Latest news with #Chery
CNA
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- CNA
China urges halt to auto industry's bruising price wars
SHANGHAI: China called on Saturday (May 31) for its automotive industry to halt brutal price wars, as a threat to the sector's health and sustainable development, after key executives jousted over pricing pressure following large discounts offered to buyers. Tension between some top players in the world's largest auto market has spilt into the open as competition intensifies, with price wars begun in early 2023 showing little sign of abating, despite concern among both government and industry. The industry ministry vowed to step up efforts to correct what it called excessive competition, the official news agency Xinhua said on Saturday. "There are no winners in a 'price war', let alone a future," the agency cited an unidentified ministry official as saying. The comments came after fresh incentives were offered last week on more than 20 models by electric vehicle giant BYD. This prompted several rivals, such as Geely and Chery, to follow suit. The ministry's comments echo a similar call on Saturday by the China Association of Auto Manufacturers (CAAM) for a truce in the price wars, saying they affect profitability and efficiency. It added that a new round of price war "panic" was touched off in China after substantial discounts were offered on May 23 by an automaker it did not identify. It proposed remedies such as auto companies sticking to the principle of fair competition and larger players refraining from market monopolies. "Apart from reducing the price of goods according to law, enterprises shall not dump goods at prices below cost," it added.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Nissan's struggles open door for Chinese carmakers in SA
Chery SA CEO Tony Liu said the Chinese automaker is exploring all available avenues to establish its first production facility in the country. Liu was responding to a question from TimesLIVE Motoring about whether an established plant, such as the Nissan Rosslyn operation whose future is under doubt, might be of interest. News agency Reuters reported in May that Japanese manufacturer Nissan was considering global plant closures, potentially including shutting the doors of its Tshwane facility. 'SA boasts a proud legacy of local vehicle manufacturing, and Chery is committed to strengthening the industry for generations to come. This would also allow us to enhance our contribution to local communities,' he said. According to Liu, the brand's outlook features two potential pathways: partnering with an existing manufacturer to 'help address current production gaps' or set up its own, dedicated manufacturing plant, realising the 'full production capabilities' of Chery. The CEO said the manufacturer's customer base, which grew to 55,000 over the three years since market re-entry, represents critical mass that has justified a feasibility study to assess how local manufacturing could support its long-term volume aspirations. 'Beyond market size, SA being the largest new car market in Sub-Saharan Africa, Chery recognises SA's role as a gateway into Africa through initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.' Liu said local manufacturing would also enable contribution to the domestic supply chain, with commitment to broad-based black Economic empowerment requirements. Meanwhile, Nissan SA representatives have countered the notion that the Rosslyn plant is on borrowed time. 'Nissan wants to clarify the news is not based on any official information of the company,' said head of communications Ramy Mohareb. 'At this stage we are not able to inform you which plants will be affected. Our focus remains on our operations and the dedicated workforce that drives our success,' he told TimesLIVE Motoring. The Rosslyn plant employs 1,080 people and has been operational since 1966. Mohareb was unable to comment on the facility's output, or elaborate on plans to sustain its business and protect local jobs and retailers. In 2024 the brand's top-selling NP200 half-tonne bakkie, produced at Rosslyn, was discontinued. The plant only produces the one-tonne Navara. A well-placed industry insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed the view that Nissan SA, in its present guise, would struggle to find longevity. 'The key to being a successful manufacturer in SA is sufficient export volume, which Nissan never had. The best-selling SA cars and light commercial vehicles only manage about 25,000 units per year, insufficient for competitive manufacturing. This needs to be complemented with a proper export programme to reach a viable volume,' the source said. 'Toyota, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Ford have the programmes but Nissan, with a few thousand Navara exports into Africa, aren't close. Getting there is a parent company decision. The SA factory needs to be part of the global supply chain, not a local market factory with a handful of exports to small regional markets.' According to the insider, the peak of Nissan SA's sales dates as far back as the period of 1976 to 1978 when it was the leading manufacturer in SA. 'Its most successful models included the original Datsun 1200s and the B120/140 bakkie, the original Datsun 1600s and the Skylines. The first Maxima and Primera were great cars but not quite the sellers they should have been. On the bakkie side, the Hardbody took the fight to the Hilux, but this faded as the last Hardbody's life was extended, ultimately a life of more than 20 years.' 'In my view, Nissan's product offering didn't keep up with the changing demands of the SA buyer. As the market evolved, moving from sedans to SUVs and crossovers, Nissan's range reduced significantly and the individual products were less competitive within their respective segments.' Mikel Mabasa, CEO of Naamsa, the national automotive business council, said the organisation was waiting for Nissan SA to provide an outline of its local plans. He said Naamsa was concerned by media reports casting doubt over the brand's future in SA. 'Any [possible] closure is not something we take lightly. We have a lot of people employed through such plants, not only those on the production line, but the value chain, including those who support the plant with components. If Nissan decides to discontinue operations, we will activate discussions with them directly, understanding their position and identifying how we can support the future of the facility,' Mabasa said. 'Naamsa will be at the forefront in working with partners to see what can be done to safeguard the plant for future operations,' he said, referencing the 2017 disinvestment of General Motors, where similar conversations were had. 'Isuzu was able to raise their hand and the Gqeberha plant was saved.' Separately, Mabasa confirmed Naamsa had been in discussions with brands who are importers, eyeing SA as a destination for manufacturing operations. He said Naamsa welcomed intentions for new operations by brands, whether it involves repurposing existing plants or establishing a greenfield investment from the ground up. Spokesperson for the department of trade, industry and competition, Bongani Lukhele, said Nissan had not provided formal communications on the issue, and the department was therefore not in a position to respond to queries.
The Independent
a day ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Meet the AI robot that could sell you a car one day
Chery, the owner of Omoda and Jaecoo, has unveiled 'Mornine,' an AI -powered robotic sales assistant, at the Shanghai Motor Show. Mornine can greet customers, provide vehicle information, and serve refreshments, utilizing machine learning to improve its performance based on customer interactions. Currently being trialled in showrooms in Malaysia, Chery plans to potentially roll out Mornine worldwide for dealer-level administration and service. The robot uses speech and vision inputs to interpret commands and has automotive-grade hardware that allows it to walk upright and grip items. Chery also showcased 'Argos,' an AI-powered robotic dog designed to offer companionship for those unable to keep real pets, and suggests Mornine could eventually be used in people's homes.
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Upturn
Alliance of Four Major Qatari Companies Signs Strategic Agreement with Chinese Automotive Giant Chery
Doha, Qatar: A powerful alliance of four leading Qatari companies has signed a strategic agreement with Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., one of China's largest and most innovative automotive manufacturers, to expand Chery's presence in the global automotive market through a new Qatari-led platform. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: Alliance of Four Major Qatari Companies Signs Strategic Agreement with Chinese Automotive Giant Chery (Photo: AETOSWire) The alliance includes: Power International Holding Dishley Holding Elite Motors Limited Elaf Motors Chery Automobile was represented at the signing by Mr. Tim Zhang, General Manager – Middle East. The agreement was signed in the presence of senior leadership from both sides. Mr. Mohamad Al Khayyat, representative of the Qatari alliance, stated: 'This alliance represents one of the most important partnerships in the regional automotive sector. Through our collaboration with Chery, we are establishing an advanced business model built on effective partnership.' Mr. Tim Zhang, Chery Automobile General Manager – Middle East, commented: 'We are proud to join forces with this strong Qatari alliance. This agreement is not only a gateway to a promising market but also a platform to drive innovation and deliver high-quality mobility solutions to the region. We see Qatar as an ideal partner for Chery's next phase of global growth.' Mr. Abdulghani Abdullah Abdulghani, Elite Motors, added: 'We see this partnership as a strategic opportunity to create real impact in the automotive sector. By uniting local expertise with a global brand like Chery, Mr. Isam El Bashier, Elaf Auto Managing Director, affirmed: 'This agreement marks a pivotal step for our alliance and the region's automotive future. By partnering with Chery, we are combining global innovation with local strength to deliver a new standard of mobility. This collaboration sets the stage for long-term impact, industry transformation, and sustained excellence.' The Qatari alliance representatives emphasized that the agreement serves as a launchpad for a strategic venture poised to reshape the automotive industry in the region. For more information, please visit: *Distributed by: AETOSWire View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Gulf Today
British car showrooms may feature AI-powered robots as salesmen soon
Robots powered by AI could soon be selling cars to customers in the UK as a global car manufacturer debuts an unusual new member of staff. Omoda and Jaecoo owner Chery has showed off robotic sales assistant 'Mornine' at the Shangai Motor Show on 23 April. It can greet customers, show them around a car, and even make them a tea or coffee. The AI robot uses machine learning to improve its performance, learning from interactions with customers. It has been trialled in showrooms in Malaysia and could soon be rolled out worldwide, a spokesperson for Chery said. The car maker added that Mornine has capabilities including perception, cognition, decision making and task execution and explained the 'ideal use case' was for 'dealer-level admin and service.' The car brand's robotics experts said Mornine uses speech and vision inputs that allow it to 'accurately interpret commands including physical gestures'. Ian Wallace, spokesperson for Chery's Omoda and Jaecoo brands in the UK, said Mornine could even be offered for use in people's homes in the future if showroom trials go well. He said: 'Mornine is an intelligent showroom aid. She can show customers around a vehicle, she can answer questions and she can make teas and coffees, so in a busy showroom environment, if staff are tied up, she's there to be a helpful face of the brand. 'She has learning capabilities so she can react to commands and learn your voice so if you were to use her in a household environment she would start to learn what you like and don't like.' Chery said the robot uses 'automotive-grade hardware' to allow it to walk upright and it has 'dexterous hands' to allow it to grip items. It can also distinguish between voices to identify different customers. The car maker also showcased a robotic dog called 'Argos' at the Shanghai show. They say the AI-powered animal is designed to offer companionship to those who are unable to keep real pets at home. The Independent
