China

Jaguar Land Rover today reported total retail sales of 57,114 vehicles in September 2018, down 12.3% year on year despite strong sales for new models including the Range Rover Velar and the Jaguar I-PACE and E-PACE. Sales in China declined by 46.2%, as ongoing market uncertainty resulting from import duty changes and continued trade tensions held back consumer demand.

Aston Martin, the British luxury carmaker, today revealed it would be investing in a new design and innovation partnership with The College of Design and Innovation, Tongji University in Shanghai, one of the world’s leading universities for the study of design and innovation. Aston Martin’s EVP and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman will become a visiting professor, sharing his knowledge with the students via lectures and workshops. The first project of this new partnership is a collaboration on designs for future color and trim projects.

Aston Martin, the British luxury car maker, is planning a five-year trade and investment drive in China worth over £600 million as part of its expansion in the world’s largest automotive market. The five-year plan, which follows the company’s earlier announcement of a new dealership in Wuhan, was announced by Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Palmer during a visit to China by a UK business delegation accompanying British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled the Jaguar XE Long-wheelbase (XEL), the second Jaguar vehicle to be manufactured in China, at the Guangzhou Auto Show. As part of its RMB 10.9 billion joint venture with Chery Automobile Ltd, the Jaguar XEL will be manufactured at the state-of-the-art Changshu factory. Developed solely for the Chinese market the Jaguar is the fourth vehicle to be built at the company’s joint venture, in less than three years.

Chinese-owned British brand MG has revealed a replacement for its eight-year-old rival for the Toyota Corolla, the MG 6. Sold in Australia as the MG 6 Plus in three hatchback variants priced from $21,990, the original MG 6 was part of MG’s local rebirth last year, when it also launched the MG 3 light hatch, followed this year by the GS mid-size SUV.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), Britain’s biggest carmaker, said on Thursday it is to build its new E-PACE compact sports utility vehicle in Austria and China, the first of its cars only to be manufactured outside of its home market. JLR said its three British plants were either full or at near capacity but the decision will spark fears the firm is looking to boost its output by using overseas operations, rather than invest in greater capacity at home.

Ahead of the Range Rover Velar arriving in showrooms, retail sales for Jaguar Land Rover reached 51,591 vehicles this month, up 11.0% on June 2016. Retail sales for the quarter totaled 137,463 vehicles, up 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Retail sales for June were up year-on-year in China (65.3%), the UK (3.8%), Europe (3.7%) and North America (3.2%) whilst sales in Overseas markets were down 8.5%, due to challenging conditions in emerging markets such as Brazil, the Middle East and Russia.

This just in from the BBC, AutoNews, FT, and numerous other UK news sources, British sports car maker Lotus is being bought by China’s Geely. A statement was put out by the Hangzhou-based company. There is no notice as of yet from Lotus themselves. The purchase is part of a deal by Geely to buy a 49.9% stake in Malaysian carmaker Proton, which owns Lotus. Geely, which also owns the London Taxi Company and Sweden’s Volvo Car Group, will take a 51% stake in Lotus.

The McLaren 570S GT4 was victorious on its racing debut in Asia, with McLaren customer team, The Winning Team, scoring pole position and two wins on the opening weekend of the 2017 China GT Championship. The latest GT racing model from McLaren is based on the 570S Coupé model from the Sports Series, and continues to impress in its first season of customer team racing, having now triumphed in Europe, North America and Asia.

Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading manufacturer of premium luxury vehicles today reported its best ever February retail sales of 40,978 vehicles, up 9% on February 2016, thanks to strong sales performances in China and North America. The company sold 88,671 vehicles in the first two months of 2016, 6% up on the same period in the prior year. Retail sales for the month of February were up year-on-year across many key regions: 40% in China, 16% in North America and 14% in the UK. Europe and other Overseas markets were down 2% and 7% respectively year-on-year.

The Zhejiang Geely Holding Group is reportedly bidding for a 51% stake in Malaysia’s Proton Holdings, the owner of the Proton and Lotus brands. The current owner is DRB-Hicom, one of the country’s largest automotive conglomerates, which has long been looking for a “strategic partner” for Proton Holdings. Zhejiang Geely currently owns the Geely Auto, Volvo, and the Lynk & Co. brands.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars debuts Ghost Eternal Love this evening at the Minsheng Art Museum in Beijing. Embodying the theme of love, the new Bespoke collection is exclusively designed for the China market, coupling modern design elements inspired by the white swan with remarkable Rolls-Royce craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology. Leon Li, Director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars China, explained the significance of the latest design, “The Ghost Eternal Love demonstrates to our customers the unparalleled creativity of the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Bespoke team while it meets the needs of our customers for exclusive personalisation. Embodied in this latest masterpiece is the emotional inheritance of the Rolls-Royce brand, a representation of our undying passion for creating the best cars in the world. More than this, it symbolises the Chinese New Year gift to customers from Rolls-Royce.” Ghost Eternal Love Collection The swan design, […]

In honor of its 45th anniversary, Land Rover has driven its flagship Range Rover luxury SUV across a bridge made of paper. The freestanding structure in Suzhou, China, spanned five metres without glue or bolts to hold it in place. Land Rover commissioned the unique bridge to mark the 45th anniversary of its Range Rover family and to highlight 45 years of Range Rover innovation ahead of the Guangzhou Motor Show in China. The hand-built paper bridge took three days to construct in the ancient water city of Suzhou, which is famous for its bridges and nicknamed ‘Venice of the East’. The unique crossing was made of high-quality paper supplied by specialist British manufacturer James Cropper PLC.

Aston Martin has announced it will widen its product offering for markets outside of Europe. Based on a conditional offer of an exceptional regional growth fund from the UK Government, Aston Martin will commence work this year on new models intended to broaden its customer reach in export markets such as China and the Middle East. The UK Government has committed support up to the value of £6.9 million, conditional on investments in new products from Aston Martin. Commenting on this news, Aston Martin CEO, Dr Andy Palmer said: “Expanding our product range to enable a greater reach into export markets is an essential part of our Second Century business plan. Having this support from the Government to help execute the plan is a meaningful vote of confidence in the future of the company.” Press release courtesy Aston Martin, 29 March 2015, […]

Exports of British car to China have increased fivefold since 2009, according to figures released today by a British industry body, driven by a demand for luxury brands such as Rolls-Royce and Jaguar. The number of cars manufactured in Britain and exported to China stood at 137,410 in 2014, a 14.5 percent increase on the previous year and five times the number shifted in 2009, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said in a statement. British car exports to all destinations have increased by 54 percent since 2009 to 1.2 million vehicles in 2014, and the sector represented 11.2 per cent of all British exports last year, a new record. The health of the British motor industry has not escaped the notice of Prime Minister David Cameron, who goes to the polls seeking re-election on May 7 and […]

The best New spy shot so far of the MG CS SUV, showing the side and the real all-naked for the first time. Sporty lines and a sleek profile, but tires look awfully small. Debut of the MG CS is expected for the Chengdu Auto Show in September. Price will start around 120.000 yuan and end around 160.000 yuan ($19.000 – 26.000). Production cars stays close to the MG CS Concept that debuted on the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show. Engine chat: still a confusing picture here with many conflicting reports. Early on we heard the MG CS would be available with a 135hp 1.5 turbo and a 204hp 2.0 turbo, both mated to a 6-speed DCT. Recent reports in Chinese media revealed a much larger line of engines: 1.3, 1.4 turbo (developed with GM), 1.5, and the 1.5 turbo. The […]

MG is performing well in China but it is missing an SUV, Roewe added an old Ssangyong based vehicle to its line up but the car failed to live up to expectations, the new MG SUV is expected to hit the market by the years end. MG revealed the MG CS concept at the Shanghai Auto Show this year where it was revealed the new car would have a 2.0T powerplant and a slightly redesigned face which is mostly inline with the current MG5. The new SUV will launch in late 2014, a little late to the party considering that international and domestic rivals have already launched SUV offerings. In addition to the new SUV, MG are also planning to give their other product offerings a major overhaul of the MG-Roewe line up. Later this year the MG5 1.5T will […]

The MG 3 is set to cost less than £10,000 and will be offered with “hundreds” of different styling and customisation options. The MG 3, showcased in the UK for the first time at an event at MG’s Longbridge plant in Birmingham today, will go on sale in the UK this autumn. Initially, three trim levels and 10 exterior colours – with names such as ‘Hello Yellow’ – will be offered. The top two trim levels will come as standard with equipment that includes Bluetooth connectivity, air-con and DAB digital radio. Hill-start assist will be optional. MG’s new hatchback will also launch with the ‘MG 3 Collection’ offer. It allows buyers to personalise the car’s bodywork with various patterns, decals and stripes, including large RAF roundels. The European version of the MG 3 was first seen at the Shanghai motor […]