Prospect of Beijing Auto Show: German

　　Entering April, Beijing auto show has been getting closer to us. Beijing auto show held every two years echoed by Shanghai auto show has become an annual event within one year in Chinese auto industry. This year’s Beijing auto show has special significance compared with the previous years as Chinese auto market has topped the world’s largest car market in 2009. Although the market is still in the outbreak period currently and sales are primarily in compact class segment, for foreign cars giants, the right to distribute Chinese auto market is coming. Therefore, starting from this year’s Beijing Auto Show, more JV brands will extend to all levels of market segments, accelerating their pace of product localization of all levels.

　　Citing an undisclosed source from SOHU Yumo’s blog, to begin with this article, I plan to give simple summaries of the performances of all the manufacturers at the 2010 Beijing auto show according to different types. Corrections are always welcomed.

　　Audi: from single administrative level to pattern of diversified models

　　Over the years, Audi has been trying to conquer by the China-made Audi A6. With A4, Audi started to penetrate to other market segments from the administrative and sedan area. At this year’s Beijing Auto Show, the limited version of A1, A3, and A4 wagon, A5 Sportback, new A8L as well as Q5 will be debuted. Among these models, the localization of A4, A6, and Q5 have already been formed. If the A1 and A3, which are to be localized probably in the future, added, the layout of localized models from A1, A3, A4 and A6 to Q5 will be finally finished. All these models would be powerful weapons to achieve high sales. The sales of A5, A8, Q7 and TT are all through importing channel. Audi has basically brought all its models into China to achieve balance between sales and profit.

　　Audi has been keeping hold on Chinese market better than other German brands such as BMW and Mercedes, gradually cultivating China as one of its important market. Audi expects to achieve sales of 250,000 by 2012. Chinese Mainland has directly become the world’s largest market of Audi. Taking a look at the current domestic situation, the goal is a little bit hard to reach only by the A4, A6 and Q5. Therefore, the domestic production of A1 in the future appears particularly important. If localized A1 can achieve the annual goal of 50,000, Audi’s planning will become more clear and practical.

　　Volkswagen: Shanghai Volkswagen is to be protagonist at Beijing Auto Show

　　Compared to the large number of new models of FAW- Audi are to be introduced at Beijing Auto Show this year, FAW- Volkswagen Audi seem impecunious to some extent. The new Jetta again renovated again actually is lack of attraction while Magotan with small adjustments can never cheer up visitors. Perhaps only Golf and Passat CC that have already been available in the market can arouse a little interest.

　　With Tiguan which was just available in the market, AL Gore which is about to come back, the fifth generation of POLO, electric version of Lavida and Skoda Octavia, Fabia, the performance of Shanghai Volkswagen will form a striking contrast this year against FAW-Volkswagen. Shanghai Volkswagen is to be protagonist of VW group at Beijing Auto Show this year.

　　The fifth generation of POLO was firstly unveiled at Geneva International Motor Show last year. However, it did not appear accordingly at last year’s Shanghai auto show. After debuted at this year’s Beijing auto show, the fifth generation of POLO will be available in the market this year. With its popular appearance, POLO has been always loved by ordinary household users and contributing greatly to the sales of Shanghai Volkswagen. Whether the golf-style of the fifth generation of POLO can be accepted by consumers will be tested by the market as the models are getting more and more abundant in Chinese auto market. Frankly, I will hold reservations to the future of the fifth generation of POLO.

　　Another new model of Shanghai Volkswagen, AL Gore, was one a pain for the corporation. Introduced into China, the old AL Gore was a model built for the Brazilian market. The market response fell far short of Shanghai Volkswagen’s expectations that it s production was finally stopped. As the new Sail of Shanghai GM with the same fate is coming back, Shanghai Volkswagen can not wait to launch again will AL Gore to grab the lower-level market share.

　　The new generation of Al Gore was firstly unveiled in the Brazil in 2008 and it has reached the fifth generation in the local market. Currently, the new Gore has two versions of hatchback and sedan. Body sizes of Hatchback are 3900/1660 / 1450 mm, wheelbase 2470 mm while sizes of sedan are 4230/1656/1464 mm, wheelbase 2465 mm. In Brazil, AL Gore is equipped with engines of displacement of 1.6L and 1.0L while Volkswagen only has a minimum four-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1.4L, which is adopted by POLO. Before small-displacement engines appear in the future, the price of AL Gore is hard to compete with its rivals, Chevrolet New Sail. Thus, to introduce low-emission engines together with model is the key to the success of Gore. If 1.4L and 1.6L engines with low-end configuration are used to compete with Chevrolet, then the new Al Gore will probably reach an impasse again.

　　BMW Brilliance: still struggling for extended wheelbase

　　As Chinese consumers are becoming more mature, wheelbase is no long such an important issue as in previous years. However, it seems BMW Brilliance has fallen into a predicament that to extend wheelbase is the only thing worth doing. At Beijing Auto Show, besides the new BMW 5 Series, the domestic longer versions of 5 Series are to be one of the protagonists at BMW’s exhibition stand, of which the record number has reached 3028 mm.

　　Of course, besides BMW, the BMW exhibition stand is worthy of appreciation with the appearance of the new 3 Series, the new generation of BMW X5, 2010 X6 and Z4 as well as M series models.

　　Beijing Benz: jealous of Audi Q5 or to localize GLK?

　　Yesterday there came a very interesting piece of news from SOHU AUTO that Beijing-Benz will localize GLK. This rumor is not totally unreasonable since GLK will be one of the models firstly to be unveiled worldwide at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. Obviously, the publicity of Audi Q5 really has been effective that not only attracts a large number of consumers but also makes Beijing-Benz envious.

　　At the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, the main product to be launched by Mercedes-Benz is the new E-class, including E200CGI and E260CGI as well as the above-mentioned 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK. In addition, SLS AMG and Mercedes-Benz F800 concept car which just removed its veil at the Geneva Motor Show are also about to be debuted at Beijing auto show. Personally, I think both these two models are worth appreciations.

　　Here comes the summary: at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, the models to be unveiled by German manufacturers are mainly limitedly produced versions. Beijing Auto Show is more a means of publicity German manufacturers. Volkswagen and Audi have started a full range of market configuration while the Mercedes-Benz, BMW focus on high-class cars. Although their desire to seize the market is strong, their understandings of Chinese auto market and development strategies are not clear enough. BMW Brilliance has to nothing to do but to extend wheelbase while Mercedes-Benz has paid too much attention to competitors before its existed models achieved expected sales. For Mercedes-Benz and BMW, to try not to fall behind can not form its own advantages. Only to form its own characteristics is the best means in development.

　　(Translator: yalong/Jessie)

　　See original Chinese report Please click:http://wjttts.blog.sohu.com/147385469.html