Oh China…Yema Auto Presents Clones of the Audi A4, VW Tiguan and Infiniti EX

Not too long ago, in a country far, far away, Yema Auto presented a clone of the previous generation Subaru Forester. The years passed and the force behind Yema Auto became stronger and stronger…

At this week's Chengdu Auto Show 2011, the Chinese automaker unleashed a second attack with a new breed of clones named the E-SUV, T-SUV and the F16.

In all cases, the pictures speak louder than words and it doesn't take an avid automobile aficionado to see that the T-SUV is a blatant rip-off of the Volkswagen Tiguan, the E-SUV China's doppelganger of the Infiniti EX crossover and the F16 and its commercial E-TAXI sibling, copies of the older Audi A4 Avant.

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The Manchurian Candidate: Jeep capitalizes on Fiat’s Chinese Operations, Wants to Build SUVs locally

Now that Sergio Marchionne has consolidated Fiat-Chrysler management into a smaller, leaner unified team, its members are working full force to maximize the group’s capabilities.

Jeep CEO Mike Manley travelled to China last Wednesday to negotiate the local production of Jeep models with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd., which already has a joint venture with Fiat.

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VW Wants Number One Spot, Will Invest US$86 Billion to Achieve its Goal

Volkswagen’s Supervisory Board has approved a cash influx of €62.4 billion (US$86 billion) into its automotive division over the course of five years. The investment is necessary if VW’s plan to overtake GM and Toyota and become the world’s number one car manufacturer is to succeed. Read more »

Phoenix Sun: Saab Announces €70 million Technology Agreement

Like Phoenix, the mythological bird that burns down only to rise afresh from its ashes, Saab has been given a stay of execution.

That's because today, Saab Automobile AB announced the signing of a technology license agreement with the Swedish Automobile Coöperatief U.A. (SPV) for the non-exclusive rights in Saab’s (appropriately named, as it turns out) Phoenix architecture technology.

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China May Reject Toyota-Fuji Heavy Industries Joint Venture with Chery, Say it is “One too Many”

China looks set to reject the proposal for a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries, in which Toyota holds a 16.5% stake, and the country’s seventh largest carmaker, Chery Automobile Co.

According to state sources cited by Bloomberg news, the reason is that this would give Toyota a third joint venture in the country. This violates current regulations stipulating that any overseas company can form only two joint ventures in the passenger car manufacturing field.

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Video: Caution, Dangerously Slippery When Wet…

Two separate, but equally frightening accidents that involved two large trucks and which took place on a highway in China's Hebei Province, were captured on a surveillance camera.

The footage shows the first lorry driver losing control of the vehicle and sliding left and right, followed shortly after by a second truck, this time a tanker that smashed into the median before coming to a halt.

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Swedish Court Rejects Saab's Reorganization Plan, is this the End?

The (digital) ink on our story about Saab North America's hopes and dreams had barely dried when news came in that a Swedish court denied Saab Automobile's voluntary reorganization application that would have protected the company from its creditors, which include the labor unions and parts suppliers.

Saab was trying to win some time and complete a deal with Chinese investors. However, the Vänersborg district court ruled that it could not see how the Swedish automaker could secure additional funding to continue its operations.

“It appears unclear if –and if so, when- the relevant Chinese authorities will approve the agreements”, the court said.

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China Wants Car Manufactures to Shift Away from Volume and Focus on Eco-Friendliness

China has strived long and hard to become the world’s number one car market. And it achieved it in late 2009, holding that title until today. Only last year, 18 million vehicles were sold in China while some executives, like Ford’s strategy director for the Asia/Pacific region, Will Periam, expect it to reach 32 million units in the next nine years.

And it’s only natural for automakers to make the country their number one priority. Not just mass manufacturers, which already have local factories, but also luxury brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce that try to outdo each other by unveiling China-only special editions.

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Saab Seeks Court Protection from Creditors, Formulates Reorganization Plan

The way events were unfolding these past few weeks, and from the moment its CEO admitted reorganization was an option, it was inevitable: Saab Automotive NV, which includes Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tolls AB, filed for voluntary reorganization today at the District Court of Vanersborg in Sweden.

Saab’s goal is to secure protection from its creditors while it submits a viable reorganization plan until the Pang Da and Youngman deal, which has been signed off since July, is approved by the Chinese authorities and cash flow is restored. The initial period of court protection will be three months and, if required, can be extended for up to twelve months.

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Ford Plans to double its Chinese Market Presence in all Segments

Since November 2009, China is the world’s top car market, surpassing the US. So it’s only natural for automakers to pay their utmost attention. Among others, BMW previewed the new M5, Peugeot the 508, Nissan the new Tiida and Audi the Q3 at the Shangai Motor Show . The most recent example is Ford, which is planning to more than double its model line-up in the Chinese market according to a senior company executive. Read more »

In Car Video Footage of a Very Bizarre Incident

It’s a crazy, crazy world we live in. Don't believe us? Just take a look at this incident that took place somewhere in Asia, possibly in China if Google Translation did its work (visit the comment section to correct us if we're wrong).

While we can't be certain of the details surrounding this bizarre episode since the description on Youtube doesn’t make much sense after we translate it into English, through the dash-mounted camera we see someone who is driving a small green Toyota being chased by two men, one holding a baseball bat.

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Buick Launces eAssist Version of LaCrosse in China

The LaCrosse, Buick’s mid-size sedan offering, is doing quite well in China with 215,000 deliveries in the first seven months of the year alone. Now General Motors is adding the eAssist mild-hybrid version to the LaCrosse's Chinese line-up and is taking orders in 25 pilot cities, with the first cars scheduled for delivery in September. Read more »

China's BYD Sees Profits Plunge 89% in the First Half of 2011

With a billionaire like Warren Buffett backing you up and forming a partnership with none other than Daimler AG is supposedly a recipe for success. Yet Chinese automaker BYD reported a 89% drop in profits in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2010.

BYD’s sales in the first six months of 2011 were down 23.4%, to 220,131 units. Deliveries of the core models of its range, such as the F0 city car, the F3 compact and the F6 mid-sized sedan plunged right after the governments incentives for new car buyers stopped at the end of last year.

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GM’s EN-V to Replace Cars in Tianjin, China’s Futuristic Eco-City

At the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, General Motors (GM) unveiled a trio of two-wheeled neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) collectively named EN-V to the world.

Unlike the brand’s mainstream models, these concepts were lightweight and compact EVs for an as-of-yet unrealised city of the future. With a host of telematics and cameras to avoid other EN-Vs, pedestrians and other obstacles on the road coupled with a highly accurate GPS system, these concepts were theoretically accident-proof and self-driving.

Now a consortium from China and Singapore are drawing up plans for Tianjin Eco-City: a large-scale prototype for the sort of sustainable, high-density communities we’re expected to see in the coming decades.

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Rolls-Royce Celebrates Upcoming “Year of the Dragon” with Bespoke Collection

Google “Year of the Dragon” and chances are you ‘ll come up with either the Chinese calendar that starts on January 23, 2012, or the Michael Cimino directed and Oliver Stone scripted 1985 film starring Mickey Rourke.

Now the world’s most popular search engine will also display a new collection created by Rolls-Royce's recently expanded Bespoke Department.

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Caterham Cars enters chinese market

Caterham’s legendary Seven will be sold in China for the first time after Caterham Cars signed an exclusive deal with new importer, Courtenay Trading International (CTI). CTI is looking to appoint six retailers in key provinces of China over the next year and is targeting initial sales of between 30 and 50 Sevens in its first year of operation.

All of Caterham’s current EU5-compliant cars will be sold – Roadsport 120, Superlight 120, Roadsport 175, Superlight R300 and CSR 175 – with the first Sevens scheduled to arrive in China in January 2012. Although Caterham has had a long-standing presence in the Far East, notably in Japan, this will be the first time the iconic Seven has been sold in China and represents Caterham’s continuing expansion into new growth markets.



Caterham Cars’ International Business Manager, David Ridley, said: “We are engaged in one of the most exciting new chapters in the Caterham Cars story and our entry into the Chinese market is another tangible sign of how Caterham is striving to become a truly global brand.”

The relationship with CTI could also offer Caterham a platform from which to launch new models such as its stunning sports prototype launched in January this year, the Caterham-Lola SP/300.R.

Caterham will also seek to further expand internationally the successful motorsport ‘ladder’ model that has made the Seven one of the most raced cars in Europe.

Alongside its new partnership and as a sponsor of the Team Lotus Formula One team, Caterham’s global motorsport outreach will mirror that of F1, which continues to break new ground in emerging Asian markets, with Singapore and Korea recently joining China and Japan on the F1 calendar.

| Caterham

Lamborghini opens new dealership in Macau

Italian supersports car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini has opened Lamborghini Macau expanding the Lamborghini network to 15 dealerships in mainland China.

Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., said: “The opening of a Macau location is an important part of our representation in China, and reflects the potent growth opportunity in the region.“

The dealership in Macau is the latest development in Automobili Lamborghini’s strategy for growing its robust worldwide network, and reflects the significance of the brand in China.


Located in central Macau, the new Lamborghini showroom incorporates the Lamborghini brand concept. The dealership is operated by Kam Bo Motors Limited, selected by Lamborghini as its commercial partner within the important Macau market for its expertise in the luxury car sector.

Lamborghini sold in China 206 cars in 2010, with a growth of 150% over 2009. Deliveries in the first half of 2011 were up to 138 units, more than 60% growth versus 2010. Sales are expected to grow further by the end of this year, also thanks to the first deliveries of the over 200 ordered Aventadors LP700-4.

Lamborghini has also celebrated ten years in Singapore with a celebration party, organised by Lamborghini Singapore. The exclusive event included the official unveiling of the new V12 flagship model, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, and a charity auction raising nearly $200,000. A guest of honor, Automobili Lamborghini’s President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann paid tribute to the Singapore dealership’s significant achievements under managing director Melvin Goh.

Singapore, one of Automobili Lamborghini’s top performing dealers, has an astounding year-and-half of orders for the new Aventador LP 700-4. With the highest number of deliveries per capita, Singapore has become among Lamborghini’s most significant markets.

| Lamborghini