China’s Beijing Auto to assist Koenigsegg with SAAB purchase

As we reported last week Koenigsegg will not seek additional Swedish government funding in its purchase of SAAB from General Motors, however, according to a report published by Reuters Newsagency today, China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Company will take a minority stake in Koenigsegg to further assist the group with its purchase.

It’s the second such [...]

Toyota recalls 688,000 cars in China

Toyota Motor Corporation will recall 688,314 cars made at its two China joint ventures starting Tuesday to fix a faulty window-control switch, which is the carmaker’s largest recall in China.

Reuters Newsagency quotes analysts as saying the recall will not have any long-term impact on the Japanese company’s growth prospect in China as the defect is [...]

Great Wall Motors to expand range

Australia’s first Chinese automotive importer, Great Wall Motors, certainly seem s to be building a sales foundation, and has announced plans to add three more vehicles to its range.

Two Great Wall twin cab utilities were launched onto the Australian and New Zealand markets in late June by local importer Ateco Automotive, and since then they [...]

No GM buy back of Opel; German minister

Germany’s economics minister has ruled out any attempt by General Motors to include an option to buy back majority control of GM Europe, which produces Opel and Vauxhall vehicles, as part of a deal to give up more than 50 per cent of its German subsidiary in exchange for state aid.

“This is incompatible with our [...]

Holden set for massive boost to China engine exports

It would seem that the Holden Engine Operations plant in Port Melbourne is set to become a lot busier with news that its exports to China could quadruple over the next four years and then stay at that level.

By David Twomey
Australia’s Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, has revealed in a [...]

Hummer going Chinese before October

Get used to this name: “Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery” (STHIM), the new owner of GM’s once popular Hummer brand has announced that it aims to finalise the deal before October.

STHIM General Manager Yang Yi said in an interview with the Us industry publication Autonews that his company has no intentions of transferring Hummer equipment [...]

China bans Renault cars – cites safety issues

China’s quality inspection agency has halted the import of several models made by French carmaker Renault, citing what it called “serious safety risks” and failure to meet technical standards.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said on its website (www.aqsia.gov.cn) the ban covered Renault’s Laguna, Scenic, Megane and Megane Coupe-Cabriolet.

Hummer deal threatened by Chinese Govt

The Chinese heavy machinery maker that agreed to buy General Motors’ Hummer brand may find the biggest stumbling blocks to the deal in its home country.

Following last week’s surprise announcement that Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery and GM had reached an agreement, analysts and Chinese media were buzzing with talk that the two companies might [...]

GM to sell Hummer to Chinese company

General Motors Corporation has revealed it has reached a tentative deal to sell its Hummer brand to a privately held Chinese company, part of an effort to drop four unprofitable vehicle lines and leave bankruptcy as a leaner company.

GM, a day after filing for bankruptcy, said in a statement that it reached a memorandum of [...]

GM Holden not for sale – spokesman

GM Holden is not for sale nor is any sale being entertained, Holden spokesman, Scott Whiffin, told CarAdvice today.

Responding to “highly speculative” claims by one media outlet that GM Holden would “probably” be sold to Chinese interests, Mr Whiffin said this was definitely not the case.