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To compete with native players in the low-cost vehicle market, Kia in China has done something highly unusual for an international brand: producing and selling three generations of the same model at the same time. Positioned differently to cover a price range stretching from 70,000 to 150,000 Yuan, the K3 and its two predecessors, Forte and Cerato, have become a formidable force in the compact realm. Their success is undeniable, but many see it as a sign of Kia weakness, its inability to develop enough new models, and its lack of dedication to the local market.
Kia’s plan to solve the problem, it turns out, is actually to cover it up. It prepares to launch two new, China-exclusive marques, "Huaqi" and "Dianyue," for re-naming Cerato and other outdated Kia models.
"Huaqi"
Auto.sohu.com today exposed a facelifted "Cerato" carrying a logo that had not been seen by the public before. The nameplate "Huaqi" comprises two Chinese characters, meaning "China, prosperous" ("Hua") and "a black-colored horse" ("Qi").
According to a previously revealed production plan, Kia Cerato will be retired in the second half of 2013. We expect it to be replaced by the "Huqai" model by then.
http://auto.sohu.com/20121205/n359552458.shtml
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Kia’s plan to solve the problem, it turns out, is actually to cover it up. It prepares to launch two new, China-exclusive marques, "Huaqi" and "Dianyue," for re-naming Cerato and other outdated Kia models.
"Huaqi"
Auto.sohu.com today exposed a facelifted "Cerato" carrying a logo that had not been seen by the public before. The nameplate "Huaqi" comprises two Chinese characters, meaning "China, prosperous" ("Hua") and "a black-colored horse" ("Qi").
According to a previously revealed production plan, Kia Cerato will be retired in the second half of 2013. We expect it to be replaced by the "Huqai" model by then.
http://auto.sohu.com/20121205/n359552458.shtml
