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We met at the Beijing Motor Show, where the Great Wall had, in my opinion, one of the most interesting stands. Interesting in the sense that almost all exhibits are soon ready to fill up the showrooms of official Russian dealers.
Hover h7
Hover h7 hover h7
- By selling a large number of cars in China, your company intends to promote Great Wall cars to foreign markets. What are your plans for Europe?
- The construction of a plant in Bulgaria is the first step on the road to advancement to Europe. There will be produced Hover H6 and passenger GW C30. But we cannot forget about Russia. It has been and remains for us the most important market in which we expect to create our own production facilities. But things are not going so fast. Russia, I am sure, will become for us the center of the entire East European region.
We constantly think about Russia, therefore, even at the stage of developing new models, we lay in them the specifics of the conditions, including Russian ones, initially assuming their entry into the Russian market. The same goes for certification. We take into account all the requirements in your country when manufacturing cars, and do not adapt the existing ready-made models to your regulations. In addition, the new models also pass European certification.
Hover h6
Hover H6 will come to Russia at the end of summer Hover H6 will come to Russia at the end of summer
What kind of cars do you supply to Russia, how do you approach the choice of models?
- The basis of our deliveries to your country is off-road vehicles - they are more in demand in Russia, passenger cars are in second place, and pickups are in third place. This is not just our desire, it is the needs of the Russian market. We will supply the entire gamut of off-road vehicles - from the smallest to the largest, both with a carrying body and with a frame. In the near future we will have new models of a large SUV and its more compact counterpart. We will definitely bring them to Russia, which we consider as a country where such cars are most in demand.
At the same time, we plan to extend the warranty period in Russia and Ukraine, and this will be done in the near future. We focus on technical improvement, warranty is determined by technical capabilities and allow us to more fully satisfy the wishes of customers. I note in passing that in China, the guarantees provided by Great Wall are longer in time than other companies offer.
Tianjin factory
Factory in Tianjin Factory in Tianjin
What is the volume of production planned at factories in Bulgaria and Tianjin?
- At the initial stage in Bulgaria we plan to produce 50 thousand cars, at the second stage - 100 thousand cars, so when we reach the design capacity we will collect 150 thousand. The capacity of the plant in Tianjin is 1 million cars per year. This figure also includes 200 thousand CKD car kits, which will be sent for assembly abroad. Last year, we sold 480, 000 cars in China and delivered another 80, 000 abroad.
Hover m4
Hover M4 to Russia will come in winter Hover M4 to Russia will come in winter
When will the Hover H7 shown at the show appear on the market?
- The Hover H7 model will be launched in August 2013.
Modern car brands have their own characteristic features. What are the hallmarks of the Great Wall?
- We are in search. Great Wall actively collaborates with car manufacturers in Japan and the United States. Designers from Japan, Germany and other European countries also work with us. But we planned by the beginning of 2014 to bring to the market models that will be carriers of the family traits of our company.
Great Wall C20R EV
Great Wall C20R EV Great Wall C20R EV
Judging by the configurations of your cars, they lack powerful engines and corresponding transmissions …
- At the auto show, we presented our 6-speed automatic transmission and a continuously variable variator. We plan to install them on large SUVs and SUVs. In terms of displacement, our engines are small, but in terms of power they are quite efficient. They meet the trend of downsizing, currently popular. They use double superchargers, as a result of which two-liter engines are not inferior in characteristics to three-liter ones. However, we will have powerful three-liter ones, which we will install on 7-seater all-terrain vehicles. One of these large frame cars will be released in 2014.
Great wall c50
Great Wall C50 Great Wall C50
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Great wall c50
The hybrid shown in the cabin is equipped with its own propulsion system, or is it borrowing from someone?
- We are cooperating with an American company on hybrid plants, since we plan the first sales in the USA, where more interest is shown in these machines than elsewhere. In addition, we expect to be the first of Chinese companies to offer a mass hybrid car to their customers. The situation in China with respect to hybrids is such that both the government and manufacturers are more comfortable with a phased approach.
The new-generation hybrid power system of the Great Wall Motors
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Great Wall Motors Hybrid System
The most significant events in the history of the company over the past year?
- The opening of a plant in Tianjin and the release of the Hover H6 crossover that is currently being sold (it will appear in Russia by the end of summer. - Ed.), As well as the laying of new production facilities in Badin, more precisely, in the village of Sushoya, where it will be built even more powerful than Tianjin car factory. Sixth place in Dakar. In terms of production, we entered the top ten among all automakers in China, including foreign ones. And in terms of profit, they came in second place after Volkswagen.
I must say, Great Wall makes good money. Last year, our income amounted to 3 billion yuan, plus we received another 3 billion yuan by placing shares on the Beijing Exchange.
Shipment of finished products at the factory in Qianjin
Shipment of finished products at the factory in Qianjin Shipment of finished products at the factory in Qianjin
Will the Great Wall go on the Silk Road this year, given the success in Dakar?
- Technically, this is difficult for us, since the team will be in France at this time in preparation for the next Dakar. But we included the Silk Road rally in the long-term plan.
