Chinese auto industry and Chicken Chow Mein
The
Chinese auto industry is very much like the dish known as
chicken chow mein. Both originated in the US, but both have
since spread all over the world. If you doubted this, then a
few words about the 2006 China Auto show should change your
mind.
At the show, there were 572 vehicles on
display, of which one third were Chinese origin, not
assembled or fully imported cars from the west, the home of
the auto industry, if you believe what you were taught in
school.
The domestic Chinese market is now the second largest in the
world. Both its production and sales of automobiles are
expected to surpass seven million this year, according to
the latest estimate of the China Association of Automobile
Manufacturers. As a comparison, Thailand is one million.
FAW, which produced China’s first truck and car in the
1950s, brought 29 vehicles, including 19 using brands of its
joint venture partners such as Volkswagen and Toyota, and 10
of its own brands. The most eye-catching of these is the new
Red Flag (Hongqi HQ3) using a 4.3 liter engine, it reaches
100 kmh in 7.3 seconds. The car is also equipped with a
sophisticated infrared night vision system that could detect
obstacles from 250 meters away.
Chery Tiggo
Global Auto Index also reported from the show that Dongfeng
Motor, another major Chinese carmaker, came with 15 models.
Half of these models are using Dongfeng’s own brands. They
included a full range of cars, multi-purpose vehicles, small
utility vehicles, race cars and hybrid sedans.
Geely, a minor Chinese carmaker which recently entered into
agreement with the Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc of the
United Kingdom to produce London’s iconic black cabs in
China, is displaying over a dozen new models, including
their first concept car.
Chery Automobile introduced several new models at the
forthcoming Auto Beijing Show. These were the Chery Fengyun
II Coupe concept, the Chery V2 8-seater minivan with three
rows of seats, powered by an ACTECO 1.3 liter engine, mated
to a 5 speed gearbox. Equipment includes front dual airbags,
ABS, EBD, CD player, and seat belt pretensioners.
Hongqi
HQ3
The Chery Tiggo5, a cross-over and the Chery A5 ISG which is
the first hybrid model from Chery, based on the A5-family
sedan. It is equipped with a self-developed ACTECO 1.3 liter
engine and an electric power-train. The gasoline engine only
switches on at speeds above 40 km/h.
However, even though many of the local Chinese models are
low end products, the more expensive brands are enjoying
burgeoning markets in China. There is a rapidly growing
Chinese rich sector, all wishing to show off their new-found
wealth.
“We have over 300,000 millionaires in China, so I think it’s
a good number for us to go into the market,” said Stephan
Winkelmann, president and chief executive officer of Italian
luxury sports car maker Lamborghini. In the past two years,
25 Lambos have gone out the door and they expect to be
selling 30 a year very shortly.
Dongfeng
Sports
Rolls Royce sales are up 50 percent from last year and China
has become its third largest market after the United States
and Britain, said Ian Robertson, chairman and chief
executive. RR’s sales in China, including Hong Kong, were 65
vehicles out of its global total of around 800. On the
second day of the show, a Rolls-Royce Phantom on display was
bought for 6.6 million yuan (825,000 U.S. dollars) and a
Bentley Arnage Mulliner sold for 6.48 million yuan.
Porsche, which entered China in 2001, sold 857 cars in China
last year and said it expected that figure to double in
2006. If it is expensive and has the snobbish name, then it
will sell well in China, it seems.
At the Beijing Auto Show, organizers set aside 4,000 square
meters of space for luxury cars, where top brands, including
Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce and Spyker, are
showcasing their new models.
The US, Japan and Europe should not turn their backs on
China. There will be markets all over the world for cheap
Chinese imports, while China itself will become the number
one player for expensive imports!
Are the Eco-Cars coming?
After much huffing and puffing over the
concept of us having Thailand’s own eco-cars and Thailand
being the Detroit of Asia, all promoted by the previous
(Thaksin) administration (which then turned into nothing
much at all), the new political moves are pouring even more
cold water on the concept, I am afraid.
Personally I am all for eco-cars, if nothing else just to
lessen the congestion on our roads. If you can fit two
eco-cars into the footprint of one large pick-up, you
certainly have halved the length of the traffic jam.
Various manufacturers here were interested, but there was a
problem in getting the government to lay down fixed
guidelines, which could be realistically followed. No world
manufacturer was going to commit with a nebulous set of
rules to follow, though both Toyota and Nissan expressed
interest, and there may have been even more.
It appears that the government’s biggest worry is that a
locally produced eco-car would eat into the local pick-up
market, we being the second highest user of pick-ups in the
world. However, the new government has said that any eco-car
projects will not be run by Thailand, but by the individual
manufacturers. As a ‘carrot’ they can get certain
promotional privileges if the project reaches pre-determined
criteria (a free ad on Channel 5 perhaps?). But these won’t
be decided till March next year!
So once again, the opportunity has been lost. Toyota, Nissan
and Mitsubishi have eco-cars in Japan that would be suitable
for city cars here. India has even more eco-cars that sell
for under 400,000 baht (in India). But I’m afraid it looks
as if we are stuck with the pick-up.
Shame really. The closest we have to an eco-car right now is
probably GeeEmm’s Aveo, which looks like a well balanced
little vehicle, and inexpensive. I have not had a run in one
yet, but hope to shortly.
Autotrivia Quiz
Quiz cars
Last week it was another set of very old photographs which
were sent in by Nick Fennessy. Now these had me scratching
my head, apart from the Morgan three wheeler. I asked what
was the consensus on these? My guess was a British Ford, a
Clyno (or Bean) and the Morgan.
So to this week. An easy one. What movie car was called
Eleanor? And what was the movie?
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
So you think your lad is ready for racing?
Entries are now open for five Formula BMW Asia Scholarships
for the 2007 season. However, before you rush out and get
the fireproof undies, there’s a little matter of a little
money. It costs USD 2,400 for the test and another 50,000
euros if the boy bends the car. That means you need around
B. 200,000 to see if he’s going to be the next Michael
Schumacher. And of course there’s the matter of a couple of
air tickets and accommodation and some meals!
Qualifying will be held from March 2 at the Bahrain
International Circuit in the Middle East. Each of the five
scholarships up for grabs include a USD 50,000 cash
contribution to the cost of a full season in Formula BMW
Asia (with USD 10,000 earmarked for parts), plus free
participation in the proven, season-long BMW Education and
Coaching Program (E and C).
With the recent announcement by the Formula BMW Asia Teams
of a 22-race, six-event, standard 2007 season package for
USD 130,000, scholarship recipients will be able to take
part in the region’s most prestigious single seater series
for less than ever before. But that is still around 5.2
million baht I’m afraid, no matter how ‘cheap’ anyone says
it is.
According to the BMW people, the wide-ranging BMW E and C
program is the most professional of its kind available in
the region, and utilizes the expertise of BMW Motorsport in
all areas, including driving instruction, technical
knowledge, fitness and nutrition, media training, and sports
management. All the tools a young driver needs to reach the
very top of the sport. And there is no getting away from it,
BMW do it very well.
The Scholarship Qualifying will include both theory and
practical sessions, during which drivers will be assessed by
a team of BMW Motorsport professionals. Theory includes
shifting; braking; the “racing line”; driving physics; an
explanation of flags, and an introduction to the Sporting
Code.
So how old does the lad have to be? Anyone between the age
of 15 (turning 16 during the 2007 racing season) and 21 (as
of January 1, 2007), is eligible to take part in the
Qualifying providing they have not taken part in any
international car race, and in certain single seater series.
As Formula BMW is searching for youngsters with the greatest
all-round potential, the fastest driver on the track during
the course may not necessarily clinch a coveted scholarship.
Instructors will be paying particular attention to shifting,
racing line, braking, rpm/speed, and improvement during the
course. The driver’s age and instructor assessment will be
taken into account when evaluating lap times.
Course instructors will not only be on the lookout for a
glimpse of future greatness, but also for drivers who
display real discipline and good sportsmanship.
All the necessary equipment will be supplied by the BMW
Performance Center in Bahrain, but participants are required
to bring with them FIA-authorized fireproof undergarments. A
crash helmet, racing overalls, balaclava, gloves and racing
shoes - and, of course, use of the FB02 race car itself -
will be provided.
The maximum number of participants is limited to 32, and
eligible applicants will be accepted on a first-come,
first-served basis. The latest deadline for receipt of
applications is January 12, 2007. Application forms and
information may be obtained from Matthijs Hoitink at
matthijs@ motorsportasia.com
The provisional calendar for 2007 features four races per
weekend, plus two rounds held as official support events to
the 2007 Formula 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The season will get underway in May following an official
introductory test the previous month, and will see Formula
BMW Asia travel to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, with
three meetings in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and
Zhuhai in Southern China. Five of the six events will be
held as part of the Asian Festival of Speed. That is for the
FBMW Asia group, but there are other series for these cars
held in Germany, the UK, and the USA.
The FB02 race car is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to
230km/h. The design exceeds the FIA safety requirements for
its class, with the BMW Motorsport developed FORS Formula
Rescue Race Seat, and the mandatory HANS safety system.
