Geely EX5 Reviews

This week's high-level Federal Government visit to China is already yielding positive results for not only the car component sector but the local industry as a whole. Industry Minister, Senator Kim Carr, says several large Chinese brands, including Chery, JAC, Geely and Dongfeng, are seeking new markets like Australia for technology and investment, particularly in the depressed components sector.Trade Minister, Simon Crean, joined Senator Carr on his lightning visit to the country's leading manufacturers. Carr says that apart from direct investment, there is room for reciprocal agreements between the local supply industry and China. "We've seen with Geely in terms of Drivetrain Systems International transmissions but there are other investments," he says."I'm expecting that there will be increased interest in the components section of the automotive industry," Carr says. "That's likely to be quite an attractive area for future investment from the Chinese motor producers." Some of that investment is already bearing fruit.In March, Chinese carmaker Geely threw a lifeline to the Albury-based DSI transmission company, paying $52 million for the company to secure its future and boost its research and development.Carr says the Chinese are looking for high-quality developed technologies and partnership arrangements. "And they know, I believe there is increasing awareness, that Australia provides the capacity to produce good results in those areas," he says. "Now there are 11 companies operating here at the moment that have come out from Australia."Carr says research organisations like the CSIRO and even Geelong-based Deakin University, are working on technologies that will be very attractive to the Chinese car industry. "In terms of light metals, in terms of composite materials, in terms of fuel systems, there are huge opportunities opening up," he says.Australia's reputation as a mature, respected market is helping too. "We have a mature industry that might well be small in volume but is high in reputation," Carr says.Ultimately, he says the diversification of the local component and car sector will help "strengthen our industry's capacity to ensure its sustainability". The issue of intellectual property rights, a controversial problem between some foreign carmakers and some Chinese brands, was also discussed.

New cars as cheap as $10,990 are about to zoom into the Australian market.Chinese models will be leading the way and are expected to shake up the local motoring scene, the way Korean cars did in the 1990s and Japanese makes in the 1970s.Budget-priced vehicles are also coming from India, Italy, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.China has hundreds of car makers with names such as Chery, Geely, Great Wall Motors, Nanjing, Hafei, Zhongxing, Zhonghua, Brilliance China and Shanghai Automotive.However, some of the Chinese models have fared poorly in European crash testing.The Brilliance BS6 sedan got only one star out of a possible five when tested last month, while an SUV Landwind made by Jiangling Motors scored a zero.It was the worst result in 20 years of testing.Details of what Chinese makes will be released here are being kept secret by executives of the companies which will join the invasion.The smaller Chinese cars are expected to start at $10,990.Industry observers agree and expect the Chinese strategy will be for cars to be priced under their Korean equivalents, which have recently been as low as $12,990 in order to get a footing in the crowded market.The arrival of the first Chinese-brand cars is being handled by Ateco Automotive, an independent importer which already brings in Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Citroen, Ferrari and Maserati.The deal is being masterminded by Ric Hull, the executive involved in establishing all the major Korean brands including Hyundai, Daewoo and Kia in Australia.Ateco spokesman Edward Rowe said Chinese cars could reach Australian showrooms by mid-2008. “We're still working on it. We're talking to specific companies but there is a confidentiality agreement in place,” he said.Rowe says the plan was to start Chinese imports with small cars, then increase the range. “Ultimately there will be a full range of cars and commercial vehicles,” he said.Chrysler has made a deal with Chery for a Chinese-made small car to be exported to the US and Canada.An Indian brand Mahindra went on sale in NSW last month and plans to open a Queensland dealer network by September.A spokeswoman said: “Talks are under way with a number of dealers. Queensland will be the next market for Mahindra, it's imminent.”The brand is starting with the Pik-Up utility, diesel-engined “one-tonners” from $23,990 but the spokeswoman said they were 'exploring their options' to sell more models.“There are other opportunities there, but we're concentrating on getting launched first.”Czech-made Skoda cars last sold here 25 years ago and will return in October, with a five-seat mini-people-mover called the Roomster, and the Octavia lift-back.Skoda head Matthew Wiesner said prices would be set against their Japanese equivalents, rather than at traditional European levels.

Ateco Automotive, which already imports Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Citroen and Fiat is deep in negotiations with a leading Chinese carmaker.The importer says it aims to show the first model at the next year's Sydney Motor Show in October, before the brand is officially launched a few months later.Ateco is not providing details, but admits it is working hard on a deal.Ateco won't comment on which Chinese brand — or brands —— it is negotiating with, but points out it needs a deal with a company that can offer a full suite of light commercial vehicles, an all-wheel-drive wagon and passenger cars.Chery Automobile is one of the brands most likely to be on its way to Australia. It has a full range of appropriate models and is keen on exports, though it is not the only contender.Geely Automobile also builds cars and vans, along with Hafei, which could also be in contention.The brand given the green light for Australia will come with bargain prices to offset concerns about sub-standard design and build.Ateco is keen to have another budget brand after importing Kia cars from South Korea from 2000 to the end of last year, when Kia Motors took over Australian distribution.

The striking little yellow Dongfeng D120 was a star at this week's Beijing motor show, the largest auto show in the massive Chinese market.The D120 was one of 15 cars at the show from Dongfeng, a major Chinese manufacturer. It has joint ventures with Citroen, Nissan and Honda.The show opened last Sunday amid rocketing sales with few signs that growing traffic congestion, pollution and rising oil prices were clouding the future of the industry.While international producers unveiled their latest products, the Chinese were displaying more than 180 domestic-made vehicles. Many of them are hoping that their inexpensive cars may one day find their way into global markets.Australian importer Ateco is looking at bringing Chinese-made cars Down Under within the next two years.Cars like the Geely, Great Wall, Chery and Red Flag are enjoying an almost 25 per cent market share in China, according to Xinhua news agency reports this week.After years of growth, China is the world's second largest car market after the US.In the first 10 months of 2006, 5.89 million cars were produced and 5.77 million cars sold in China, figures up 27 per cent and 26 per cent respectively from January-October 2005, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.If this trend does continue, China will have 100 million cars on its roads by 2020, up from43 million in 2005, a phenomenon that will cause severe pollution unless stricter emission controls are implemented, Xinhua says.More than 500,000 potential car buyers are expected to attend the 10-day show, many of them first-time buyers.International prestige brands are at the show keen to sell to the country's wealthy who are proud, and keen to flaunt their riches.It is this fast-growing generation of mainly under 35-year-old, self-made tycoons that the world's top luxury carmakers have now firmly set their sights on."We have more than 300,000 millionaires in China, so I think it's a good number for us to go into the market," Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Lamborghini, says.Rolls Royce sales are up 50 per cent from last year and China has become its third largest market after the US and Britain, says Ian Robertson, chairman and chief executive."It is growing dramatically. There is a fast growing number of very rich people in this country," Robertson says.And sales in China, including Hong Kong, at 65 vehicles out of its global total of about 800, represented "nearly 10 per cent of our business," Robertson says.Porsche, which entered China in 2001, sold 857 cars in China last year and says it expects that figure to double this year.However, the show also comes as a new report shows there are problems with local production. Defects have been found in 77 per cent of domestically made cars, largely due to a price war forcing manufacturers to cut corners, according to an industry survey which was released this week.The range of defects, found within six months of the car being bought, involved tyres, airconditioning, brakes, locks and steering wheels, the China Daily newspaper reported, citing as its source the 2006 China Automobile Customer Satisfaction Index."The defects are a result of car makers constantly reducing prices and sacrificing quality," the paper quoted Fan Tianshun, director of the China Quality Association, which conducted the poll, as saying.For every 100 new cars, there were an average of 338 defects, much higher than last year's figure of 246.On average, China's car prices have dropped about 10,000 yuan ($A1250) per car each year over "the past few years" as manufacturers try to compete in the the booming market, the paper writes.Defects were more prevalent in cheaper cars in the 30,000 yuan ($A5000) to the 50,000 yuan ($A8240) range, such as China's Geely, Chery QQ and the Changan Alto.But fewer defects in more expensive cars helped result in customer satisfaction for China's domestically-built automobiles growing by 0.1 per cent so far this year over the figures reported in 2005. The index was based on a poll of 4648 participants in 36 cities this year, the paper reported.AFP