JMC may prepare to make Subaru Forester

　　After hard work in the field of light commercial vehicles reached more than ten years, Jiangling Motors (JMC) began entering into field of passenger cars this year with a great ambition. It is reported that JMC is promoting its own new project quietly—that is, volume production of a new urban SUV models whose internal code name is N350. (Chinese name is JMC Yusheng)

　　Jiangling Motors recently announced that it planned to invest 2.133 billion yuan in building a new plant project in area of Xiaolan Factory. It is reported that designed production capacity of the new plant after put into operation can be 300,000 / year, which proves its ambition to enter the passenger car market.

　　Reporters knew that the existing entire vehicle annual capacity of JMC is 160,000 units. Additionally, according to the latest official sales statistics released by JMC, total sale of JMC in the first half of this year was 88,363 units, up more than 60% compared with total sale of only 53,327 units last year.

　　According to other media information disclosed by the relevant head of JMC, Subaru, a unit of Japan's Fuji Heavy Industries, was negotiating probability about cooperation with the JMC. It is reported that Subaru think highly of professional car manufacturing experience accumulated in recent years of JMC and advantages of the local automotive industry cluster (especially spare parts suppliers).

　　"If both sides reach agreement, it is likely that Forester, the most popular SUV model of Subaru in China currently will be put into operation at Jiangling", said analysts. Nowadays JMC boldly conducted layout and reserved capacity, as well as entering passenger car market with starting the project of Yusheng, so we can’t rule out these moves of JMC intend to be well prepared for follow-up joint venture with foreign auto enterprises such as Subaru. (Translator: Qinghua Wade)

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　　http://auto.sohu.com/20100714/n273489639.shtml