China and no matter how good they are with out a popularly know name on them might not be easily accepted... In the western world we take a car, especially a racing or sports car not at face value so much but on the driving experience. They are also guys here who could definately afford to build there own Caterhams, Westfields etc and not need it as a daily driver but the ones who would have a car just for the sake of having something to drive and not be able to have other ppl see it often are very few.

I will continue to work on my design and maybe by year end I hope to have a completed design and proposal ready.

 

[fightingtorque]

I would say:

Set up a chinese kit car manufacturing business for export:

based on building/ having made by subcon the chassis, body parts, trim etc. Design it along the lines of Sylva, Locost, Seven or whatever, but adapted to use components from mainstream chinese vehicles e.g. VW/ MG engine, transmission and some running gear from a rwd pickup made in china etc. In this way you can offer people a comprehensive kit with new parts for the same it would cost them to do it using secondhand running gear from a donor. I think this is a really good idea. I would also not overlook the possibility of a low cost lightweight car using the running gear from those little minibuses like wuling etc, only 1400 cc but it would go quite well if it was light enough.

You might also find some market for trackday/ race series within china. If you can track down a guy called michael kwan, a chinese american who tried to get something called formula china 2000 going (this was back in 2006) he might give you some indicators of how easy it would be - he wanted to build a race series for his chinese built but US designed 2000cc single seaters.

Regarding road car market for china, I would say it is almost impossible that you will get to a situation where any kind of kit car can be registered. I think you may have a business possibilty building concept car vehicles for Chinese OEM's to put on car shows, in the West most of those concept cars and show cars are not made in house by the OEM, and I don't know whether in China there are people building those, or whether they are made overseas.

Keep working on it though, its got potential, but I think for export rather than domestic consumption mainly.

Cheers,

FT

 

[raton]

Hi I'm Danny originally from Barbados I live and study here in Chengdu China. Doing an bachelor degree in Vehicle Engineering. I know this post is a bit old but I came across it when I was considering the idea of designing and building a kitcar here in China. I would have to agree with Raton on the point of chinese not being mechanically sympathetic or even knowledgeable but I do know some who are, I work part time at a local race team and some of the people I have met in the racing scheme here are very knowledgeable and passionate.

I have recently been designing in my spare time a kitcar based loosely on the Sylva Riot ( because of its simple clean design, ease of manufacture) that would use most likely use an MG or VW 1.6/2.0L engine as they are easily sourced here in China. My issue is that I keep having to remind myself that cars, no matter the function are a status tool here in China and no matter how good they are with out a popularly know name on them might not be easily accepted... In the western world we take a car, especially a racing or sports car not at face value so much but on the driving experience. They are also guys here who could definately afford to build there own Caterhams, Westfields etc and not need it as a daily driver but the ones who would have a car just for the sake of having something to drive and not be able to have other ppl see it often are very few.

I will continue to work on my design and maybe by year end I hope to have a completed design and proposal ready.

The fact you know some people in China with mechanical knowledge means nothing, the biggest problem you will face is the xenophobic attitude by the western world with Chinese made products, all kits I have seen in China falls way back on western standards and only usable as beach buggies, if that. China has a very protective car industries , to make a kit car viable in China it must be able to be licensed.

 

[mrbeebop]

On the surface Chinese may buy cars for status, or practical use etc, however there is a large and growing base of performance car and bike enthusiasts.
The large number of illegal black market bikes flowing into China is an indication of this. Or pop over to Tian mao race track in Shanghai to see the variety of highly tuned japanese and european imports.
That said, I don't think China is the market for kit cars, there are simply too many barriers to entry. If you found a route, that would be a bonus, but aim at the established markets with a low cost high value product. As with any other product, it can be made in China with high quality, if you have the right approach.

 

[SOMARINE]

Does anybody know if there is any manufactures in China? Something akin to Caterham?

I couldnt find much in my searches, although I came across this Chinese TV new s clip about Japanese kit cars:
http://dv.ouou.com/play/v_e3a8779147a66.html

Are you still pursuing this project?
I am interested