Chery Automobile, the Chinese carmaker set to team with US
counterpart Chrysler to assemble vehicles in China, expects its
2007 sales to grow by 29 percent over last year.
The company, owned by the government of Wuhu in Anhui Province,
plans to sell 393,000 cars this year, up from 305,000 units in
2006, Chery Chairman Yin Tongyao said.
"This is our minimum goal. We will preserve our position as one
of the top-four carmakers in China this year," Yin said.
Its 2006 sales ranked Chery as the No 4 carmaker in China,
following General Motors' joint venture in Shanghai and
Volkswagen's two facilities, one in Shanghai, and another in Jilin
Province.
Even if realized, Chery's projected sales growth this year would
be down sharply from the more than 60 percent growth it registered
in 2006.
Yin explained that slowing growth is due to the firm's
insufficient production capacity.
Chery now has an annual production capacity of 400,000 cars. It
is building a new 300,000-unit plant that will be operational next
year.
Yin said Chery also aims to export 70,000 cars this year, up
from 50,000 in 2006, ensuring the company would retain its top spot
as the leading Chinese carmaker in overseas shipments.
Chery's sales chief Li Feng said the company plans to roll out
seven new models this year, ranging in size from micro, subcompact,
compact and mid-sized models to mini multi-purpose vehicles, mini
vans and sporty cars.
The company's sales growth this year will mainly come from these
new vehicles, Li said.
Chrysler said earlier it has agreed with Chery to build its cars
in China for the North American and European markets.
(China Daily January 18, 2007)