Source: CCTV.com

11-20-2006 16:11

The bi-annual Beijing International Automotive Expo has opened. Unlike previous shows, this year's exhibition boasts a strong presence of domestic cars. Despite the glamour of big international names like Mercedes Benz and BMW, Chinese cars are competing as everything from top-notch luxury vehicles to affordable family cars.

The dazzling display of international top brands is a top draw at the annual Beijing International Auto Show. And indeed this year, the collective showcase of household names like GM, Toyota and many others, is regarded as the most complete in years. But what's garnering the most attention in the first few days of the show may well be the release of some newly-designed Chinese luxury cars.

This black limousine is the new flagship sedan released by China First Automotive Works Corporation Group, the nation's biggest car-maker. The new addition to its "Hong Qi" series is regarded as a bold move. For one thing, the new car is priced at 220,000 US dollars, securing it the status of the most expensive domestically-made car in the nation's emerging luxury car market.

President of China Faw Corporation Group Zhu Yanfeng said: "Our dream is to become a leading car manufacturer with international competitiveness. We are also dedicated to enabling ordinary Chinese to enjoy the convenience brought by cars."

The company is serious about the commitment. The 14 new series it released at the show consist of affordable economic cars, business cars and expensive limousines. The cheapest new product costs only some 40,000 yuan, or 5,000 US dollars. It all falls into the organizers' strategy of introducing more domestic cars to the event.

Secretary general of Beijing Int’l Automotive Exhibition Wang Xia said: "The display area of home-grown motors has increased this year. All the domestic enterprises will present their new models. Take Chery for example. Five out of its nine exhibiting models are brand-new and have never been seen by consumers before. It will also showcase three concept cars."

Many other Chinese car-makers have released their new products at the annual show. They are experimenting with new technologies in almost all areas of the industry, paying particular attention to the adoption of energy-saving or clean-energy guidelines. For a country with a skyrocketing number of private cars, but worries about soaring oil prices -- this may be good news.

 

Editor:Wang Ping