GROUP Exklusiv, distributor of China's Geely, Dongfeng and Soyat vehicles, is
close to clinching three more brands from the mainland.
Speaking at the official launch of Dongfeng and Soyat at its showroom in Toa
Payoh Lorong 8 yesterday, Exklusiv chairman Peter Kwee says he is targeting
annual sales of 5,000 cars "in two years' time".
That works out to be around 400 units a month - 10 times what Exklusiv has been
averaging with the solitary Geely CK since launching the brand eight months
ago.
Exklusiv is not alone in going Chinese. Listed motor groups, parallel importers
and used-car dealers alike are doing the same. Sources say one has clinched the
dealership for Chongqing-based ChangAn Automobile.
By this time next year, the number of Chinese brands here could be double the
current five. Besides Exklusiv's three launched makes, there are two others.
Chery, distributed by Vertex Automobile, was the first to arrive in mid-2006.
It has the most models available. These include the QQ subcompact, the A168
sedan, the T11 sports-utility vehicle, the 2.4-litre V5 seven-seater and the
2-litre A5 sedan.
Vertex has a share in Hafei Automobile (Singapore), which launched the Hafei
brand in April. Hafei currently sells two models: the Lobo hatchback and the
Minz six-seater MPV.
Exklusiv executive director Kevin Kwee is bullish about China cars. "Ten years
ago, who would have imagined that the Koreans, with two to three brands, could
outsell the 30 or so European makes? But they have," he says.
"Eighty-eight per cent of cars sold in Singapore are Asian made," he notes. "I
expect Chinese brands to make up 15 to 20 per cent of the market."
Dongfeng and Soyat sales will contribute to that figure. Dongfeng models will
include a seven-seater called Star, which is expected to be priced around
$44,000, making it the cheapest MPV in town. A goods vehicle version called
Star Van, from under $24,000, is also available. Both are 1.3-litre manuals.
Soyat will start with a 2.3-litre automatic SUV-like seven-seater, at under
$64,000.
