The first Chinese cars in Australian showrooms will wear Geely badges with sales planned to begin in February 2010, according to an Australian media report.
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A report in the Herald-Sun says that Geely has struck a 15-year distribution agreement with Perth dealer John Hughes.
Full-scale sales throughout Australia should begin in the third quarter next year, though Hughes is still finalising his distribution plan and signing dealers.
“I think we’ll be the first Chinese passenger car to come to Australia. I don’t think anyone should bring cars in November or December, because the duty drops in January, so we’ll be first,” Hughes told the Herald-Sun.
“We will land the first two evaluation cars in September. We’ll go from there. I’m kicking them off in WA because the Chinese are anxious to get them in as quickly as possible.”
The newspaper said that while Hughes was tight-lipped on volumes, he did confirm that he will have the Geely MK, a Corolla-sized compact.
“I believe firmly in the future of the Chinese product. For me, it’s not a question of why, it’s a question of why not?’ ” he says.
The first shipment of about 500 Geely cars will arrive in January as part of an initial order of 1,000, the report said.
