In Malaysia, SAIC Motor has a partnership with the Weststar Group which has been selling Maxus V80 vans and more recently, the China-built G10, a 10-seater premium multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) priced at RM137,888 on-the-road.
The Torino-designed G10 has been a hit with sales of over 600 units to date.
The recently launched Maxus T60 pick-up truck might also make its way into the Malaysian market in the near future.
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 has seen strong sales growth in recent years.
PATAC test track in Guangde, Anhui province
On a recent media familiarisation trip, journalists visited China’s largest proving ground, capable of conducting 67 driving conditions over 60km of test roads.
The 5.67 sq km Guangde Proving Ground in Guangde County, Anhui was built by General Motors (GM), SAIC, Shanghai GM and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC).
The 1.6 billion yuan (RM1bil) proving ground was opened in late 2012, and can accommodate up to 140 vehicles for testing simultaneously.
To simulate different driving conditions, the proving ground has an oval track, long straights, ride and handling loop, and test areas for vehicle dynamics, noise, durability, corrosion and hilly drives.
Roewe RX5.
Journalists briefly test drove vehicles such as the Roewe RX5 SUV with 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired with a TST 6-speed double clutch transmission.
The Roewe RX5 has a spacious interior, thanks to a 2,700mm wheelbase and cabin kit includes a 7-inch trip info screen, 10.4-inch LCD touchscreen display with voice commands for air-conditioning, navigation, radio, and even sunroof operation.
There was also an MG GS unit, which shares its SUV platform and powertrains with the Roewe RX5, armed with self-driving technology as well as a Roewe eI6 executive sedan with a 1.0-litre turbo engine and hybrid powertrain.
MG GS.
Meanwhile, one highlight here was the Maxus T60 pick up truck, which has a 2.8-litre VGT (Variable Geometry Turbocharger) engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox.
The T60's 2.8-litre VGT engine outputs 148hp at 3,400rpm and 360Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,800rpm.
Fuel consumption is rated at 8.1 litre per 100km, and the T60 has a wheelbase of 3,155mm.
Depending on variant, the T60 can be specified with LED lights, Adaptive Front Lighting System, Around View Monitor, Lane Departure Warning, and Driver Fatigue Monitor, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and six airbags.
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Maxus T60 pick-up truck (Photo gallery)
