Ford last weekend launched its Maverick sport-utility vehicle (SUV) in China, according to the locally-based research company Access Asia.
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The three-litre V6 petrol powered Maverick retails for RMB395,000 (about $US47,710) and is the first SUV from Ford in China who have so far concentrated on lower cost family cars – the compact Fiesta and mid-sized Mondeo – produced by Ford’s joint venture with Chang’an Motor in Chongqing.
The Maverick, in contrast, is made in Taiwan and Ford claims to have no plans to make the model on the Chinese mainland in the near future.
The Maverick is the latest SUV to hit the market in China. Already Toyota’s two-litre RAV4, Hyundai’s 2.7-litre Santa Fe, Nissan’s 2.5-liter X-Trail and Honda’s two-litre CRV are available along with the sturdy old Beijing Jeeps which are effectively SUVs in their latest incarnations.
Increasingly, as the market grows, SUV production is starting in China – Toyota is planning to produce its Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado [Colorado] models while Mitsubishi’s Pajero [Shogun] will also soon be built in China. Beijing Jeep already produces Mitsubishi’s Pajero Sport [Challenger] along with Chrysler’s Grand Cherokee. GM is gearing up to produce the Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Tahoe in Shenyang while Nissan produces its Paladin SUV in Henan province.
Beijing Jeep reckons it has a head start on the competition in the SUV market and is aiming for a 30% market share. However, its own product portfolio looks a little dated next to the new generation of SUVs starting to appear on China’s roads. Clearly Beijing Jeep no longer has the monopoly on the SUV sector it once enjoyed. However, the new Jeep2500, which costs half the price of Ford’s new SUV at RMB119,000 may attract some buyers.
Analysts predict China’s SUV market will grow 20% annually in the next few years selling around 120,000 units per year, Access Asia said.
