To recap, in Malaysia, SAIC Motor has a partnership with the Weststar Group which has been selling Maxus V80 vans for a few years, mainly to government and corporate entities.
In April 2016, Weststar Maxus stepped up its game by lauching the China-built G10, a 10-seater premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) priced at RM137,888 on-the-road.
The G10, billed as the ultimate people mover, is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol turbocharged engine with direct injection and 225hp and 345Nm, mated to a ZF-sourced six-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.
According to a Weststar Maxus spokesperson, the Torino-designed G10 has been a hit with sales of over 600 units to date.
This is not really surprising as the G10 is in a niche market segment where it easily stands out with its competitive pricing and generous kit level.
It is fitted with full leather seats and safety features including dual airbags and ABS, electronic brake force distribution, electronic stability programme, brake assist, brake override system, tyre pressure monitoring system and reverse camera.
Other features include all-round disc brakes, xenon HID headlights, LED taillights, powered sunroof, keyless entry system, push-start ignition, rain sensing wipers, leather upholstery, and a seven-inch LCD touchscreen mated to a six-speaker audio system with MP3, DVD and Bluetooth features.
The G10 is presently locally assembled in Klang, and sales are expected to pick up further with the release in the third quarter of 2017 of a new mid-grade variant priced at RM157,888.
The mid-grade G10 is packed with more premium features such as twin powered sliding doors with remote control, a twin-panel glass moon roof, leather surfaces and walnut faux wood on the dashboard for a classy look, an enhanced infotainment system with a 15-inch touchscreen mated to a 360-degree surround view camera system, a ceiling-mounted 10.1-inch LED screen and LED reading lights for rear occupants.
This year, Weststar Maxus also plans to launch an imported flagship G10 variant priced at around RM180,000 with kit such as rear powered tailgate with kick-activated function, second row Captain seats with massage function and fold-out ottomans, and ZF Sachs-sourced Nivomat self-leveling rear dampers for improved driving comfort and safety.
As for sales and after-sales support, Weststar Maxus has a main showroom and service centre in Jalan Tun Razak, and 3S centres in Glenmarie, Shah Alam as well as Johor Bahru and soon to be opened in Prai, and sales, service and spare part outlets in Alor Setar to support 14 nationwide dealers.
Expanding beyond the China market
SAIC Motor Corp Ltd is the leading automaker in China, thanks to its joint ventures with Volkswagen and General Motors.
Last year, SAIC Motor sold a staggering 6.49 million vehicles.
Its self-owned auto brands namely passenger marques Roewe and MG, and commercial vehicle marque Maxus contributed only 5.67 percent of 2016 sales.
However, the group is highly encouraged by growing acceptance among Chinese consumers for its self-owned brands.
Last year, Roewe and MG passenger car sales surged 89.2 per cent year-on-year to 322,000 units, while Maxus saw sales hit 46,000 units, an increase of 31.6 per cent, despite a steep drop seen by the Chinese light van market.
In the first half of 2016, the group was the top Chinese vehicle exporter with 118,000 vehicles delivered, an increase of 48 percent year-on-year.
The group is also growing vehicle sales in the Asean region, with joint ventures and partnerships in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Maxus G10 electric vehicle in Shanghai - second row Captain seats with massage function and fold-out ottomans.
In Thailand, the group has a joint venture with conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group to assemble and distribute MG vehicles including the MG3 sub-compact hatchback and MG GS sport utility vehicle (SUV).
The SAIC - CP Motor joint venture has a plant in Rayong since 2014, and is presently building a second plant in Chonburi province, which is due to begin operating early next year.
Recently, SAIC International managing director Yao Liwan said the new RMB1.2bil (RM754.7mil) plant in Chonburi would have an annual production capacity of 100,000 cars.
In Indonesia, a SAIC, General Motors and Wuling Automobile joint venture is building a vehicle plant and parts supply park in Cikarang, West Java.
A Wuling MPV from the Indonesian joint venture is due to be launched in the third quarter of 2017.
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