[ad_1]
Most Americans are not familiar with the Chinese car brand Zotye, but the painful car makers make up a hundred percent of the world. That's them. Now, it seems they have plans to come to America, and be the first This could be fun.
While Chinese-built cars are being sold in the U.S., so far is not being marketed or sold under a Chinese brand. Zotye Automotive has partnered with HAAH Automotive Holdings to expand sales and distribution network in America, with the goal of selling Zotye vehicles in the US by late 2020.
Here's what their press release has to say:
The company's first U.S. product with be an SUV but the specific model has not been announced. Engineering development and certification work is underway and is proceeding smoothly. Sales to retail customers in the US are expected to begin in 2020, according to Zotye USA.
"I am excited about this announcement, the result of more than four years of discussions and negotiations with the Zotye in China. With the agreement, we have begun setting up a franchised dealer network to handle sales and service in America. We've had discussions with several major dealers already, "said Hale.
…
"HAAH Automotive Holdings is a disrupter and we will be adding innovative features and processes to the customer and franchise dealer system. These new ideas will be introduced to the current system, bringing greater advantages to the market. The result will be a system that will function better for everyone, "said Pradzinski.
Any company that calls itself has "disruptor" always wins some eye-rolls from me, but, who knows, maybe this will actually happen.
Zotye's product lineup is interesting; Fiat platforms, which even included a version of Fiat's delightfully Multipla bonkers, which they called the Multiplan.
As far as what can be done in the US in 2020, even if the press release says the model has not been announced, the page titled, alarmingly, WHAT ABOUT US next to you in the middle of a screaming break-up) on HAAH's website
Zotye USA is our second brand with HAAH having US distribution to their full range of SUVs. Zotye is one of the fastest growing car companies in China and is a JV partner with Ford. The first T600 SUV model will arrive in the US September 2020.
That's the Coupe version of the T600, which looks a bit Audi / VW-ish. Here's another variant:
That's a normal, modern-looking SUV. The profile is quite Volkswagen Touareg-like, and it would disappear in any American parking lot, no problem.
The engine is a 1.5-liter inline oven, making around 160 horsepower, which seems adequate. These start around $ 18,000 in China, which is pretty cheap. If they can keep a price while that meeting U.S. emissions and safety standards, they can have decent luck.
What's going to be most likely to see if they will continue with their proven strategy of shameless knockoffs. Cars like the very Macan-like Zotye have been very successful for Zotye, but will that kind of thing fly in America?
I guess we'll see. I hope they will try some Porsche knockoffs here, including a 911 clone with a rear-mounted, transverse inline-4 that makes about 170 horsepower or so. And sells for about $ 23,000. That would be a fun shitstorm to watch.
Source link
