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Qoros says ‘no’ to right-hand-drive cars

Fledging Chinese car maker Qoros won't be headed to Australia in the near future, with the company's vice chairman confirming it has no plans to produce right-hand-drive vehicles in the foreseeable future.


Qoros Auto’s Volker Steinwascher confirmed at the Geneva motor show that the brand planned to primarily focus on China initially before progressively expanding across Europe.

“[Selling cars in Australia] is not the plan,” Steinwascher began, “because we have not decided yet to do right-hand drive.

“Within the next two years we will expand first more in eastern Europe because it’s something where we are already going. Then we’ll go a little bit north and then more to the west – it will take until 2016 before we are coming into the western [European] markets.”

The 3 sedan is the only Qoros model available in the brand’s two initial markets, China and Slovakia.

The Qoros 3 hatch, which made its public debut in Geneva this week, will become the second body style offered when it launches in China around the middle of the year.

Steinwascher said the slow and steady approach was the right one for Qoros as it built its vehicle portfolio.

“I think we have to go slow, because we are a small company and we have to focus our resources because we want to do something exceptional.

“For us, to do something different … is more important than big volumes.”

While Chinese brands are often criticised for selling cars with poor safety ratings, Qoros’ first ever vehicle earned the highest rating of any car crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2013, and remains the second-highest-scoring vehicle in history graded against the organisation’s crash test criteria.

The Qoros 3 sedan and hatch also feature the brand’s Multi Media Hub infotainment system, which comprises an 8.0-inch touchscreen and QorosQloud connected services platform.

Steinwascher confirmed a crossover version of the Qoros 3 hatch would be the third new body style to join the line-up when it launches later this year, while the brand’s second all-new model, an SUV, will launch in either late 2015 or early 2016.

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