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Auto show celebrates innovation
By Jin Jing |
April 23, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE emergence of environmentally friendly cars and the strides made by China's domestic automakers are expected to be highlights of the 2012 Beijing International Automobile Exhibition, which opened today in the nation's capital.
Under the theme "Leading Through Innovation," the auto extravaganza also known as Auto China 2012, creates a platform for carmakers to show off their latest models and energy-saving technologies.
The show underscores China's determination to become a leader in global car manufacturing.
Though China's auto market has suffered slower growth since last year, the country remained as the biggest auto market in the world.
The importance of the market is still obvious from the strong participation by all the multinational auto heavyweights, looking at the growth potential in emerging segments such as luxury cars, electric vehicles and sport-utility vehicles to continue growing momentum.
According to the show's organizer, there will be 1,125 vehicle models on display, including 120 global debuts. Thirty-six of the latter are from foreign carmakers. More than 88 new energy vehicles will be exhibited and 74 concept models will be unveiled.
"Auto China 2012 will showcase the achievements of the country's auto industry in domestic car development and in innovation, especially breakthroughs in alternative fuel energy vehicles," said Wang Xia, head of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade.
The auto show will also highlight the advancement made by domestic carmakers as they move up the value chain into segments previously dominated by foreign companies.
Domestic carmakers have made slow but steady progress in recent years, even though their combined market share in the first quarter fell 3.19 percentage points to 42.8 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The domestic brand segment was hurt by the expiration of government incentives.
Chinese brands have been stepping up their pursuit of overseas acquisitions and made huge investments in engineering technology in order to lift the quality of their cars and expand into higher-priced segments.
FAW Group Co's Red Flag, one of China's two oldest car brands and a former favorite of top-level Chinese leaders, has been reborn in the market with the recent introduction of the Red Flag H7 premium sedan.
Chang'an Automobile Group will launch its global strategic model Yi Dong that integrates the work of 200 engineers from home and abroad after a three-year development.
Highlight models at the auto show also include the Roewe 950 premium sedan rolled out by China's largest auto group SAIC. The model is aiming to compete with the Audi A6L sedan in the high-end segment.
With a strong government push behind them, alternative energy vehicles will be a prime focus of the show, allowing carmakers to showcase the latest in industry technology.
China has introduced subsidies and favorable policies in research and development of new energy cars, with the aim of having 500,000 clean cars running on the streets of the nation by 2015. The ambitious targets have certainly caught the attention of major automakers.
However, capturing public attention is proving more elusive. Private buyers are wary of the high cost, limited mileage and lack of charging facilities related to green cars.
BYD Co, the battery electric carmaker, will unveil the world premier of a new plug-in hybrid named Qin. Using the second generation of its duel-mode power system, the carmaker promises more power and longer driving range.
A plug-in hybrid, the first new energy vehicle developed by the joint venture of BYD and Daimler, will also make its public debut at the show. Toyota, which hopes to extend leading position in new energy vehicles in China, brought a fleet of 16 green cars to the show, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, accounting for a third of its exhibition models. The Auto China 2012 will be held till May 2.
Under the theme "Leading Through Innovation," the auto extravaganza also known as Auto China 2012, creates a platform for carmakers to show off their latest models and energy-saving technologies.
The show underscores China's determination to become a leader in global car manufacturing.
Though China's auto market has suffered slower growth since last year, the country remained as the biggest auto market in the world.
The importance of the market is still obvious from the strong participation by all the multinational auto heavyweights, looking at the growth potential in emerging segments such as luxury cars, electric vehicles and sport-utility vehicles to continue growing momentum.
According to the show's organizer, there will be 1,125 vehicle models on display, including 120 global debuts. Thirty-six of the latter are from foreign carmakers. More than 88 new energy vehicles will be exhibited and 74 concept models will be unveiled.
"Auto China 2012 will showcase the achievements of the country's auto industry in domestic car development and in innovation, especially breakthroughs in alternative fuel energy vehicles," said Wang Xia, head of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade.
The auto show will also highlight the advancement made by domestic carmakers as they move up the value chain into segments previously dominated by foreign companies.
Domestic carmakers have made slow but steady progress in recent years, even though their combined market share in the first quarter fell 3.19 percentage points to 42.8 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The domestic brand segment was hurt by the expiration of government incentives.
Chinese brands have been stepping up their pursuit of overseas acquisitions and made huge investments in engineering technology in order to lift the quality of their cars and expand into higher-priced segments.
FAW Group Co's Red Flag, one of China's two oldest car brands and a former favorite of top-level Chinese leaders, has been reborn in the market with the recent introduction of the Red Flag H7 premium sedan.
Chang'an Automobile Group will launch its global strategic model Yi Dong that integrates the work of 200 engineers from home and abroad after a three-year development.
Highlight models at the auto show also include the Roewe 950 premium sedan rolled out by China's largest auto group SAIC. The model is aiming to compete with the Audi A6L sedan in the high-end segment.
With a strong government push behind them, alternative energy vehicles will be a prime focus of the show, allowing carmakers to showcase the latest in industry technology.
China has introduced subsidies and favorable policies in research and development of new energy cars, with the aim of having 500,000 clean cars running on the streets of the nation by 2015. The ambitious targets have certainly caught the attention of major automakers.
However, capturing public attention is proving more elusive. Private buyers are wary of the high cost, limited mileage and lack of charging facilities related to green cars.
BYD Co, the battery electric carmaker, will unveil the world premier of a new plug-in hybrid named Qin. Using the second generation of its duel-mode power system, the carmaker promises more power and longer driving range.
A plug-in hybrid, the first new energy vehicle developed by the joint venture of BYD and Daimler, will also make its public debut at the show. Toyota, which hopes to extend leading position in new energy vehicles in China, brought a fleet of 16 green cars to the show, including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, accounting for a third of its exhibition models. The Auto China 2012 will be held till May 2.
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