More China made cars coming

Tuesday December 20, 2005
Alado Bumi Automobile targets to sell 2,000 Chery cars next year (The STAR)

ALADO Bumi Automobile Sdn Bhd, the exclusive importer of Chery's completely-built-up vehicles from China, aims to sell 2,000 units of Chery A160 next year. Alado Bumi president Tan Sri Cam Soh Thiam Hong told StarBiz yesterday. He said the four-cylinder 1.6-litre Chery A160 was priced at between RM59,444 and RM61,496. He said Chery buyers would get two years' free maintenance including oil, filter and labour charge. Approval to import the model was finally given last month. Soh said sister company Alado Corp Sdn Bhd had also received approval to import completely knocked down (CKD) Chery vehicles next year. He said the CKD units would only be available in the middle of next year. On Chery’s SUV and MPV, Soh said they would be priced below RM100,000 each.

Foto:Malcolm Bricklin, left, and Chery President Yin Tongyao plan to introduce this station wagon and other vehicles to the U.S.

So another car maker trying to get another piece of cake from the already crowded car market. The A160 is not too bad. I read somewhere that Chery had some issues with GM and got into legal tangle but I think it must be resolved now that the car is finally coming to our shores. GM is suing Chery over the QQ (see the Alado Malaysia website), a mini car that GM claims Chery copied from GM-Daewoo’s Matiz, that we know in Malaysia as Chevrolet Spark. To add insult to injury, according to recently-released sales data, during the first 7 months of 2005, Chery QQ sold 61,633 units compared to Chevrolet Spark’s 15,912 units.

I am more impressed with the MPV seen in the foto above with the Chery President. If it is really priced below RM 100k, then NAZA Citra and RIA better be on the lookout. The KIAs and HYUNDAIs exposed a few chinks in the Japanese cars armour, maybe this time its the China cars turn. Value is the hook, however. Prototypes of the Chery's models have been designed by renowned Italian designer Bertone. The curvy, sleek vehicles are aimed at going head-to-head with every major automaker -- from Subaru to BMW -- at a fraction of the price.

Maybe our own carmaker should take note of this and along the way bring down the car prices, making it more affordable and lo and behold, increase the sagging sales. No point paying millions for a British brand that is going down the drain, nor I don't think it is a good idea buying a motorbike company that Tom Cruise use in Mission Impossible 2. On the other hand I think it was brilliant of them to sponsor Norwich City FC. I guess they manage to build up some form of a brand name. Maybe thats why Tony Fernandes's Air Asia took up the courage to sponsor Manchester United. Brave and bold move and I am sure it burnt a big black hole in their pocket. Kudos to him, with not much of government subsidy they are not too far behind in value with our local carrier. Gosh I am moving too far out of the topic.