Chery Automobile is eyeing first year sales of 5,000 cars in Australia in 2011.
First shiploads from the Chinese automaker arrived ‘down under’ over the weekend. It said in a statement that it is to sell A1 and T11 models initially and will introduce the A3 in the middle of the year.
Chery hopes to double the number of outlets it has in Australia within two years.
Zhou Biren, who leads Chery’s international business, said Australia will be one of the company’s most important export markets. The company plans to introduce other models at a later date.
Multi-brand Australian importer Ateco launched Great Wall pickup trucks in Australia – and neighbouring New Zealand – in 2009. The brand will soon replace Daihatsu in independent UK importer International Motors portfolio here in the UK. All three markets are right hand drive (China is LHD).
Chery Automobile has said that it aims to sell 800,000 vehicles this year, up 17.3% year on year. Chery has increased exports to developing markets over the years, with its vehicles now available in more than 80 countries and regions in east Europe, South America, southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Its exports surged 93.2% to 92,000 units last year.
