[Admin]

Fulton Mak
Monday, November 06, 2006

Dongfeng Motor Group (0489), one of the mainland's largest automakers, said its parent company plans to launch its own original brand of commercial vehicles in 2008 and the business may be injected into the Hong Kong-listed subsidiary when it becomes mature.
Executive director and president Liu Zhangmin said the Wuhan-based parent, Dongfeng Motor Corp, intends to enter the original brand and manufacture market by making its own brand of trucks. Currently, the group mainly manufactures and sells passenger and commercial vehicles through joint ventures with Nissan Motor, PSA Peugeot Citroen, and Honda Motor.
"We will let our parent company develop Dongfeng's own branded vehicle. Then we will buy the business from our parent when the profit margin of the business is comparable to the existing business," Liu told The Standard.
He estimates the group sold 62,468 vehicles in October, up 32 percent year on year, but down 12.27 percent from a month earlier.
For the first 10 months this year, the company sold 594,932 units - already surpassing the total of 594,801 units in all of 2005.
Passenger cars accounted for 64.7 percent of this year's sales, while commercial vehicles accounted for the remaining 35.3 percent.
The carmaker earlier set its 2006 sales target at 760,000 vehicles, or about 63,333 per month. After 10 months, it is about 38,401 units behind schedule. Liu said there is pressure to cut prices, but the company will not do so to boost sales to meet the full-year target.
"It's not necessary to achieve the 760,000-unit sales target, and I don't suggest pursuing the goal by cutting prices if it will hurt the gross profit margin," Liu said.
He declined to predict if the target was still achievable.
Nevertheless, the company expects its annual sales to increase by more than 15 percent, well ahead of the average market growth of 10 to 15 percent.
Citigroup said carmakers should be less concerned about cutting selling prices if volume regains momentum in the fourth quarter.
It said falling oil and raw material prices, depleting inventory and rising export revenues should further improve the sector's profitability.
Last Friday, sources said a Dongfeng institutional investor was seeking to sell 95 million H shares at a range of between HK$3.69 and HK$3.74 each to cash in up to HK$355.3 million.
The stock closed that day at HK$3.84, up 14 HK cents.

 

[ash]

China Dongfeng to invest $1 bln in own-brand cars-paper

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, July 28 (Reuters) - The state parent of Dongfeng Motor Group Co. (0489.HK: Quote, Profile, Research), China's third-biggest automaker, has set up a passenger vehicle subsidiary, paving the way for more aggressive development of the company's own-brand cars.

Dongfeng, which makes cars in tie-ups with Nissan Motor (7201.T: Quote, Profile, Research), Honda Motor (7267.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and PSA Peugeot Citroen (PEUP.PA: Quote, Profile, Research), unveiled its first self-developed sporty car late last year, and is awaiting regulatory approval to start mass production.

It did not say how much it would spend to develop and make more cars under its badge in a statement issued this week.

South China Morning Post on Saturday put the investment at 7.6 billion yuan ($1.01 billion), without citing sources for the figure. But the newspaper cited local Chinese media as saying the firm planned to begin assembling self-branded cars in September.

After churning out Buicks, Passats and other foreign models in tie-ups with global auto giants for years, many home-grown players are setting their sights on an own-brand strategy, hoping to wean themselves off reliance on foreign technology.

FAW Group Corp., a China partner of Volkswagen AG (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and Toyota Motor (7203.T: Quote, Profile, Research), plans to spend 13 billion yuan in the next eight years to develop cars under its own brand.

Shanghai Automotive (600104.SS: Quote, Profile, Research), which runs ventures with General Motors (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Volkswagen, announced a massive bond issue plan this week to fund the development of sedans -- including the construction of facilities capable of making 270,000 sedans and 320,000 engines per year -- with an estimated cost of 21.4 billion yuan.

Guangzhou Honda, the Japanese auto maker's tie-up with state-run Guangzhou Automobile Group, also unveiled a 2 billion yuan plan earlier in the month to develop non-Honda branded sedans, becoming the first foreign car venture to develop cars bearing its own badge.

Unlike Shanghai Auto, Dongfeng Motor, planning to roll out its own-brand sedans in 2009, handles its own-brand vehicle project at the group level, company executives told Reuters previously.

It would inject the assets into the listed Dongfeng only after the own-brand sedan business becomes profitable, they added. ($1=7.559 Yuan

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng Motor to launch own brand sedan in 2008.

January 31, 2008 - China's third-biggest automaking group, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, will launch a B-segment sedan by the end of this year, 21st Century Business Herald reported today.

The report said the model will compete with middle-end cars like Excelle and Elantra. Dongfeng Motor will move on to develop more models covering all B, C and D segments on its own. However, the automaker did not unveil more details over these plans.

The automaker is also building its own sales channel, with additional 75 dealers to be established in the future.

Currently Dongfeng Motor has a capacity to produce 160,000 own brand vehicles annually, and it plans to further expand this capacity.

source: Gasgoo.com

 

[CCF mod]

This are supposedly first pictures of Dongfeng's own brand sedan:

link:
http://www.autohome.com.cn/news/200802/34549-2.html


The car looks really ugly and completely outdated. I assume it's based on Citroen ZX mechanics (as Citroen Elysee).

 

[Joest]

Erik told me that this orange car was built a couple of years ago by DongFeng. So, it's not the one that will be shown in late 2008.

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng Motor to launch self-developed sedan by year-end.

March 17, 2008 – China’s third largest auto group Dongfeng Motor Co plans to produce its first self-developed sedan called Dongfeng BF by the end of this year, state media Xinhua News Agency reported today.

Under the plan, the Dongfeng BF sedan series will cover a full range of vehicle market, include compact cars, economy cars, as well as middle and high end market segments. The first BF sedan to be launched will be a 1.6 liter hatchback, which will be priced at RMB 100,000 ($14,000).

Last September, Dongfeng Motor started to invest RMB 7.6 billion ($1.07 billion) in a passenger vehicle production base in Wuhan. After the first phase of construction, the base will have capacity to turn out 160,000 cars a year.

Traditionally, Dongfeng Motor is China’s leading truck maker. As such, Dongfeng remains China’s largest player in heavy-duty and medium duty segments. Last year, Dongfeng sold 338,200 commercial vehicles.

Dongfeng Motor Group, China's third-biggest auto manufacturing group, sold 1.13 million vehicles in 2007, up 21.98 percent from one year earlier.

Dongfeng Motor Group has joint venture companies with Honda, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Nissan and Korean automaker Kia. Most vehicles Dongfeng sold are made by these joint venture automakers.

source: Gasgoo.com

 

[pokershark]

dongfeng should be able to do this faster, i think dongfeng need to join with hafei and 1 more like changfeng to be powerhouse independantly of oversea partners

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng to debut own brand BF sedan at Beijing auto show.

April 11, 2008 - China's third largest auto group Dongfeng Motor Co plans to debut a hatchback version of its self-developed compact model, Dongfeng BF, at the Beijing auto show on April 20.

The automaker has already announced to produce its first self-developed sedan and its off-shoot versions by the end of this year, the state media Xinhua News Agency reported yesterday.

The report said these new models were being developed under the program designated BF. The first BF hatchback will be equipped with a 1.6 liter engine and priced at 100,000 ($14,300) yuan.

Last September, Dongfeng Motor started to invest 7.6 billion yuan in a passenger vehicle production base in Wuhan where the new BF series will be manufactured. After the first phase of construction is completed this year, the facility will have an annual production capacity of 160,000 vehicles.

Dongfeng remains China's largest player in the heavy-duty and medium-duty truck segments. Last year the company sold 311,513 commercial vehicles, up 21.6% from a year earlier.

source: Gasgoo.com

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng Motor to launch its Aeolus in September

June 30, 2008 - Dongfeng Motor Corporation will launch the brand of its own-made passenger vehicles (PVs), named Dongfeng Aeolus, in September this year, reports xinhuanet.com.

An ellipse double swallow label, different from the previous round one, is used as the trademark of Dongfeng Aeolus.

Dongfeng Aeolus is reportedly the chief name of all Dongfeng own-made PVs, with differently called models under Aeolus series in the future.

The first own-brand PV model, an economic family sedan, will roll off line at the end of the year. A 1.6L model will be delivered first in March 2009, followed by a 2.0L version priced at around 100,000 yuan ($14,560).

In the coming five years, Dongfeng Motor will launch over 10 passenger vehicle models of five series based on its C, B and D platforms, said Li Shaozhu, general manager of Dongfeng's PV department.

source: Gasgoo.com

 

[mememe]

Martin, do you have any picture of the future Aeolus ?

 

[CCF mod]

Gasgoo showed pictures already published in this thread. But I hope Eric is right and production version won't look so outdated.

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng own-brand sedan BF to roll off line.

September 4, 2008 - China’s third largest automaker Dongfeng Motor Group announced that its first independent brand sedan, called Dongfeng BF, will roll off line in the company’s passenger car plant in Wuhan by the end of this year and the new model will be launched to the market in the first half of 2009, said Yao Rui, general manager of Hunan Dongfeng Automobile Sales Service Co. to Xiaoxiang Morning Herald on August 28.

Dongfeng BF, as the first Donggeng passenger vehicle model, will start production in this December. The new model is expected to sell for about 100,000 yuan ($14,598), available in a 1.6L sedan model for the first batch. With compact, economical and mid-luxury models, Dongfeng BF targets to cover a market of cars priced between 70,000 yuan and 200,000 yuan.

Industry analysts said Dongfeng’s own-brand model is likely a middle-sized sedan based on Elysee by Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile Co Ltd (DPCA).

source: http://auto.sohu.com/20080904/n259373512.shtml and Gasgoo.com

 

[mememe]

Dongfeng to mass-produce hybrid cars in Wuhan

October 09, 2008


Shanghai, October 9 (Gasgoo.com) Dongfeng Electric Vehicle Co, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Co, said it will roll out its own-brand hybrid car by the beginning of 2009 in Wuhan, targeting sales of 5,000 units for the year, xinhuanet,com reported yesterday, citing executives of Dongfeng Electric Vehicle Co.

Currently Dongfeng Electric Vehicle Co. has finished the research and development of a function hybrid sample and a performance hybrid sample. The company plans to launch Micro-Hybrid programme by the beginning of next year, which will add a control system onto ordinary vehicles for saving fuel at 5% to 7% by increasing cost for each vehicle by 3,000 yuan ($440).

If the market comes up to expectation, the company will further launch its Micro and Higher Hybrid programme, which the cost for each vehicle will increase by 30,000 yuan, aiming to save fuel up to 30%.

At present China’s hybrid market covers Toyota’s Prius, selling at 259,800 yuan-279,800 yuan, and Honda’s Civic, priced at 269,800 yuan. Industry insiders said the hybrid vehicle may find it difficult to reach common Chinese families for its high price.

The Prius only targets to sell 1000 units this year, and Civic is also expected to sell 200 units for the year.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1007973/Dongfeng-to-mass-produce-hybrid-cars-in-Wuhan.html

 

[mememe]

Dongfeng Motor ignites first own-brand engine

November 27, 2008

Shanghai, November 27 (Gasgoo.com) China's third largest automaker Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Ltd has recently succeeded in igniting its first own-brand 1.6L engine in the Dongfeng technical center based in Xiangfan, which marks Dongfeng Motor's capability to design the gasoline engine for passenger vehicles, said Beijing Times today.

Dongfeng technical center started to develop engines in 2005, and the own-brand 1.6L engine project was kicked off last year. The whole R&D process has included project planning, blueprint design, engineering design and trial manufacturing. The successful igniting of this engine marks Dongfeng Motor's capability to design the gasoline engine for passenger vehicles.

The 1.6L own-brand engine developed by Dongfeng Motor has applied the all-aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head intake variable-phase technologies. It generates great power but consumes less fuel, with low noise and slight shaking.

Dongfeng Auto Co., a light truck producer under Dongfeng Motor Corp, formed a light engine company earlier this month. The new company will start to produce light diesel engines next year.

Dongfeng Motor has a 50:50 joint venture with U.S. engine giant Cummins -- Dongfeng Cummins Engine Co., Ltd., which had produced one million engines by March 2007.

http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1008533/Dongfeng-Motor-ignites-first-own-brand-engine.html

 

[dragin]

Big winner's mystery car

Yes, in 2008 Dongfeng Motor is standing out from the crowd by selling more than a million vehicles, up 14.01%.

But how is it that Dongfeng is keeping the independent brand BF Shuangyan sedan under such close wraps. Afterall it is supposed to be launched early this year. And yet no one has seen any more than a single photo shot of it parked in front of the China Construction Bank.

How's that saying go about getting off on the right foot?

Well this so-called independent brand sedan looks terribly dated (see previous posts). And the styling and quality look impoverished. Why is it that there has been so little press, and photo, coverage of this first passenger car product of the third largest automaker?

http://www.autono1.com/upload/article/images/20080905093648.jpg

 

[CCF mod]

Dongfeng to launch first own-brand PV in March.

January 19, 2009 - After more than one year of construction with an investment of 3.6 billion yuan ($527 million), the first Dongfeng brand passenger vehicle will come to market soon, China Business News reported today.

Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company, a subsidiary of Dongfeng Motor Group Co., will launch the own brand in March, and its first Dongfeng-brand PV model, with the size of Excelle, will debut the 2009 Shanghai auto show in April, an insider told the newspaper. By the end of last year, the PV maker had completed the factory construction and drawn up its mid- and long-term plans for this first own-brand model.

As its first self-developed product, Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company has chosen the best-selling 1.6L medium-grade model, which means it will compete with the Buick Excelle and Hyundai Elantra. In addition, Dongfeng will launch in the future all the products ranging from the A00 class to the B class. The company has started trial run of three platforms and the development of two series of engines.

Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company was founded in July 2007 as a division to fulfill Dongfeng Motor Group's dreams of building its own-brand passenger vehicles, an ambitious project that the group has invested 3.6 million yuan for the first phase, with the whole project to cost 10 million yuan. The initial production capacity will reach 120,000 passenger vehicles.

In the sales network and supplier system, Dongfeng Passenger Vehicle Company has signed deals with more than 40 dealers and over 180 auto-parts suppliers. The production, launch and marketing of the first Dongfeng brand passenger vehicle model are all well prepared now.

source: Gasgoo.com

 

[CCF mod]

Is this how Fongfeng's own-brand sedan will look like?

DFM7160 - Dongfeng Fengshen sedans

This car has never had before, even if the information is released few words, first saw the car's face shape, it is easy to think of the upcoming small FAW Benteng B50, of course, only instead of like spirit likeness, carefully identify the gap between the essence or a big, huge front air grille of the Pentium is more exaggerated than the small.

Although waistline body rub into the recent popular elements, but the C column, or see some Elysée figure, wheelbase A-class car排上mainstream position, and Long Yat, the new Bora, the new Excelle, such as A-class market, the main model parameters to match completely.

Dongfeng Fengshen sedans
Length / width / height (mm) 4502×1740×1465 4502 × 1740 × 1465
Wheelbase (mm) 2610
Engine Model N6A 10FX3A PSA N6A 10FX3A PSA
Displacement (mL) 1587
Power (Kw / rpm) 78/6000
Torque (Nm / rpm) 142/4000
(Kg) 1200（MT）1240（AT） 1200 (MT) 1240 (AT)

Powertrain Elysee or the use of the old 1.6L engine, good compared to Long Yat New Polaris and half a ton less than fully adequate, of course, is not pushed back a sense of hope to make excessive; In addition, the one listed on this car will match the file manually with two automatic transmission configuration, this may pave the way to benefit from the role of pre-Elysee.

Though I can't lose feeling that we have seen this design before (Besturn B50, JAC B18) I must admit car looks very nice. Thumb up for Dongfeng!