Owing to a series of industry and market support measures that the government applied, it unprecedentedly breaks the record last month and China outstrips the US in automobile sales.

In February 10, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) said that China sold totally 735,500 units of vehicles in January, 14.5 percent less year-on-year because of the falling demand, and, compared with December, it drops slightly 0.83 percent. However, it is Read more…

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automobile, China, economy, industry, market, sales, U.S.

According to the agencies, Top 3 American giant carmakers would reduce their plans in China. Since the financial bailout fails to rescue the US big three manufacturers, unfortunately, the automobile parts export would be severely influenced by the shrink of the US big three, GM, Chrysler and Ford. Suppose that the orders may decline in the following seasons, the massive employees in the automobile parts companies might be axed and the laid-off workers do not have enough money to purchase in domestic market. And the depression of the domestic market would trigger more problems to manufacturing fields. Above are contributed to a vicious circle, which means the American financial problem has brought the negative effects to Chinese manufacturing and the influence will go on in the following several months or longer.

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automobile, Domestic market, export, Financial tsunami

In spite of the unfolding global credit crisis and soaring energy prices, auto sales in China maintained double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Passenger car sales rose 17.84% year-on-year in the first four months of 2008.

According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), sales reached 2.46 million cars, including 1.81 million sedans, 75,500 mini-vans and 141,300 sport-utility vehicles. And the figure for March was unusually large, showing the most rapid year-on-year growth in seven months.

Volkswagen AG’s two Chinese ventures — FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai Volkswagen — continued to top the sales list last month, as well as in the first four months. They are followed by the Detroit-based car maker’s venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp, Shanghai GM. And domestic auto producers sold 463,100 sedans in the first four months, accounting for a 25.46% share of the total sedan sales.

China, the world’s second-largest car market, produced 8.88 million automobiles last year, of which 8.79 million were sold. And this year, auto sales are anticipated to exceed 10 million units, which stand for a 14% full-year sales growth.

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automobile, China, GM, sales, Volkswagen

Founded in 1996, Beiqi Foton is one of the largest commercial vehicle producers in China, which went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in June 1998. Headquartered in Beijing, it has assets exceeding 7 billion yuan and more than 20,000 employees. Up until now, the company has sold more than 2 million vehicles in both the domestic and overseas markets, the brand value of which is estimated at 17.54 billion yuan. Currently, the company has mapped out an ambitious plan to improve its competitiveness at home and abroad by enhancing brand awareness, strengthening R&D and promoting international cooperation during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006-2010). Foton expects a sales volume of more than 1 million vehicles, 20% of which to be sold overseas, and projected income surpassing 80 billion yuan by the year 2010.

Starting its globalization strategy five years ago, its exports are now sold in West Asia, North Africa, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia. With its high-quality and value-for-cost products and services tailored to clients in each region, it has been widely acknowledged among overseas dealers and clients.

To further promote the globalization process, Foton continues to strengthen cooperation with foreign research institutions and companies such as AVL in Austria, the Bosch Group in Germany, Lotus Co in the UK, MIM Design in Japan and Eaton International Corp in the US.

Besides drawing upon experience of overseas partners, the company also attaches great importance to self-innovation and independent R&D. It has established an innovation approach that combines the Beiqi Foton Academy of Automobile Engineering in Beijing working in conjunction with overseas R&D centers in Japan and Europe as well as China’s Taiwan province. It also works closely with domestic and overseas universities, research institutions and suppliers to track the latest development in the global automobile industry and keep pace with current needs and trends.

The company has invested over 3 billion yuan in developing new products and building a well-structured technology innovation system and major breakthroughs have been made in core expertise. Its emission reduction laboratory became operational in August 2007 to make sure its vehicles meet international standards. It has also imported the latest technologies, techniques and equipment from foreign partners to ensure its product quality to provide customers with satisfactory products and services.

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automobile, China Business, Foton Motor, globalization

In a sales satisfaction index (SSI) released by the Asia-Pacific branch of J. D. Power, an authoritative US researcher, Tianjin FAW was rated No 1 last September among China’s self-developed automobile brands. And a 2007 passenger car customer satisfaction survey by the China Association for Quality also ranked Tianjin FAW at the top—for its Vita model rated No 1 in its category of compact cars. Both help to demonstrate that Tianjin FAW is one of the shining stars among domestically designed and produced brands.

Tianjin FAW has followed closely the global trends to further develop its manufacturing processes and products, improve quality controls and enhance sales and service to meet international standards. And it has successfully shown its product quality to customers both at home and abroad through the three grueling cross-continental road trips across Asia, Africa, Australia and Russia on its way to the Arctic Circle. Covering nearly 60,000 km, the Vita cars have overcome the harsh challenges of deserts, high-altitude plateaus, high temperature, high humidity and extreme coldness, showing Chinese cars can also survive all kinds of sever conditions.

With over 20 years of history in developing compact cars and benefiting from successful cooperation with Toyota, the company now is capable of producing high-quality compact cars and components like engines. Furthermore, due to its competitive prices and improvements in product quality, its compact cars will definitely enjoy a promising market.

Popularity: 2% [?]

automobile, China Business, Tianjin FAW