Chinese auto firm to unveil first model by month end
During the meeting, the chairman emphasised the need for recovery of the arrears. PHOTO: file
Recently, Chery Automobile Company Limited completed the body shop trials for its Tiggo series, which is the company’s first body trial out and assembly trial out in Pakistan.
This means that Chery’s first model will complete its standard operating procedure and be presented to consumers by the end of this month, after three months since production started in January.
Like other Chinese brands that have invested in vehicle manufacturing factories in Pakistan, Chery is optimistic about Pakistan’s advantages in developing the auto industry.
Chery Automobile Pakistan Country Director Felix Hu stated in a recent interview that “based on Pakistan’s huge potential market size, supportive policies for attracting foreign automobile investors and opportunities brought by CPEC, we have landed Chery’s first RHD (right-hand drive) CKD project in Pakistan.”
This is a local manufacturing project with long-term development considerations, he said.
Chery launched its new RHD strategy in 2019 and selected seven countries as key potential markets for RHD, including Pakistan.
It has partnered with Ghandhara Nissan to invest Rs2.4 billion in Pakistan’s production of Tiggo series SUVs in January 2021.
Felix revealed that Chery was promoting the listing of the company in Pakistan next month. It will continue to focus on Pakistani market and satisfy the local consumers.
The company also plans to export from Pakistan to other RHD countries in the near future.
At present, Chery Automobile’s products include saloon cars and SUVs.
Choosing to manufacture SUV models in Pakistan is based on the fact that the global consumption trend is upgrading from cars to SUVs. SUVs are more suitable for Pakistan’s road conditions and Chinese companies are competitive in the SUV market.
Felix said that SUV is a strategic choice according to Chery’s initial development plan in Pakistan and more models will be launched as the company deepens cooperation and gets more feedback from the market.
As one of the largest automobile exporters in China, compared with other manufacturers such as Hyundai, MG and Haval, Chery’s entry into RHD markets including Pakistan was relatively late.
The reason for this, Felix explained, was to make sure that their products are the latest models for RHD markets, rather than some old generation models.
THE ARTICLE ORIGINALLY APPEARED ON THE CHINA ECONOMIC NET
Published in The Express Tribune, April 14th, 2022.
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