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Geely to build its own assembly plant in Indonesia

July 25, 2011 at 11:00 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Geely, International News

Geely Automobile is definitely looking at making some serious inroads in Indonesia. The company has been selling its cars in the country since April 2010, and through its local subsidiary Geely Mobil Indonesia now has 18 dealerships across the country, with two new ones to come about this year.

Now, reports say that it is planning to build its own assembly plant there, which will be located in Cikarang, Bekasi in West Java. Land clearing for the site is being carried out now, and when completed – at a cost of between US$30 million to US$50 million – the plant will start assembling Geely products in 2015.

Currently, the company sells the Panda hatchback as well as the MK sedan and MK2 hatchback in Indonesia, the latter two being assembled locally at an Astra International plant in North Jakarta. It showcased its latest product for the market, the Panda LC Cross, at the IIMS in Jakarta last week. Looking to be very depanda-ble as a player in Indonesia, the brand is.

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Geely Panda puts its paw on the Indonesian market

July 23, 2011 at 1:48 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, Cars, Geely

Of the many cars that Chinese car manufacturer Geely put on display at the 2011 Indonesian International Motor Show, this one caught our eye – the Geely Panda.

The entire car is Panda-themed, for example the black rings around the Panda’s “eyes”, the cartoon Panda on the floor mats, and even the tail lamps are designed to look like a Panda’s paw print.

Being an A-segment car it’s not very big inside but one thing we noticed is that it did not have the strong and suspiciously dangerous-smelling scent of cheap plastic that we’ve come to encounter with some Chinese cars in the past.

Geely also claims the Panda is the first car to achieve a 5 star crash safety rating in China’s independent C-NCAP collision testing.

The cutesy circular theme continues on the inside. The glove box looks quite unique as it is not your typical glovebox but is instead accessed by a sliding cover like you’ll usually find on center consoles in the middle of the front seats.

Power comes from a 1.3 litre inline-4 which makes 85 horsepower and 110Nm of torque. It’s priced at about 95 million Indonesian rupiah, which translates to about RM33,000.

Look after the jump for more pix and a video of the Panda.
[Read more...]

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Saab and Youngman to form joint venture to develop three new models: the 9-1, 9-6 and 9-7

July 20, 2011 at 2:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Saab, Youngman

Saab, through its owner Swedish Automobile, has signed an agreement with Zhejiang Youngman to form a joint venture in Sweden to develop three Saab models. The company issued a statement which said that the 50:50 JV, called the New Product Joint Venture, will be responsible for coming out with three vehicles, these being the 9-1, 9-6 and 9-7.

Saab will be responsible for controlling and managing the design, the development and testing of the new vehicles, utilising its existing capabilities and know-how from Trollhättan, with Youngman pitching in with financial support.

The 9-1 is likely to be based on the 9-X BioHybrid, while the 9-6 will see the resurrection of a SUV project from six years ago that never saw the light – a Subaru B9-based prototype was built, and has now sits on display at the Saab Museum.

The venture is aiming to build the prestige of the Saab brand to an even larger group of customers in China and the US with the 9-6 and 9-7, while the entry level 9-1 is being targeted as a global offering. The agreement between Swedish Automobile and Youngman has yet to be approved by regulators in Sweden and China, reports say.

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PSA Peugeot Citroen-Changan JV gets govt green light

July 20, 2011 at 10:59 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, ChangAn, China, Citroën, Peugeot

There’s plenty of car money to be made in China, and everyone is either striking deals, building plants or increasing output. Now, French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen revealed that it has attained Chinese government approval for a production joint venture with China Changan Automobile Group. The approval comes exactly a year after both parties signed the JV agreement.

Located in Shenzhen, the 50:50 JV will have initial annual production capacity of 200,000 vehicles and a similar amount of engines. Production is expected to start in the second half of 2012, comprising passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Citroen’s DS line will be launched in China and a proprietary car brand is in the works. Initial investment in the JV will amount to 8.4 billion yuan, according to PSA.

This is actually PSA’s second production JV in China, after a similar setup with Dongfeng Motor Corp. That partnership sold 194,566 Citroens and Peugeots in the first six months of 2011, up 10.2% year-on-year. Buoyed by strong 408 sales, the Peugeot brand saw a 19% increase to 80,893 units, while Citroen sales jumped 6% to 113,673 units.

Closer to home, production of the Peugeot 408 (name not confirmed for our region yet) is scheduled to start by the end of 2011 at Naza’s Gurun plant.

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Fiat 500 “First Edition” arrives in China – only 100 units

July 18, 2011 at 9:30 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, Fiat, International News


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Ahead of the Fiat 500′s official debut in China in September, the Italian automaker has previewed a “First Edition” version, which is a limited run of 100 units made exclusively for the Chinese market. The car is embellished by creative graphics penned by five young Chinese designers from Shanghai.


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Based on the 500 Lounge, the Mexican-made “First Edition” has a special three-coat pearlescent white body colour, red leather interior and wears a special badge on the door pillar. It’s powered by a 1.4 litre MultiAir unit offering 101 hp at 6,500 rpm and 133 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a six-speed auto transmission.


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It special livery has been exclusively created for Chinese customers, and consists of five high-impact designs from Yan Wei, Leilei, Mee Wong, Nod Young and Benny Luk adorning the sides of the car, and these are supposed to symbolise the bonds between Italy and China. Getting one requires an element of luck though – apparently, how it works is that any Chinese customer who places an order for a Fiat 500 from now until September 15 will take part in a final draw entitling them to replace the car they ordered with a “First Edition” version.


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Fiat has big plans for the 500 in the country – it plans to have an assortment of versions and specials as it goes along, including the 500byGucci, which arrives next year. On more standard ground, the Mexican-made 500 marketed in China will have a range that includes three trim levels (Pop, Sport and Lounge), 12 body colours (metallic, non-metallic and three-coat pearlescent), nine colour-material combinations for upholstery and two interior environments (black or ivory). Only one engine choice – the 1.4 MultiAir – is available.


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Separately, the company is set to launch the first example of its collaboration with local partner GAC, a new saloon made entirely in China at its plant in Changsha, at the end of next year.

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Saab-Youngman JV to build three new models in Sweden

July 8, 2011 at 11:01 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Saab, Youngman

Swedish automaker Saab, part owned by Spyker, part owned by the Chinese, has signed an agreement with Zhejiang Youngman Passenger Car Group Co to form a joint venture in Sweden. This 50-50 JV will develop three “completely new” vehicles, namely the Saab 9-1, 9-6 and 9-7, according to Swedish Automobile, formerly known as Spyker Cars NV.

The arrangement will see Saab design, develop and test the new models while Youngman provides financial support. However, the agreement between both parties has yet to get the all important approval by regulators in Sweden and China.

Besides that, Swedish Automobile also said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed last month with Youngman and Chinese auto distributor Pang Da Automobile is now a formal and legally binding agreement. Under the deal, Pang Da and Youngman will jointly invest 245 million euros in Swedish Automobile. The trio will set up joint ventures to manufacture and distribute Saabs in China.

As we know, Youngman’s current range in China includes rebadged Protons branded as “Lotus”. Now that they have Saab, will they still need the partnership with Proton?

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Lotus Cars enters China – Lotus China Symphony appointed as official distributor

June 21, 2011 at 10:27 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Lotus

Lotus Cars has begun its move into the Chinese market – the company has appointed Lotus China Symphony as the official Lotus Cars distributor for the country.

Beijing-based Lotus China Symphony – or known as Lotus China, if you will – will carry the full range of Lotus models for the Chinese market, these being the Evora, the Elise and the Exige. It has put in an initial order for 100 cars, with the Evora accounting for the majority of these first customer cars, with the remainder being Elise and Exige units.

Lotus China will open its first dealership in the capital in October, followed by dealerships in Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou later in the year. Eight further dealerships are planned for 2012, and plans are underway to prepare for the arrival of the new Lotus models, starting with the Esprit in 2013.

The Lotus badge for cars sold in China includes the addition “NYO” lettering – pronounced like the word “new” – to symbolise the importance of the British company’s official entry into China.

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Saab’s adventure continues – Youngman joins the party

June 14, 2011 at 7:28 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, International News, Saab, Youngman

The tempestuous affair that is Saab continues, with another Chinese suitor entering the picture to now make it a three-way deal. The Swedish automaker, owned by Spyker Cars, had been given a shot in the arm in May by Chinese car distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade, which pumped in money to restore Saab’s production and was looking to take a 24% equity stake in the latter.

Now, enter Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile, better known as Youngman, which will form the third element in a joint venture deal. Spyker Cars said yesterday it had signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding for Youngman to take a 29.9% stake and Pang Da to take a 24% share in Saab, for a combined 2.3 billion yuan (US$355 million).

Under the agreement, Youngman will buy an equity stake in Saab for 1.3 billion yuan (US$200 million) and will take a 45% stake in the manufacturing JV, with Saab holding 45% and Pang Da the remaining 10%, according to reports. Youngman will hold a 33% stake in the distribution part of the JV, with Pang Da holding 34% and Saab 33%.

Meanwhile, Pang Da will be forking out 1.0 billion yuan (US$155 million) for its 24% equity stake in Spyker, up from the 605 million yuan (US$93.5 million) it was expected to deploy for its equity investment initially announced on May 16.

As has been the case, this deal hinges on approval from governmental agencies and third parties, involving both Chinese and Swedish governments as well as the European Investment Bank and Saab shareholder General Motors, the reports add. After all that has been happening in recent times, what with the likes of the scuppered Hawtai deal, all at Saab must be crossing their fingers that this one finally comes through.

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Fiat to build its dual clutch transmission in China

June 14, 2011 at 12:54 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, Fiat, International News

Fiat will produce its dual clutch transmission in China for its Chinese market vehicles, according to reports – the transmission will be used in vehicles built by Fiat’s 50-50 joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group.

The DCT box will be made by Hangzhou Haveco Automotive Transmission, a three-way JV equally owned by Fiat, Guangzhou Auto and state-owned Hangzhou Advance Gearbox Group. Production of the transmission is slated to begin in 2013, HAG said in a statement. Plans are in place for an investment of 2.3 billion yuan (US$355 million) for the production of the new transmission, and in the long term, the JV will be increasing its annual transmission output to 500,000 units, HAG added.

Fiat and Guangzhou Auto’s new assembly plant, which is under construction, is set to begin operations towards the end of the year, with an initial annual capacity of 140,000 cars and 220,000 engines.

The JV’s first product is set to be the Fiat C-medium, with the likes of the second-generation Dodge Caliber – which will make its debut next year – entering the Chinese market badged as a Fiat. The current Caliber wears a CVT, but there are plans to also offer a nine-speed auto transmission for the new model by 2013, though whether this is globally or region-specific remains to be seen.

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BAIC interested in acquiring Opel in Europe?

June 14, 2011 at 12:15 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under BAIC, Cars, China, International News

Beijing Automotive Industry Holding is certainly ramping things up – the company, which has joint ventures with Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz to build cars for the Chinese market, is set to launch its own brand later this year when it completes development of a mid-sized sedan based on the previous Saab 9-5. It also plans to launch its first electric vehicle, a compact sedan, in September.

Now, it’s looking at expanding into foreign shores, specifically Europe. The Chinese automaker has apparently intimated to General Motors that it has an interest in acquiring the latter’s Opel division in Europe, as initially reported by German newspaper Die Welt.

Beijing Automotive’s president Wang Dazong, who spent two decades working at GM as an engineer, has stated that the company aims to expand outside its domestic home market, but the reports add that no formal offer to buy Opel has been made, and GM – which has a JV in China with SAIC Motor – hasn’t offered any comment on the matter.

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