First Chinese Cars Entering Australia

[ltd]

Originally Posted by davway

Pics are up and these 2 dont appear to be the 2 crash test vehicles after all.

That's what I thought, but under the damage details it says: "Crash Test Vehicle, Front - Heavy Panel, New Vehicle"
The great origami S220 even has a new front bar in the tray, so I'm guessing it was so bad they've obviously had it fixed.
The V240 says its a repaired crash test vehicle under same.
Both crap, both ugly, both should be banned for being deathtraps and a crime against style.

[vztrt]

Seems after the testing there are calls for tougher ADR safety rules...hope it goes through.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257643001CBEF9

Automotive engineers back call for tougher ADRs

SAE-A laments gap between ‘acceptable safety standards’ and vehicle design rules

2 October 2009

By TERRY MARTIN

THE Society of Automotive Engineers – Australasia (SAE-A) has backed the call for Australian Design Rules (ADRs) to be tightened for commercial vehicles after safety authorities raised the question this week when announcing poor crash-test results for budget-priced imported utilities.

The independent Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) handed down a damning one-star-out-of-five crash-test result on Tuesday for the Proton Jumbuck and two stars for the Great Wall Motors SA220 and V240.

The results prompted ANCAP and the motoring authorities which sponsor the crash-test program to voice concern about the widening gap between ADRs – the minimum standards a vehicle must achieve to be sold in Australia – and ANCAP testing.

As the representative body for automotive engineers throughout Australasia, the SAE-A has also now called for ADRs to be aligned with the engineering standards required to achieve “high crash survival outcomes”.

“It appears that the ADRs are allowing the sale of vehicles which are not manufactured using the materials and engineering design technology required for structural integrity that will protect occupants at the level of four or five ANCAP stars,” said SAE-A executive director Max Chanter.

“It is clear that vehicles, which may satisfy the ADRs, may not meet community expectations for safety in a crash. The SAE-A recommends the alignment of the ADRs and the engineering standards required to achieve low injury and high crash survival outcomes.”

As GoAuto has reported, the SAE-A raised concern about the safety of budget utilities after Great Wall Motors launched the SA220 dual-cab in June with a high level of creature comforts but without life-saving equipment such as airbags and ABS brakes.

It called on the federal government to make this equipment compulsory on all vehicles sold in Australia, and urged that forthcoming legislation mandating the fitment of electronic stability control (ESC) be broadened to include light-commercial vehicles.

“These are proven safety devices,” Mr Chanter said this week. “Lack of such equipment has a direct impact on the injury type and survival rate of occupants.

“The SAE-A advocates that these proven vehicle-control and life-saving devices should be integrated in the ADRs. Business operators have a duty of care to employees and to other family members, who are drivers or passengers in these light-commercial vehicles.

“Our community is investing heavily to increase awareness of vehicle safety and many marketers are actively promoting ANCAP scores to vehicle buyers. These investments are motivating more and more people to seek out and buy safer vehicles.

“However, the Society (SAE-A) is concerned that safety is almost an afterthought in the case of some vehicle marketers. In today’s crowded market, the SAE-A does not understand why the ADRs should allow vehicles with poor structural integrity and safety equipment.”

ANCAP program manager and RACV chief engineer Michael Case said this week that new vehicles which meet ADRs but still perform to a one-star or two-star standard under ANCAP were a cause for concern.

“Crash statistics show that occupants of one- or two-star vehicles have twice the risk of receiving life-threatening injuries in a crash, compared with four- or five-star vehicles, at a time when four- and five-star ratings are becoming increasingly available for new-car buyers,” Mr Case said.

“New vehicles that achieve only a one- or two-star ANCAP rating, while meeting the ADRs, are a cause for concern.”

Great Wall Motors importer Ateco Automotive has told GoAuto that safety features such as airbags and ABS are unavailable on the SA200, and that although the V240 has them fitted standard, the latter’s two-star ANCAP result has prompted the Chinese manufacturer to reassess its crash performance.

Proton Cars Australia has advised that the Malaysian-built Jumbuck will be replaced in the first half of 2010.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC) this week urged motorists to be familiar with seatbelt laws and to never risk travelling without a proper restraint after a recent fatal road accident involving six teenagers in Brisbane.

“Seatbelts and restraints are one of the key safety areas of a vehicle. All occupants of a vehicle should wear one, on every journey,” said VACC executive director David Purchase.

“We implore all motorists to reduce risks on the road by ensuring the vehicle they are driving is well maintained and regularly serviced. In particular, we are urging drivers to ask their repairer to inspect the brakes, tyres, lights, steering and restraints – the five key safety areas of their vehicle.

“This was a tragic and needless addition to the nation’s road toll. VACC asks that all motorists take vehicle safety seriously.”

Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC) statistics show that 45 drivers and passengers killed in Victoria last year were unrestrained, and that each year around 20 per cent of car drivers and passengers killed in crashes are not wearing seatbelts.

Victorian law requires that every person travelling in a car must wear a seatbelt or a child restraint if one is available. The driver must also ensure the law is observed by each passenger under 16 years. A child less than one year old must be restrained in an approved child restraint, while passengers aged between one and 15 must be held in a child restraint or seatbelt.

[vztrt]

The next Territory Competitor is here.

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2576500000814D

Great Wall X240 ready to roll

Australia’s first Chinese SUV, Great Wall’s X240 crossover, on the starting block

15 October 2009

By MARTON PETTENDY

GREAT Wall Motors has received official government approval to sell its Hover SUV in Australia, where it will be known at the X240.

The first Chinese SUV to be sold in Australia is now ready for an imminent local launch and will soon be available across the fledgling brand’s Australian dealer network, which is expected to number 60 by the end of this year.

The first Chinese-branded passenger vehicle expected to become available in Australia, a small car based on the Chinese domestic market’s Florid, is yet to receive Federal Office of Road Safety certification.

Nor has Australian Design Rule homologation been granted for any vehicle produced by Chery, which will also be imported by Ateco Automotive and had been expected to become the nation’s second Chinese brand.

Great Wall became Australia’s first Chinese brand in June, when it launched two dual-cab utilities in the SA220 and V240.

“There has been strong dealer confidence in the Great Wall brand so far, and the level of interest from potential dealers has been outstanding,” an Ateco spokesman told GoAuto.

“Great Wall launched with 45 dealers across Australia in late June, and this network is expected to grow to 60 by year’s end.”

Official ADR documents now reveal full local specifications for Great Wall’s third local model, the X240, which is based on Great Wall’s Chinese-market Hover.

Expected to be priced under $30,000 to undercut its most direct small SUV rivals, the X240 is based on Toyota’s 4Runner, which was originally classed as a mid-size SUV but is now actually similar in size to many ‘compact’ off-roaders currently on offer.

Riding on a 2700mm wheelbase and measuring 4620mm long, 1800mm wide and 1810 high, the X240 is longer overall than Subaru’s top-selling Forester but slightly shorter than Nissan’s big-for-a-compact X-Trail.

As we have previously reported, the five-door X240 wagon, like the V250 ute, initially will be only available with a Mitsubishi-sourced 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine delivering 90kW at 5250rpm and will come exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission.

The five-seat X240, which offers a decent 180mm of ground clearance, has a tare mass of 1830kg and a gross vehicle mass of 2305kg, translating to a payload of 475kg. It features four-wheel disc brakes and 17x7.0-inch wheels with 235/65 R17 tyres.

Other standard X240 equipment will include twin front airbags, ABS brakes, air-conditioning, power windows/mirrors, remote central locking and front/rear foglights, while a sunroof will be optional.

Watch this space for further details from the X240’s forthcoming local launch.

[XRFutura]

I actually thing GWM suv is not that bad looking, but if its like their other products you'll be using your face as a crumple zone!

[vztrt]

Pricing for X240

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25765C00142073

Australia’s first Chinese passenger car lands in the shape of Great Wall’s X240 SUV

28 October 2009

By MARTON PETTENDY

THE first Chinese automotive brand in Australia opened for business with its V240 and SA220 dual-cab utes locally in July, and now Great Wall Motors’ first passenger vehicle has arrived here in the form of the small X240 off-roader.

Priced from a bargain-basement $23,990 driveaway (including dealer delivery and statutory charges), the first local crossover wagon from Great Wall sets a new price benchmark in Australia’s compact SUV segment.

Despite its super-affordable on-road price, which is effectively lineball with the list price of Suzuki’s three-door 1.3-litre Jimny Sierra ($20,490), the larger five-door X240 comes standard with a host of standard features including leather trim, a powered driver’s seat, air-conditioning and an eight-speaker CD/MP3 sound system.

Available in just one specification with only one option (a sunroof for $1000), the X240 also offers a relatively comprehensive list of standard safety features, including twin front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), four-wheel disc brakes and rear parking sensors. Electronic stability control (ESC) is not available.

Power steering, power windows, central locking and 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65-section tyres are also standard on the X240, which will be available in white, black, silver and red exterior paint colours.

The full-chassis X240 is based on Toyota 4Runner chassis and will be one of the few compact SUVs to offer a dual-range four-wheel drive system, which can be switched from the dashboard between high and low range on the fly.

Available now through Great Wall’s national dealer network, which is expected to comprise 60 dealers in every Australian state and territory before year’s end, the five-seat X240 will be backed by the Chinese brand’s three-year/100,000 new-vehicle warranty and 24-hour/seven-day roadside assistance program.

As we have previously reported, the X240 is powered by a fuel-injected 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 100kW at 5250rpm and 200Nm of peak torque between 2500 and 3000rpm.

Similar to the 2378cc Mitsubishi-sourced engine that powers the V240 ute, the X240’s 4G69S4N engine will be available exclusively with a five-speed manual transmission.

As we revealed two weeks ago, the X240 rides on a 2700mm wheelbase and is 4620mm long, putting it between Subaru’s top-selling Forester and the Nissan X-Trail.

New official figures reveal the X240 returns average ADR 81/02 combined fuel consumption of 10.4L/100km, a 160km/h top speed and claimed 0-100km/h acceleration in “less than 20 seconds”.

The importer and distributor of Great Wall vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, Ateco Automotive, says the lack of an automatic transmission will be the biggest limiting factor when it comes to the X240’s popularity, but declines to nominate specific sales targets.

“We’re taking a fairly modest outlook on the sales potential of the X240 because it is manual-only,” said Ateco managing director Ric Hull, who added that the brand’s first passenger model continued the sharp pricing and high specification policy adopted by Great Wall’s utes.

Despite scoring just two stars out of five from independent crash test body ANCAP last month, Ateco has sold 762 Great Wall utilities in the three months since their July release. The result includes 348 V240 4x4s, 254 V240 4x2s and 160 SA220s, and is above Ateco’s forecast of 250 total utes sales a month.

While the SA220 is aggressively priced from under $20,000, the X240 4WD’s pricetag similarly undercuts the list prices of entry-level two-wheel drive versions of more established rivals by at least $1000.

They include Hyundai’s aged Tucson 2WD ($25,490), and the Nissan Dualis 2WD and Kia Sportage 2WD, which are also powered by 2.0-litre petrol engines and priced at $24,990. Korean brand SsangYong offers its diesel-powered Actyon A200 from $26,990 plus on-road costs.

While most compact Japanese SUVs are priced from well above $30,000, many also come standard with a full complement of airbags and potentially life-saving ESC technology.

“It’s a good price but we think it has to be,” said Mr Hull. “We have always known we’d have to be under those very good competitors in the class.”

Mr Hull said that while Ateco’s other Chinese vehicle partner, Chery, was yet to submit its Australian Design Rule paperwork for federal government approval, Great Wall had cancelled plans to release the light-sized passenger car known in China as the Florid in Australia this year.

Instead, he said Great Wall had decided to make available a newer 1.5-litre light-sized sedan by the middle of 2010, while a diesel engine remained on schedule for the Great Wall utes by late next year.

Great Wall X240 pricing:
X240 $23,990

[GS608]

that suv reminds me of a prado a bit.

[chrisfpv]

I remember seeing these on ACA or 60 Minutes or something like that. Not a fan at all!!

[hhaannkkyy]

I see that Chery is going to release three different cars to the Australian market around December/January so I thought I would have a bit of a look and see what they were going to offer. I came across this story on and English China car forum RE the Chery Tiggo's airbags - It also contains further links to Chinese websites of pictures and a news story but it really does not help with the image that Chinese cars have of being unsafe.

Chery Tiggo

[vztrt]

Specs of the X240

http://www.caradvice.com.au/46212/gr...tors-x240-4wd/

[vztrt]

China’s Great Wall to expand ute line up

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25767B0017B27B

Diesel, single-cab and safety improvements promised for Great Wall’s V240 ute

30 November 2009

By JAMES STANFORD

AUSTRALIA’S first Chinese brand is set to significantly broaden its attack on the one-tonne ute market next year with a diesel engine and single-cab variant.

Great Wall Motors will release a facelifted version of its V240 crew cab ute in the first quarter of next year and will take the opportunity to expand the line-up to attract new buyer types.

The diesel engine will be made available in the second half of the year and is tipped to significantly boost sales of the ute, which is already selling better than expected.

New single-cab and cab-chassis variants should give Great Wall better access to the workhorse market. Currently, the V240 is only available as a crew cab.

The company’s Australian distributor, Ateco Automotive, said the facelifted V240 model had also been developed with the aim of improving the vehicle’s crash worthiness.

GoAuto understands Great Wall is making a range of structural changes to improve the safety of the V240 ute after it scored just two stars when by the ANCAP crash test safety body in September.

“Great Wall is following through and seeking to improve its ANCAP rating,” said Ateco spokesman Daniel Cotterill.

“They are working very hard to make the vehicle perform better in that regard.”

The ute upgrade is expected to include pre-tensioning seatbelts – a feature that tightens the belts in the event of a crash – but no further safety features.

The V240 already has ABS and dual front airbags.

Electronic stability control will not be introduced at the time of the facelift. Great Wall Motors has said it plans to introduce ESC on its vehicles before it becomes mandatory on all new cars from January 1, 2011. Great Wall’s other ute, the SA220 crew cab, also scored just two stars in the September ANCAP test.

Older than the V240, it is subsequently cheaper. It is not available with anti-skid brakes or a driver or passenger airbag and there are no plans to offer more safety gear or improve its crash performance.

The current SA220 and V240 are both only available with petrol engines. The SA220 features an older Chinese 2.2-litre petrol four-cylinder with just 78kW and 190Nm, while the V240 runs a more modern Mitsubishi-sourced 2.4-litre petrol unit with 100kW and 200Nm.

The addition of the diesel should make the V240 a more attractive vehicle for customers wishing to carry or tow heavy loads.

Ateco is yet to confirm the details of the diesel engine that will be offered with the V-series ute.

Options include a Bosch-developed 2.8-litre and 2.0-litre diesels which was shown at the 2008 Beijing motor show.

Great Wall Motors sales stand at 1020 to the end of October, according to VFACTS.

The V240 is a clear top seller with 801 sales, with 439 of those 4x4 variants. Great Wall has sold 201 SA220s and 18 of its just-introduced X240 model.

While Ateco has just launched the X240 SUV, the plans for other passenger models are unclear.

The Florid small hatch originally was planned for launch this year, but that was delayed.

Ateco now says that it will launch a Great Wall small car in the second half of next year, but it will not say if this is the Florid hatch or another vehicle.

Great Wall last week achieved European Whole of Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) from the UK based Vehicle Certification Agency for four vehicles, including the V240 ute, X240 SUV, Florid hatch and the Coolbear tallboy hatch that looks like a Toyota-made Scion xB.

Ateco has not ruled out bringing the striking Coolbear to Australia, but said it was unlikely in the short term.

The distribution company, which imports a wide range of brands from Citroen to Ferrari, is still committed to introducing a second Chinese brand, Chery, to Australia, despite a delay.

Chery was supposed to be introduced to Australia early this year, but is yet to arrive, and Ateco is yet to lock in a launch date.

“We are currently in discussions,” said Mr Cotterill.

He said it was likely a Chery vehicle would go on sale at some stage during 2010, but he would would not be drawn on a possible launch date or which models would be first into showrooms.

The original Chery launch plan involved two small cars, the A1 hatch and A5 sedan, as well as the Tiggo3 compact SUV, but the A5 is now an unlikely starter.

[Franco Cozzo]

Give it 10 years and China will be up where Hyundai is now with its awesome i30 or Kia with its latest Cerato and Koup.

[vztrt]

Ahhh Quality Chinese motoring

Safety recall for Great Wall ute

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...25768E000636A6

Seatbelt failure in crash test has repercussions as Great Wall’s V240 ute recalled

16 December 2009

By RON HAMMERTON

A CHINESE-made ute that scored just two stars under the independent Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) when a seatbelt failed in crash testing has been recalled to fix the belt retracting mechanism.

The $23,990 Great Wall Motors V240 twin-cab – launched as the first Chinese vehicle on the Australian market in June alongside its even cheaper $19,990 sibling, the SA220 – was roundly criticised by road safety experts after the ANCAP result was made public.

ANCAP engineers reported the belt failure to the federal transport department, whose administrator of vehicle standards took up the issue with the importer Ateco.

The safety recall campaign was announced this week on the federal Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s web site which said the front seat belt retracting mechanism could fail to correctly restrain occupants under extreme loads.

The statement blamed a “manufacturing tolerance” for the potential failure of the seatbelts.

Great Wall Motors spokesman Daniel Cotterill today told GoAuto that the company had received no reports of V240 seat belt failure on Australian roads.

However, he said the recall had been announced so the company could replace the mechanism on 115 cars, while a further 285 vehicles would be checked.

V240 owners have been asked to return their vehicle to their dealer for the rectification work.

Mr Cotterill said there were no plans to recall Great Wall’s other ute, the SA220.

The SA220 – which unlike the V240 does not even have airbags or ABS available – also scored just two stars in the ANCAP testing, while Proton’s Jumbuck ute scored just one. However, the Jumbuck is set to be replaced by a new model in 2010.

The ANCAP problems for the V240 arose in the critical offset frontal barrier crash test when the passenger seatbelt mechanism failed near the peak of the impact, allowing the webbing to unreel.

Even though the passenger airbag deployed, the dummy’s head hit the dash.

To make matters worse, the driver-side dummy’s head struck the steering wheel, despite the airbag deploying.

ANCAP said the passenger cabin had deformed on impact, and components of the steering column and dashboard were also a potential source of injury.

The V240 also lost points under the rating system because it does not have ESC or seat-belt reminders, nor does it have top tether anchorages for child restraints.

When the ANCAP results were announced in September, ANCAP council chairman and VicRoads manager of vehicle safety Ross McArthur said the Great Wall results were particularly disappointing given they were new models on the market.

“The V240 has dual airbags but these failed to protect the driver and passenger from injury in our crash tests,” he said.

[outback_ute]

"Mr Cotterill said there were no plans to recall Great Wall’s other ute, the SA220."

I wonder if they use the same seatbelt mechanisms... Not a terribly auspicious start, then.

[ZDI-970]

all i have to say about these cars hitting our streets
GOD HELP US ALL!!!

[The Monty]

I love how the picture shows the heads striking the dash and the steering wheel before the airbags deploy. Makes me feel good in the AU, as I know Ill be safer on the road with all these things driving around.

[Dave R]

I actually saw one of these utes today on the road. I've got to admit, it didn't look half bad...

[ChemicalHorizon]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

I actually saw one of these utes today on the road. I've got to admit, it didn't look half bad...

There are quite a few getting around Kalgoorlie now, by quite a few i mean i know where 3 live.

[Franco Cozzo]

Shows that new cars aren't always better, hey?

[cosmo20btt]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

The problem with that is many of the cars imported here are built by and for markets that have a far lower emphasis on safety.

Some of those markets are HUGE. They will not be willing to pay a premium for a safer car, so if a car is built to a price, that price needs to be a compromise of safety over price.

Eg, The Great Wall and Mahindra pickups are in their very low 20's and have low ratings. Anything similar with a higher rating is 7-20 grand more.

If a Great Wall or Mahindra was 27-30 grand and had 4 stars, it would prob not sell as well, because people will know that a few grand more will get a mainstream pickup.

On a GLOBAL scale, what small car sells better, 2-3 star cars for $13-16 grand or 5 star cars that start at $18 grand?

The good thing is, 3-4 stars is getting pretty typical now. The only difference between a 2 star car and a 4 star car is the engineering and design work in the structural components.

I'm thinking that soon the rating will go to 6 and 7 stars, 5 stars is a lot more common now compared to even a few years ago.

Cheers,

Jason.

I suppose it depends on the value of the life that you put in the car. This is pretty much the type of decision you make when purchasing things like tyres, If you do not pay much for it then it you can't expect much when it let's you down... unless it kills you of course.

[Mr Brooksy]

I saw one a few days ago, my imediate reaction was to point and laugh my head off! My wife did the same. Wonder if the driver saw us?! Oh well, he may live to tell the tail according to the article earlier

[Morexbs]

To turn on the heater in one of these GW utes you have to open the bonnet and manually turn on a tap.Then if you want to use the air con you have to turn the heater tap off.Apparently buyers are bringing them back complaining that the heater doesn't work only to be told what the salesperson didn't tell them.....

[Mr Brooksy]

Originally Posted by Morexbs

To turn on the heater in one of these GW utes you have to open the bonnet and manually turn on a tap.Then if you want to use the air con you have to turn the heater tap off.Apparently buyers are bringing them back complaining that the heater doesn't work only to be told what the salesperson didn't tell them.....

Ouch, its kinda like someone designing a modern car with a crank starter.

[Watto_Cobra]

Originally Posted by Morexbs

To turn on the heater in one of these GW utes you have to open the bonnet and manually turn on a tap.Then if you want to use the air con you have to turn the heater tap off.Apparently buyers are bringing them back complaining that the heater doesn't work only to be told what the salesperson didn't tell them.....

You have to be joking!!!!! Really?

[trippytaka]

I really hope people think beyond the cheap prices when buying one of these cars... to do so will be a kick in the guts to any local car manufacturers. And while I agree our manufacturers need to get their **** into gear and build better cars, I hope they can do it before the market moves towards the cheap and nasty alternatives.

[Eaturbo]

I have not read the whole thread but i know the local dealer and he has pointed out that both utes are in fact Holden Rodeo's. The older looking one is the R9 rodeo and the newer looking one is the RA rodeo except the nose. The interior is pure RA rodeo but better equiped. Isuzu sold the body design and stamps to GWM. They than used Mitsubishi and toyota engines which they brought the blue prints too and cast,machine and assemble these themselves. HAve a good look and you will be shocked like i was to see that it is dam near the same car as the Rodeo/Colarado

[buickman]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

I'm predicting one of the top 3 Auto manufacturers here in Oz will be importing one of their mainstream models into this country from China in 2 to 3 years....

I'm with you on that as the Japanese cars were a hated car in Australia in the 60’s and referred to as Jap rubbish and they were. Now they produce well engineered and reliable cars. As labour costs are cheap in China they can put the money into new technology for manufacturing and in the end designing cars not copy look a likes.

[trippytaka]

Originally Posted by buickman

I'm with you on that as the Japanese cars were a hated car in Australia in the 60’s and referred to as Jap rubbish and they were. Now they produce well engineered and reliable cars. As labour costs are cheap in China they can put the money into new technology for manufacturing and in the end designing cars not copy look a likes.

Step aside for the new superpower... goodbye US of A

[SB076]

Originally Posted by buickman

I'm with you on that as the Japanese cars were a hated car in Australia in the 60’s and referred to as Jap rubbish and they were. Now they produce well engineered and reliable cars. As labour costs are cheap in China they can put the money into new technology for manufacturing and in the end designing cars not copy look a likes.

Yes when but when Japan first made cars they were cheap and rubbish, currently they make a very good car - but they are not cheap. Will be interesting to see what happens with China they may not always be cheap - hopefully the local manufacturers will still be viable when there prices go up.

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by The Monty

I love how the picture shows the heads striking the dash and the steering wheel before the airbags deploy. Makes me feel good in the AU, as I know Ill be safer on the road with all these things driving around.

That is the V220 (?) model which doesn't have any airbags

[vztrt]

More brands may come in

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-new...0115-mbhc.html

New Chinese brand targets Australia

BRUCE NEWTON
January 18, 2010

A Chinese car company backed for hundreds of millions by US investment guru Warren Buffett plans to set up shop in Australia within two years.

BYD — short for Build Your Dreams — is one of the most ambitious of the independent Chinese car companies.

It sold 450,000 cars last year, a 160 per cent increase from 2008.

It is aiming to sell 800,000 cars this year, gain domestic market leadership by 2015 and then global No.1 status by 2025.

Company founder Wang Chuanfu made his money developing and manufacturing batteries for laptops and mobile phones.

Buffett ploughed $US230 million ($247 million) into BYD in 2008.

At Detroit this week, BYD was showing off its first all-electric car, the five-seat e6 people-mover, as well as its F3DM petrol-electric hybrid small car.

BYD also manufactures a range of cars powered by traditional petrol engines.

Henry Li, the general manager of BYD's Auto Export Division, told Drive at Detroit that BYD planned to bring its range of mainstream and alternative-powered vehicles to Australia.

"We are talking with some potential importers but it is a right-hand-drive market and so far we don't have right-hand-drive models," Mr Li said.

"Those are in the schedule a bit later. We don't have a fixed plan but maybe two years later.

"But we will surely be present in the Australian market."

Mr Li would not reveal with which potential Australian distributors BYD was negotiating.

"We have some discussions but it's not good to release details at the moment. We will make the decision one year before we commence," he said.

BYD would not be the first Chinese manufacturer in the Australian market, as Great Wall launched in 2009, imported by Ateco.

Impressively, BYD claims a 330-kilometre cruising range for the plug-in e6, which is powered by a lithium-ferrous battery pack. Less impressive is its 140km/h top speed and 14-second 0-100km/h time.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald