Chery aims at city's cab upgrade move
16/5/2005 16:35
Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news
Betting on
Shanghai's latest taxi upgrade, Anhui-based automobile manufacturer Chery
Automobile Co Ltd is hoping to enter the city's cab market, today's Oriental
Morning Post reported.
It is speculated that Shanghai will have 3,000 cargo
taxis added to passenger service this year.If so, there should be an additional
demand for 3,000 new passenger cars. The situation has attracted the attention
of automakers from across the country.
Chery hopes to provide 10 percent
(300) of the new cars. So far, "some tens of" Chery Oriental Son cars are
operatiing as cabs on city roads, according to Chery Auto's largest dealer in
Shanghai, Lianhai Huxi Chery Auto Sales Co Ltd.
Lianhai said Chery Auto has
made more than 60 design changes for the 2005 edition of its Oriental Son sedan,
making it more suitable for the cab business. The price is 99,800 yuan
(US$12,068).
Currently, most of Shanghai's 40,000 taxis are Shanghai
Volkswagen Automobile Co Ltd's Santana 2000 sedans, which cost around 150,000
yuan.
Analysts are optimistic about Chery's Oriental Son, noting that its
price is more acceptable to the price-sensitive cargo cab owners, most of whom
are private operators.
One of other automakers that is showing interest in
this cab upgrade is Dongfeng Yueda Kia Auto Co Ltd. It reportedly aims to
provide more than 500 of the 3,000 cabs.
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