Trick Shift » china

Mazda and Ford To Dissolve Their Partnership In China by 2012

Steven Finch — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:14:53 +0000

Mazda and Ford will soon be dissolving their joint venture in China.

The Chang’an Ford Mazda Automobile Co. has been producing cars since 2006. The JV is 50 percent owned by Chang’an, 35 percent by Ford and 15 percent by Mazda.

The joint venture has two plants, one in Chongqing and the other in Nanjing. And that’s how they’ll divide the property: The Nanjing business will become a 50-50 unit of Mazda and Chang’an. The Chongqing operations will be a joint unit of Ford and Chang’an. Mazda’s Axela, which is currently made in Chongqing, will be made in Nanjing. The Nanjing plant has annual output capacity of 160,000 units; which Mazda wants to expand to 200,000 units.

Hyundai Building New Car Plant in China and Exiting Japan

Steven Finch — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:50:25 +0000

It has been reported that South Korea’s Hyundai is spending some $800 million to build a third Chinese plant. The plant will be located in Beijing along with its two existing facilities. It is targeted to come on-stream at the end of 2011, with an annual capacity of 300,000 units.

According to the Nikkei, Hyundai, together with Kia, is ranked No. 2 in the Chinese passenger car market, with a share of around 10 percent. Volkswagen is #1. The new facility should help Hyundai to close in on leader Volkswagen in the world’s largest car market.

Also as per the Nikkei, Hyundai will withdraw from the Japanese passenger vehicle market. Hyundai’s Nipponese sales are a disaster. From January-October Hyundai sold just 764 to the Japanese. Sayonara.

New Chinese Market Cadillac SLS and Buick Excelle XT to debut in Guangzhou

Steven Finch — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:18:14 +0000

General Motors’ China’s sales are up 60 percent year-on-year, and The General wants to keep the momentum going at its Chinese outpost. Automotive News China reports that the Guangzhou Auto Show will play host to the unveiling of the market-specific Cadillac SLS and Buick Excelle XT, the latter described as a four-door “coupé-like sedan.”

The Excelle XT will take a place between the Excelle and the new Regal. The Cadillac gets 3.0-liter and 3.6-liter engines with GM’s SIDI technology that also grace Australia’s new Holden Commodores. The luxury sedan, a lengthened version of our STS with a superior interior, will also be China’s introduction to OnStar.