Chinese automobile manufacturer JAC Motors has plans to launch its passenger cars in the mainstream segments in India citing slowdown in growth in its home country. JAC is the biggest chassis maker in China and wants to use its strength to produce products specifically for India, considering our market offers a demand for affordable products much similar to China. The company has currently sent its top executives to the country to identify a location for setting up a plant for its CKD operations.
Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. Ltd. also known as JAC Motors is a relatively unknown car company in India. The company marks its origins way back to 1964 and were primarily into manufacturing trucks under brand name Jianghui. By the start of 2000, JAC moved into manufacturing MPVs and SUVs in collaboration with Hyundai and later into manufacturing passenger cars after getting an approval from the Chinese government in 2007. The company has a manufacturing capacity of 7 lakh units of cars and engines, apart from small part components. JAC ranks within the top 10 in the Chinese auto industry and is listed on the Shanghai Stock exchange since 2001.
Experts suggest that China’s market has reached its maturity, with little room left for growth in the next 4-5 years. The Chinese market is expected to grow between 5-8 percent over the next decade. The world’s largest car market has been stagnated in the recent months much like ours, giving Chinese manufacturers reason to explore new markets such as India. The passenger vehicles accounted for 38.41 percent out of the total vehicles in January, down 4.35 percent compared to the previous month.
Apart from JAC, other Chinese auto giants have shown interest in the Indian market such as Foton who were planning to set-up a facility near Pune with an investment of Rs. 1676 crore, while Great Wall Motors is said to be in the final stages of making its Indian debut with the Haval H5 SUV. Coming back to JAC Motors, the company has a range of products in their portfolio ranging from hatchbacks to full blown SUVs. JAC Motors’ portfolio comprises of the J2 and J6 hatchbacks, J3 compact sedan, J5 D-segment sedan, J7 sedan, S5 SUV, M1 and M5 MPVs that could make it to the Indian market.
These would not be the first Chinese products to enter our market. We already have the Premier RiO, the Chevrolet Sail twins and Enjoy MPV, the Force One SUV that find their roots back to China in one way or the other. The company did not disclose a timeline for the introduction of its products in the country. What are your thoughts about driving a Chinese car on our roads? We would love to know in the comments section below.
Source – Economic Times