From ChinaCarTimes.com:
The S11 was first unveiled at the Shanghai Auto show earlier this year to an impressed crowd. The car was designed by Shanghai based TJ Innova, the S11 looks fantastic, with Audi and Ferrari design tones slipped into its sleak body, under the platform there is an AWD drivechain pushing power to each corner of the car. From what we hear the S11’s design is completed, and is now at the test stage and will soon be hurtling down the production line in Changchun city, although its not quite clear whose production line they will be using.
The price of oil, the credit crunch and now an official recession is really affecting the traditional markets in North America, western Europe and Japan which in turn is affecting the carmakers.
“In America car sales are running at about 16% below last year’s level. Detroit’s struggling big three—General Motors, Ford and Chrysler—are in dire straits.”
However, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel as there is a huge demand in the big emerging car markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China (the so-called BRICs). Predictions are that, despite the recession and market crunch, global car sales may hot a record high of 59m.
MILAN (Reuters) - Italian car maker Fiat has apologized to China over a television commercial featuring Hollywood actor Richard Gere and a reference to Tibet.
China is a huge market for car makers which, like other multinational companies, go out of their way to avoid upsetting the country’s sensibilities about certain issues out of fear of reprisals such as a boycott of their products.
Tibet has become a focal point for protests against China’s rule over the mountainous province ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing in August. Read more…
According to Gilles Castonguay
CHONGQING, China, May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Changan Ford Sales Company, Ford Motor Company’s joint venture in China, today announced the opening of its 200th full-service dealership, completing a sales and service network that now covers the whole country.
“We’re continuing with the rapid expansion of our authorized Ford dealer network in China to support our exceptional sales growth in the market, which has outpaced the overall industry for the past several years,” said Nigel Harris, vice president of Ford Motor China and General Manager of Changan Ford Sales Company.
“In addition to providing an excellent product range, a professional dealer network plays a vital role in expanding Ford’s presence in China. We will continue building a professional and industry-leading sales and service network to generate more local demand and enhance the sales satisfaction of our customers,” explained Harris.
Ford Motor China recorded 47 percent year-over-year growth for passenger cars and commercial vehicles in the first quarter of 2008. Changan Ford posted a 54 percent increase in Ford brand passenger cars sales in the same period, making it one of the fastest growing auto manufacturers in China.
The new dealership in Chongqing reflects a doubling of Ford’s full-service dealerships from the end of 2005, when Ford had 100 full-service dealers across China. These full-service dealerships offer sales, service, spare parts and survey capabilities. All Ford authorized dealers are trained in implementing “Ford Service,” which is intended to improve customer relationships and a set of customer care experiences included as part of Changan Ford’s free Roadside Assistance program.
Ford also requires dealerships to undergo certification for Ford QualityCare, a program established in 1987 to enhance customer satisfaction. The QualityCare program covers all details of customer service to standardize and improve quality and efficiency. As of today, 117 of China’s full-service dealerships have obtained QualityCare certification.
About Ford Motor in China
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 245,000 employees and about 100 plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.
Ford’s wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and investment in China include Ford Motor (China) Limited, Ford Motor Research & Engineering (Nanjing) Co., Ltd., Ford Automotive Finance (China) Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. Nanjing Company, Changan Ford Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. and Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.
For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com and www.ford.com.cn .
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