• China's cheap car strategy for the U.S

    2018-07-27
    SHANGHAI -- How much will a Chinese brand need to discount its cars to succeed in America?Wu Song, general manager of aspiring U.S. entrant Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Co., says he has that magic number: His cars will have to be priced 30 percent cheaper than rivals in the same segment.If everything goes his way, Wu will be testing his bargain...
  • Lifan, Ricardo to develop 3-cylinder turbo engine

    2018-07-27
    Ricardo PLC has signed an agreement with Chongqing Lifan Automobile Engine Co. to develop a 1.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection engine for small vehicles.Ricardo engineers in Shanghai and the United Kingdom will work on the project, the company said, and the engine will help Lifan meet China's Stage 4 fuel economy requirements.Ricardo and Lifan...
  • Automakers stay in Russia despite risk of high losses

    2018-07-27
    MOSCOW (Bloomberg) -- Automakers such as Volkswagen Group, Renault and Ford Motor continue to compete for market share in Russia, even as auto demand tumbles, putting them at risk of selling each vehicle at a loss.With price increases failing to match the ruble’s decline, foreign automakers can lose as much as $2,000 on each vehicle sold, accordin...
  • The rise of a strong dealer association bodes well for China's auto industry

    2018-07-27
    SHANGHAI -- Where there is oppression, there is rebellion, as a Chinese saying goes.Several global luxury brands late last year dumped vehicles on their dealerships to achieve ambitious annual sales targets.The move triggered a revolt among dealers. It also produced something much needed in China's auto industry -- an industry association that acti...