Domestic automakers are hoping to steal the limelight at next week's auto show by launching a large number of new models.

 

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. embarked on a multi-brand strategy earlier this year. The company will use the show to unveil as many as 22 new cars, mostly under three newly launched brands.

 

New models on show will include eight models under Geely's Gleagle [Global Eagle] brand, eight models under the Emgrand [Dihao] brand, three models under the Shanghai Englon brand, a Formula One concept car and two vehicles to demonstrate technical systems.

 

The products will span the entire range of light passenger vehicles, from pickups, vans and SUVs, to hatchbacks and a limousine dubbed as the Chinese Rolls-Royce.

 

Geely has not indicated which of these vehicles will be production models and which are still concepts.

 

The company says it will not display any models now under production at the show.

 

Another major domestic Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. has similar plans.

 

Chery also adopted a multi-brand strategy this year, and says it will display 32 products under four badges at the show.

 

The four brands are: "Karry" for mini cars, "Chery" for general class passenger vehicles, "Riich" for luxury class sedans and "Rely" for business-use MPVs.

 

Chery says new models will be on show under each of its four badges. Four new energy cars, including both pure electric cars and hybrids, will also be on display.

 

Dongfeng Motor Corp., a state-owned commercial vehicle maker, will debut its first own-brand sedan at the auto show. The new model, under the brand of "Fengshen" in Chinese or "Aeolus" in English, will be a compact sedan.

 

Other domestic automakers including Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co., Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and Great Wall Motor Co. will also debut new models at the show.

 

While some of the new models will have original styling, many will be lookalikes of best-selling products from global automakers.

 

FAW Haima Automobile Co. will debut at least two new models at the auto show, including an SUV with product code of "S3" and a sub-compact hatch back called "M2".

 

According to covertly taken photos of the cars published by Chinese media, the S3 is a lookalike of Mazda Tribute while the M2 looks very much like the Mazda 2.

 

BYD Auto Co. will also debut two new models at the show, including one called the M6, an MPV with styling very similar to the Toyota Previa, and the F5, a lookalike of the new Toyota Corolla.

 

In contrast to the enthusiasm evident in Chinese launches, downturn-stricken global automakers will mainly be showing redesigned models at the show.

 

Only 2 BMW cars, one Audi and one Porsche will make their global debuts at the Shanghai auto show. Meanwhile, the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), which is GM's automotive engineering and design joint venture with SAIC in Shanghai, will launch a concept sedan under the Buick brand.