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Parallel imports hoped to boost auto industry

China has decided to expand a pilot program of parallel auto imports to offer customers more choice and further open up its auto industry. Authorized whole-vehicle ports whose annual car imports top 1,000 units can apply to enjoy parallel auto import policies, according to a guideline released by the Ministry of Commerce and six other government agencies. Each provincial region should have no more than five pilot enterprises in principle, the guideline said. For parallel imports, independent auto dealers directly purchase vehicles from a foreign production base or auto dealer. Prices for parallel import cars are lower than the prices offered by authorized dealers.

Chinese electric cars to be sold in Israel

Chinese electric cars will be sold for the first time in Israel starting in the first quarter of 2020, with an Israeli dealership to offer models of GAC Motor, China's leading automaker, the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Thursday. The GAC Motor electric car models that will be sold in Israel are the Aion S and Trumpchi GE3.The Israeli importing company for GAC electric cars will be a new subsidiary of Union Group, a Toyota-Israeli car importer located in the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Later in 2020, electric car models of Chinese carmakers MG Motor, JAC Motors and Nevs are also expected to enter Israel.

BYD launches latest electric models

China's largest new energy vehicle maker BYD launched its e2 model last week in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. The compact pure electric sedan is aimed at younger customers and is equipped with the DiLink 2.0 intelligent connectivity system. The car body is 4,240 millimeters long, with a wheelbase of 2,610 mm. To make customers feel secure about the electric car, BYD uses its e-platform and the car can travel a distance of up to 405 kilometers on one charge. BYD will offer four variants of the e2 at prices ranging from 89,800-119,800 yuan ($12,608-$16,820).

S Korea's vehicle sales struggle in August

South Korea's automobile sales fell last month on weak demand both at home and abroad, industry data showed last week. The number of cars sold and made by five domestic automakers, including Hyundai, Kia, Ssangyong, GM Korea and Renault Samsung, was 639,435 in August, down 2.9 percent from a year earlier. Auto exports reduced 2.1 percent over the year to 520,956 in August, while domestic car sales shrank 6.2 percent to 118,479 in the month. Hyundai's global car sales diminished 6.2 percent over the year to 363,045 last month, including 52,897 at home and 310,148 abroad. Kia's auto sales gained 2.1 percent to 228,871 in the month, including 43,362 at home and 185,509 abroad.

Xuanyuan Award nominations underway

Nominations for the 7th Xuanyuan Award started last week in Beijing. Eligible nominations will include China-made models and imported new energy vehicles from Nov 2018 to Oct 2019. Organized by China's Auto Business Review magazine and Austria's consulting firm EFS, the annual award was established in 2013 to evaluate new cars in China from different aspects. This year's winners will be announced in December after more than three months of tests and evaluation by a 10-member jury as well as design, technology and media consultants. Jack Yu, editor-in-chief of Auto Business Review, said the award was designed to help drive China's automotive industry. Last year, it received 35 nominations, with Roewe's electric Marvel X taking home the top award.

Motoring - Agencies

(China Daily 09/09/2019 page18)