Guangzhou Auto to launch own-brand sedan, report says
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. will start selling its first own-brand mid-sized sedan on September 28, reports Netease, a major Internet portal based in the south China city of Guangzhou.
It will be sold under the company's Triumpche brand and will compete with vehicles like the Roewe 750 sedan of Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. and the Bestern 70 sedan of China FAW Group Corp.
Guangzhou Auto is the only major state-owned Chinese automaker that has yet to launch its own brand vehicle.
Built on the platform of the Fiat Alfa Romeo 166, the new car is 4,800 mm long, 1,819 mm wide and 1,484 mm tall. It will have a wheelbase of 2,702 mm.
It will be fitted with a 2.0-liter Twin Spark engine supplied by Fiat. Chinese supplier Hangzhou Advance Gearbox Group Co. will produce the five-speed manual transmission, while Japan's Aisin Seiki Co. will produce the automatic transmission.
The car's price is likely range from 130,000 yuan ($19,200) to 180,000 yuan ($26,600).
Guangzhou Auto maintains joint ventures with Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.
