This Question also includes Proton badged Geelys.

Recently I saw a trend where Malaysians starts buying China cars.

China cars in Malaysia formerly synonymous with poor build quality, copycat designs, shady dealerships, low resale value and lack of workshops that specialise on fixing China cars.

But times are now changing where Malaysians are buying China cars as an alternative to those Japanese, Koreans and Continental cars. New companies such as BYD launching their new EV cars here.

What do you think about this?

missing opportunity for proton. proton could have the forefront of ev car industry, which started earlier with japunise tech.

This post has been edited by kelvinfixx: May 1 2023, 11:00 AM

China-made cars will be gaining market share with better tech at lower prices. Same strategy as mobile phones eg Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, etc.
In the leisure drone market, DJI have practically killed the US competitor GoPro.

What China cannot replicate in terms of tech, they will use money to buy. Eg MG, Lotus, Volvo etc.

Geely with Proton and BYD with SDAC are the game changers

The perception (for non-EV) is still the same. Geely is the exception.

People buy Geely because it is cheaper thanks to Proton badge. Also got some support of aftersales with Proton dealership network.

China brand like GAC and Haval still not selling much. Chery keeps on teasing, but no actual launch yet.

I’d say it’s 50-50 between the two poll choices. Not all China brands have the same reputation.

In fact, even the local China analysts suggest that it’s a race to the bottom in China right now and many of the less successful makers will eventually be swallowed up by the bigger ones.

In the end, the dozens of Chinese automakers we read about today may just end up being consolidated into 2 or 3 makers in a few years time, and it’s these 2 or 3 brands (and their sub brands) that have best resources to set up successful network of dealerships, service centers and local OEM partnerships in Malaysia.

I test drive the ora good cat. Not a car I would say have matured.

The instrument cluster is gg can’t see in glare, the infotainment system is not built with driving in mind, n the internal centre console was feeling very plasticky n flexible, as if a rougher handling will just break the while middle console off. Opened the engine compartment n Omgosh, yellow marks everywhere, does not give me the confidence of a road worthy car.

Yes. Not all China car makers are equal.

They have 580+ including all the sub brands, many will be dissappear eventually.

Essentially in this world, no one can built a complex mechanical machine without German, US, Japanese technology. Not even the Japanese can stand alone.

Guess who monopolize the simple humble industrial adhesive, 3m and Loctite.

What most Chinese car maker lack of is not the technology, but they don't actually know how to make car itself.

The Korean used to struggle the same problem. The car was ahead of market in terms of spec, long stroke suspension is comfortable, but yet doesn't drive quite right. Until they setup R&D center at Nurburgring in 2011, hire all the German engineers and Albert Bierman from BMW M. And it reflects in their cars 2017 onwards. Drive totally different.

There is no short cut, accumulate road test time is the only way. Running daily at Nurburgring, 5000+ laps every year. Simulator laps is 10x more than physical road test. Some said Nurburgring yield equivalent of 15x distance vs normal public road test, that's why all major car makers do testing there.

Geely has a head start by owning Polestar, Lotus, and Proton. Polestar was the one race Volvo 850 and S60 in touring car race. After the Polestar brand become EV brand, the original racing team is now Cyan Racing that race Lynk & Co in TCR/WTCR. Geely put their Chinese engineers alongside to learn with the very best.

Proton has extensive experience in Rally, while Lotus no need to say already.

All these time accumulated is reflected on the cars offer. For us that love driving, it is a mountain must be overcome. Close all the badge, turn a few corners we know which car we can't accept. One can call us "minority" here, but it is majority of European population growing in that environment. That explains Hyundai/Kia/Genesis now selling well in Europe.

If the Chinese makers want to be truly international brands, sorry no short cut. They have to either take Geely route or the Hyundai route. The way most of the Chinese makers that act as car final assembler by buying off the shelves technology, they will never grow.

How long they can sell bigger screen, more ambient light colors, auto doors?

Driving position alone, how can a driver access all the interface without lean forward lifting the back from standard driving position? This is why we said the new comer don't yet have the depth, lack of sophistication. The 100+ years car makers are not just about technology.

At least now Ora use same font. Lol. When Haval first launched here, it is eyesore to see different fonts on different buttons. GWM although coming from traditional car maker backgrounds, they've been focus in low cost 3rd world market, they lack of experience in designing proper car.

Hire art designer alone don't overcome the gaps.

This post has been edited by constant_weight: May 1 2023, 04:25 PM

meanwhile.....in UK

https://www.motorfinanceonline.com/news/ove...their-next-car/

Over a quarter would consider a Chinese brand for their next car
Carwow cites competitive pricing and value for money as key motivators for consumers purchasing Chinese cars.

Ahead of Auto Shanghai, beginning on Tuesday 18 April, new research conducted by Carwow finds that more than a quarter (29%) of active car buyers would consider a Chinese brand for their next vehicle.

30% of drivers polled said they associate Chinese cars with value for money, while 19% believe Chinese cars have more competitive prices than other car brands, and one in 10 (10%) said they have ‘more and better’ technology.

However, reasons cited for not wanting to consider a Chinese car included concerns about ‘political matters’ (37%), ‘build quality’ (36%) and a ‘lack of familiarity with Chinese brands’ (28%).

When asked what would persuade them to consider a Chinese car, one in five (21%) of those polled said ‘more time’, indicating that drivers simply want to build up more familiarity with new entrants from China.

James Hind, co-founder and CEO of Carwow, said: “The fact that more than one in four drivers would now consider a Chinese car is a testament to how quickly we’re seeing perception shifting....

This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 2 2023, 01:26 AM

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-busines...-year-shipments

Chinese carmakers confident of overtaking Japan as world’s No. 1 exporter this year with shipments of 4.5 million units

While the China Passenger Car Association expects exports to hit 4 million units this year, some industry executives believe the figure could touch 4.5 million

Car exports from China reached 301,000 units in the first two months of this year, an increase of 30.1 per cent from a year earlier.

China is likely to overtake Japan as the world’s top car exporter this year, with industry executives predicting shipments of up to 4.5 million units, on the back of the growing manufacturing and technological heft of the nation’s electric-vehicle makers.

If the sales forecasts in foreign markets prove to be accurate, then China would probably surpass Japan to become the world’s top auto exporter. In 2022, Japan’s exports fell nearly 8 per cent year on year to 3.5 million units.

https://www.wapcar.my/news/making-the-same-...a-in-2024-67580

Welcome to the fiercely fought crowded B Segment Crossover market....New GAC GS3.


https://www.zigwheels.my/car-news/gac-teame...gs3-launch-soon

To be CKD'd by Tan Chong




This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 13 2023, 09:16 AM

While I totally agree with market share gains due to better tech and lower prices.

We must not forget it is the CHINESE Government New Energy policy and directive and the responding market sentiments and expectations that have raised the bar so high and Chinese car makers have no choice but to burn and rise and reinvent themselves.

My argument is simple :India also has one of the most populous and market potential and even have EVs launched manybetars back but when are their going to be exported?

And when I read the below:

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/busines...ehicles-by-2030

Tata needs so long to come out with luxury EVs? I can only say I am seriously worry for them.

This post has been edited by EnergyAnalyst: May 14 2023, 10:29 AM

https://www.wapcar.my/news/gacs-ev-only-mar...-momentum-67671

Another Chinese outselling Tesla.

GAC Aion

Tested haval h6 hev at usj 4s center in short time within nearby road and notice the suspension is on soft setup.

Overall this car really impress me a lot and the most tempting part will be the prices. Head from SA below crv. Let see by end of this year


https://youtu.be/04PQkkj3fHI

100km/h - 0 braking distance of Haval and Chery are worrying.
Over 40m is a red flag, 45m is worse than wet braking distance of many normal cars.
Even A, B segments with eco low rolling resistance tyre should be around 40m, not sure any non-optimal brake bias tuning issue here.

2021 Haval H6 - 43.59m (some more this is rather powerful with sub 8 seconds 0-100km/h)
2023 Chery Omoda 5 - 45.68m

For comparison, the mainstream is about 37m.

2020 BMW M340i - 37.56m

If you think M340i is unfair comparison, I throw in heavy 2 tonnes+ XC60 and Kia EV6.

2023 Volvo XC60 - 36.46m
2022 Kia EV6 - 35.98m

If you still think it is unfair those are premium cars. I throw in a humble A segment car - Kia Picanto.
Both Iriz, Persona are below 40m since 2021.
All these A, B segments also run eco low rolling resistance tyre from factory.

2019 Kia Picanto - 37.8m

Like Quazacolt always said, before active/passive safety, fancy L2, AEB, the first level defence is the mechanical of the car. Here the humble brake makes huge difference.

2021 Haval H6 - 43.59m


2023 Chery Omoda 5 - 45.68m


2020 BMW M340i - 37.56m


2023 Volvo XC60 - 36.46m


2022 Kia EV6 - 35.98m


2019 Kia Picanto - 37.8m


This post has been edited by constant_weight: Jun 3 2023, 07:09 PM

Meanwhile....


https://www.theautopian.com/china-once-auto...giant-headache/

https://www.ft.com/content/c387fa14-bf63-47...40-fd70171f7583

Chinese groups have put Japanese and international carmakers under pressure, says Makoto Uchida

Nissan’s chief executive has warned that the rapid pace of production of Chinese carmakers is piling pressure on international manufacturers as they struggle to compete for market share.

Makoto Uchida issued the warning as Japanese brands in particular lose consumers to highly competitive Chinese rivals.

He told the Financial Times’s Future of the Car summit on Wednesday that “agile” local carmakers in China, the world’s largest auto market, were pushing rivals to speed up production.

“We should not be just relaxed and sitting down. The lead time is very agile,” Uchida said, adding that Chinese manufacturers were showing “massive strength”.

The time it took Chinese manufacturers to bring a car to market was “much faster than we expected before”, he said. “We need to align.”

Chinese carmakers are making big inroads at home and overseas with competitively priced electric vehicles, leaving behind some international manufacturers.


Japanese brands, including the world’s biggest carmaker Toyota, are some of those suffering the most as a result.

Toyota said it would accelerate its electric vehicle line-up in China, after its 2022 sales in the country fell for the first time in a decade.

Nissan, which reports earnings for its full year on Thursday, had projected in February that sales of Chinese cars would fall 24 per cent volume-wise to just over 1mn in the 12 months to the end of March.

That would push Chinese sales by unit — previously its biggest market — below those in North America. The group has a passenger car joint venture in China with Dongfeng Motor.


“How we can make something for China in China . . . will be the key,” Uchida told the FT summit.

Chinese groups such as Nio and BYD are also looking to take on European brands on their home turf in another challenge for companies struggling to bring down the cost of production to make EVs accessible to consumers.

“The biggest danger is the Chinese coming in . . . because they are coming in with quite competitive prices and with very good vehicles,” Linda Jackson, the chief executive of Stellantis’s Peugeot brand, told the FT summit.

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/...-niall-ferguson

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/31/china-comes...r-exporter.html

China failed to replace Japan as the world’s largest exporter of cars in 2023, despite coming close to doing so, data released this month showed.

Japanese customs data showed the country exported 5.97 million vehicles last year, more than the 5.22 million vehicle exports that China customs data reported.


However, manufacturing association data from both countries showed that China did edge out Japan: 4.14 million passenger car exports versus 3.978 million in 2023, according to figures available online and accessed via Wind Information.

More than 70% of China’s car exports in 2023 were of gasoline-powered vehicles, according to the Ministry of Commerce, noting that new energy vehicle exports were growing rapidly.