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SAIC to unveil new hybrid vehicles

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Steve321, May 10, 2009.

  1. Steve321

    Steve321 New Member

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    "SAIC Motor Corp said it would launch a series of hybrid and electric vehicles by 2012 as Chinese car makers shift to a higher gear to commercialize new energy vehicles to meet growing market demand.

    The nation's largest car maker plans to introduce a hybrid Roewe 750 sedan next year, which could improve fuel efficiency by 20 percent compared to the existing non-green model under SAIC's blueprint for new energy vehicles unveiled yesterday."
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    "China has granted production permits to five models, including BYD's F3 dual-mode electric car, Chang'an Auto's Jie Xun hybrid and Toyota's Prius hybrid."
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    Soon you will be able to purchase the Prius in China.
     
    #1 Steve321, May 10, 2009
  2. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

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    Hmm.. I thought the Prius was available in China already..? If I remember right, the only other place where Prii are assembled outside of Japan is in China. This article is dated in 2006: http://news.techwhack.com/2954-toyota-prius-now-available-in-china

    Which makes me wonder, why did the Chinese get a Prius factory before the U.S.? You'd figure Toyota can sell more Prii here in the U.S. than in China where big gas-guzzlers (particularly Buicks) are all the rage. :p
     
    #2 justlurkin, May 11, 2009
  3. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Hey justlurkin, can you explain the thinking please? Prius will be more popular in the USA than in China because Americans like gas guzzlers, why? Or are you saying gas guzzling Buicks are more popular in China?
     
    #3 patsparks, May 11, 2009
  4. justlurkin

    justlurkin Señor Member

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    Yes, I'm saying gas-guzzling Buicks are popular in China. Buick is a coveted brand in China because it was the preferred car of their leaders like Chou En Lai and Deng Xiao Ping. China was the only place on Earth in the past few years where GM could turn a real net profit.

    That coupled with the fuel subsidies from the Chinese government to keep the price of gasoline artificially low, the newly-rich Chinese population have no qualms about snapping up fuel-guzzlers (which is one of the reasons why pollution is so bad in Chinese cities like Beijing).

    The majority of Prii built by Toyota is sold in the United States. Which is why I find it puzzling Toyota would build a Prius plant in China first (where the Prius does not sell very well), instead of the U.S..
     
    #4 justlurkin, May 12, 2009
  5. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Oh OK. Sorry I didn't follow that when you posted it before. So the best selling cars in china are V8 Buicks then? I can only assume then that motor scooter sales have tanked in China then, closely followed by Yaris and Corolla size vehicles?

    Could this be why Toyota are expanding into China?
    China passed Japan to become the world's second-biggest auto market in 2006. And in January, 2009, China overtook the U.S. of A. in monthly vehicle sales in January for the first time ever: China Overtakes the U.S., Japan As World's Number One In Vehicle Sales : TreeHugger
     
    #5 patsparks, May 12, 2009
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