Roewe setting the pace for refined domestic cars

As foreign brands invade China's entry-level, low-priced car market, domestic automakers are moving in the other direction to build more expensive vehicles and improve their brand image.

Shanghai-based SAIC Motor's Roewe 950 is the most recent example. The car's flagship version with 3.0-liter engine has a tag price of 320,000 yuan, a new high for homegrown products.

The large, executive sedan with length of nearly 5 meters and refined interior was designed to win over entrepreneur and government customers who often buy cars made at Sino-foreign joint ventures - such as the Volkswagen Passat and Magotan, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Teana, Ford Mondeo and Skoda Superb - that have long dominated the so called B-plus market, or the high-level medium-sized segment.