The Tata Nano still hasn’t caught up with its hype and is, 2 years after its introduction, still battling problems of mass production and spontaneous combustion. Meanwhile, in China, Chery is stamping out its low cost QQ by the hundreds of thousands. The QQ is inseparable from China’s popular culture.
Now, QQ could be thinking of entering Europe through its eastern backdoor Poland. Chery Auto is planning to acquire Polish automaker Fabryka Samochodow Oso-bouch (FSO) to locally produce its QQ in Poland, says Gasgoo.
FSO is better know as the former manufacturer of Polski Fiat (1965-1991) and its partnership with Daewoo. That led to some flirtations with GM . After Daewoo went bankrupt, FSO was back on its own. Ever since, FSO went further down the drain.
Here is another company the Chinese could pick up for cheap. Coincidentally, there is another company that had (until quite recently) GM connections.
Chery has factories in Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Uruguay and Malaysia. One in Europe is missing in their collection.
I wonder if they can sell the car in Europe, because it’s an almost direct copy of Chevrolet Matiz. There will be lawsuits at least.
Bertel: is the factory in Uruguay for real? I mean, until now, I know there is EFFA motors making some Chanqua(???) cars in Uruguai, CKD. This factory has been long rumored, but AFAIK is not up and running.
Anyway, Chery has said this QQ car will come to Brazil until the end of the year. With a price of R$19,900 (a liilte ove 11K USD), complete with A/C, power stering and windows (that’s what we mean by complete in Brazil). The cheapest car in Brazil with all that equipment is the Fiat Uno Mille (old version) that goes for around 24K reais.
I don’t know if 4K reais is enpugh to make a budget minded consumer trust a well-known, trustworthy brand for something so “exotic” as a Chinese car. Does this car have airbags? The Mille and Kombi will go out of production in 2013 because then airbags will be mandatory and Fiat at least has claimed it’d be too expensive to retrofit.
What do you think. Is the QQ the first real car from China to come to Brazil?
I’m not all too familiar with the exact status of Chery abroad. All I know is that they are one of the most active Chinese carmakers when it comes to foreign activities.
Mr Schmitt… how hard/expensive is to get a license on a discontinued car?
Huh? Pls elaborate … A license?
:)
A license to produce a discontinued car.
If you are serious, I can ask Chery ….
Well, actually I didn’t have Chery in mind. But the Chinese seem to have bought most of them. There are other countries that have too.
It’s a good option for a 3rd world country.
If you mean by serious that I have cash at hand to do it, no (sadly). As general info, yes (I have other uses for that in mind). I don’t think bothering that people with a question will be productive. I will conform myself with what you know on your experience, which for now I think will suffice.
And if you can answer in my email, better.
In any case, whatever the result I highly appreciate this.
Thanks a lot.
Haima has bought the continuation rights to the Mazda Familia/Protege.
Their version is just about as good as the source material. Handles well, feels solidly built, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets at least three stars on a proper crash test.
Chery bought out the factories that stamped out parts for the Matiz… which happens to not be discontinued… just sold under the Spark nameplate.
Their version is just about as bad as the source material. Maybe a smidgeon worse. Cheap inside, handles like a skateboard on bedsprings, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it somehow surpasses the Spark’s zero star EuroNCAP rating.