Tag Archives: china

Ford Debuts All-New Mondeo in China, Not Europe

Posted on 23 April 2013 by Ken Zino

Ford’s long-standing flagship car, the Mondeo, debuted its latest major revision in China at the Shanghai Motor show instead of its European home market. Ford Europe has pushed back the introduction of the 2015 model to save money as its losses grow to a projected $2 billion this year. In China, the Mondeo is one of 15 vehicles the company has promised to bring to the country by 2015. Continue reading →

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General Motors Sells 1 Million Vehicles in China

Posted on 22 April 2013 by Ken Zino

With total overall light vehicle sales projected at more than 20 million for 2013, China will easily retain its title as the world’s largest auto market followed by the U.S. at more than 15 million. Continue reading →

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General Motors, Ford Set March and Q1 Sales Records in China

Posted on 9 April 2013 by Ken Zino

General Motors and its joint ventures reached all-time highs for March sales in China and Q1 of 2013. Far smaller Ford China also set sales records in March. With total overall light vehicle sales projected at more than 20 million for 2013, China will easily retain its title as the world’s largest auto market followed by the U.S. at more than 15 million. Continue reading →

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EPA Voids Import Certificates for More Chinese Recreational Vehicles

Posted on 3 April 2013 by Ken Zino

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it is withdrawing approval of the import and sale of up to 74,000 gas-powered motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles from China. The agency said that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. Continue reading →

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Cadillac XTS Now in Production in China, World’s Largest Market

Posted on 26 February 2013 by Ken Zino

Criticisms that auto companies are making vehicles in China or transferring jobs there are at best ignorant of, or deliberately ignore, Chinese industrial policy, which requires local partners and production for access to the market. There are also high Chinese tariffs on imports that effectively restrict volume exports of the kind that are now coming out of, say, South Korea under the U.S. Korean FTA. (I can only imagine the outcry if Mercedes-Benz was required to partner with the city of Detroit to build cars there – the ruling party in Detroit controlling the jobs – as a condition of access to the U.S., one of the world’s most lucrative luxury car markets. This is required in China.) Continue reading →

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VW Group Ties GM for Largest Automaker in China in January

Posted on 19 February 2013 by Ken Zino

The VW Group began the year with a 15% increase in sales for January, totaling 749,900 compared to January of 2012 at 652,400. A huge portion of the gain was the later date for the Chinese New Year, which means a decline in China is coming in February for all automakers when the holiday is celebrated. Nevertheless, The VW Group delivered 298,300 (208,200; +43.3%) vehicles in China, the region’s largest single market, in the first month of the year. This compares to China market leader GM, which sold 300,000 during the same period – a dead heat in the Chinese sales race. Continue reading →

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General Motors Sells 300,000 Vehicles in China – All Time Record

Posted on 6 February 2013 by Ken Zino

GM has led sales in China for eight consecutive years, but during 2012 it just barely stayed as Number One at 2.84 million vehicles because the VW Group, China’s Number Two automaker, sold 2.81 million vehicles, a +24.5% increase compared to 2011. GM sold 194,699 vehicles in the United States in January, up 16% compared with a year ago, which was slightly ahead of an overall auto market that grew 14%. Continue reading →

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GMAC-SAIC Finance More than One Million Car buyers in China

Posted on 25 January 2013 by Ken Zino

GMAC-SAIC Automotive Finance Company says its customer base has now surpassed one- million car buyers in China. The first and largest auto finance company in China since its founding in 2004 also has a continuous record of profits. In August 2012, GMAC-SAIC reached 880,000 customers when it celebrated the company’s eighth anniversary. Continue reading →

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Chinese GAC Group to Build Jeep Models in China

Posted on 15 January 2013 by Ken Zino

Chinese automaker Guangzhou Automobile Group Company will build Jeep models in China, according to a revised joint venture signed in Michigan today with Fiat S.p.A. GAC already manufactures the Fiat Viaggio – aka Dodge Dart – and distributes the imported Fiat 500, Freemont and Bravo in China. Continue reading →

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Mazda Drops Ford Motor in New Changan Mazda JV in China

Posted on 4 December 2012 by Ken Zino

Continuing its separation and divorce from Ford Motor Company, Mazda Motor Corporation has announced a new Chinese joint-venture, Changan Mazda, based in Nanjing. The 50:50 corporation with all regulatory approvals is now responsible for all of CFMA’s Mazda-related business, including development, manufacturing, marketing and sales of Mazda-branded vehicles in China. Continue reading →

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Shanghai GM and Audi Lead Latest “Apeal” Study in China

Posted on 30 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Chinese domestic vehicle brands have narrowed a gap in customer perception, but international brands still lead in a survey based on two to six months of ownership. Models from Shanghai General Motors led in four segments, while Audi rated the highest praise among automakers. Continue reading →

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GM to Increase Electric Vehicle Development in China

Posted on 28 November 2012 by Ken Zino

General Motors is increasing the development of electrified vehicles in China, the company’s senior technology leader said during a speech at the FISITA 2012 World Automotive Congress in Beijing. In September 2011, GM China opened the Advanced Materials Lab in Shanghai. The facility, which is part of the GM China’s sprawling Advanced Technical Center, is engaged in research on battery technology and lightweight materials.

This is the result of a deal between SAIC Motor Corporation and GM for the co-development of a new electric vehicle architecture in China. Communist Chinese industrial policy requires local partners as a condition of access to the market. Continue reading →

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Lang Lang becomes Volkswagen Group Promoter

Posted on 21 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Lang Lang, a pianist, and Volkswagen Group, an automaker, signed a multi-year cooperation agreement today for an undisclosed amount. As part of the deal, Lang Lang will arrive, arrive at his concerts all over the world in vehicles provided by Volkswagen. Continue reading →

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Chinese Motorcycles, RVs and Engines Violate Clean Air Act

Posted on 14 November 2012 by Ken Zino

Senior executives at two vehicle and engine importers in California will pay a $50,000 penalty because the products sold were in violation of Clean Air Act regulations. The defendants, Yuan Cheng International Group, Inc. (YCIG) and NST, Inc. (NST), located in Montclair, California, allegedly imported and sold vehicles and engines from China that had excessive levels of emissions. Continue reading →

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Qorus, New Chinese Brand Coming to China, Europe, Mid-East

Posted on 7 November 2012 by Ken Zino

China-based Qoros Auto Company will debut a new compact or C-class sedan at next year’s Geneva Motor Show as part of what it claims will be a series of vehicles aimed at buyers in China, Europe and the Middle East. This business plan, of course is easily done by press release. However, the design, development, manufacturing and wholesaling of actual cars and light trucks sometimes is more difficult, occasionally thwarting even the best of established automakers. Continue reading →

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