Chinese Automaker Trying for Legitimacy

Date Posted 03-08-2005

BAODING, China — Great Wall shot to international fame when Nissan sued it for copying the Japanese automaker's pickup truck.

However, the company is intent on becoming a more serious international force to be reckoned with, and it is on the way to developing new products. The company's latest offering is the Hover CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle).

The Hover CUV was originally introduced at the 2004 Beijing Auto Show as a prototype; it has just gone on sale in China. Although styling of the Hover may look a bit similar to a certain off-roader product from Great Britain(the auther must be kidding), the new vehicle is based on a Toyota pickup-derived platform and is powered by a locally built 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine.

A new plant was built next to Great Wall's existing factory, and it is hoped that by the time the company launches international exports in 2007 total capacity will be at around 400,000 vehicles.

from here

4:34 AM - Apr. 24, 2005 - post comment