Chery and Jaguar Land Rover to jointly unveil new platform in 2016

Chery and Jaguar Land Rover's proposed joint venture is set to see results as soon as 2016, when the joint venture is scheduled to unveil its new automobile platform, Economic Observer News reported today.

Although the proposed cooperation between Chery and Alfa Romeo three years ago did not come to fruition, the Chinese manufacturer is not deterred in its quest to find a European partner. News of the upcoming automobile platform implies that the Chery-Jaguar Land Rover joint venture is going smoothly.

There have been several reports that the JV would create a brand new business model, with all intellectual rights to the model belonging to the Chery name. FAW, SAIC, Dongfeng and GAC have all attempted similar business models in the past, with varying degrees of success. This is something which both parties have refused to comment on.

"Chery specifically needs experience with making luxury vehicles," an analyst (who wished to remain unnamed) who spent several years following the manufacturer's progress said. He added that without anything new to show, the venture will have a hard time gaining the National Development and Reform Commission's approval.

Source: Gasgoo - Global Auto Sources

JLR may develop Jaguar-based car with Chery logo

Jaguar Land Rover Plc (JLR) has agreed in principle with China's Chery Automobile to develop a luxury car based on its Jaguar models that may carry a Chery or a new marque in order to win Chinese government approval for a manufacturing venture, a Chinese newspaper reported on Wednesday.



Britain-based JLR, a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors Ltd, had previously explored cooperations with Chinese partners, including Great Wall Motor Co Ltd , but made little headway.

"The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) made it very clear that in order to get approval for the project to go ahead, the two sides must have substantial cooperation, not just adding new capacity," the 21st Century Business Herold said, citing an unnamed source.

The NDRC has the power to approve or block major foreign joint venture projects.

A proposed tie-up between Chery and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd to make Subaru vehicles in China hit regulatory snags because the deal was ruled to lack substance, according to the source.

The newspaper said a car co-developed by JLR and Chery would carry either a Chery logo or a joint venture logo and the two sides might also collaborate on green vehicles.

Chery and JLR executives could not immediately be reached for comment.

Source: Reuters

Jaguar Land Rover China: New brand and new models

Jaguar Land rover China - New Models and new Brands with Chery JV in China

Reports from China reconfirm our reported JV between Jaguar Land Rover and Chery and say JLR are planning new models for China and a new brand.

It’s been clear for some time that Jaguar Land Rover are eager to cement a joint venture (JV) with a Chinese car maker so they can have a beachhead in to China’s rapidly growing car market. And that JLR JV seems almost certain to be with Chery.

Part of the deal for Western car companies seeking to do business in China is not just a partnership with a Chinese company, but a sharing of technology and a range of cars badged up with the Chinese partner company’s brand. So with a deal with Chery likely to be given government approval in China soon, speculation turns to what exactly all this means for JLR.

Reports in China now say that a new brand will be created to push a range of Jaguar Land Rovers produced by Chery (we’ll refrain from the obvious Rand Lover – well, maybe not) and that there will be models specifically for the Chinese market. But what will they be?

It probably depends on whether the new models aimed just at China are badged with the new brand or the Jaguar or Land Rover monikers, but there seems to be a few obvious choices.

In one way Jaguar are already producing a China-only Jaguar in the XF. Jaguar dropped their old V6 petrol in to XFs bound for China when it stopped being EU compliant (and it’s just under 3.0 litres – an important import tax point for China), but any China specific JLR car is likely to be more than just an engine.



Probably the most likely candidates are stretched versions of the Freelander 2 and the Jaguar XF. There were plans for a long time to stretch the Freelander 2 (which, certainly in the West, have probably been supplanted by plans to make a stretched ‘Grand Evoque’) but they never happened. So perhaps that’s a good starting point for China with plenty of the work already done.

For Jaguar, a stretched XF to give the Chinese more room is probably a no-brainer. BMW already do a stretched 5 Series for the Chinese market, so pitching a LWB XF in to the mix is probably a given.

Beyond that, it’s anyone’s guess. But with the size and importance of the Chinese car market it’s clear JLR will be doing whatever it takes to make their mark.

Source: China Car Times

Chery QQ found Testing in India, Possibly working with Tata Motors

Can an alliance across the Himalayas possibly bare fruit? Chery are reportedly working to align themselves with Tata, India’s biggest auto maker, in a bid to take on another potential 1 billion customers in a rapidly growing market. Pictures of a Chery QQ testing on Indian roads have lead to the rumor mill going in to over drive in the Chinese media. Of course with Tata’s ownership of Jaguar and Land Rover, which are currently negotiating a joint venture with Chery for Chinese production, Tata maybe inviting Chery to India for assistance in the Indian market.

From an outsiders point of view, the Indian auto market has yet to take off, with sales still being relatively low and with few domestic manufacturers, on the other hand the Chinese auto market is jam packed with manufacturers and sales figures that are retreating from all time high sales growth figures. So could Chinese manufacturers take on India? there is a good chance for them, despite the naysayers that say Indian consumers will never buy a Chinese car, but lets not forget the common man is hardly interested in state politics or history, he wants to trade his motorbike in for a car.

Chinese media are also speculating that Tata maybe looking for just a bit more than localized production for the Land Rover Freelander in China, some media are guessing that LR maybe shopping for diesel engines as well – of course Chery have already developed a series of diesel engines for their potential push in to the European market, so who knows if JLR’s will be carrying Chery engines in the future.

Source: China Car Times