The Chinese government encourages global auto makers to develop so-called joint-venture indigenous brands to build up technological and marketing capabilities of Chinese auto makers.Nissan Motor Co.'s 7201.TO 2.00% passenger-car joint.venture with China's Dongfeng Motor Corp. introduced the Venucia brand here and sold 36,069 in the first five months of this year. Other global auto makers are following suit.
German premium carmaker Audi AG is shifting its top priority from sales volume to delivering higher quality and more environmentally friendly products in China, its biggest single market, to cater for the "new normal" of slower growth of the world's No 2 economy.Rupert Stadler, Audi's chairman and CEO, said in an interview with China Daily last week that the company predicted the "new normal" of China's economy two or three years ago and acknowledged the situation would decelerate the vehicle market.
Infiniti Motor Co sold 30,046 vehicles in China in 2014, which was an annual increase of 76 percent and marked the fastest growth among premium automobile brands in China, according to Dongfeng Infiniti.The number of Infiniti dealers in China grew from 66 to 85 in 2014. The brand plans to add 25 to 30 new stores in 2015 and further penetrate the third- to fifth-tier cities.Infiniti did not reveal specific sales goals for the QX50. Lei said the company was focusing on steady, long-term and sustainable development instead of short-term targets.
