Chinese Chery Automobile's Romanian Mkt Entry Postponed For Sept

The Romanian market entry of Chinese carmaker Chery Automobile, planned for the beginning of this year, has been postponed for September pending its Euro 5 models and certification that the Chinese cars are compatible with European standards.

"We planned to start importing the Chery brand at the beginning of this year but there have been delays over documents. Meanwhile, they launched Euro 5 models and we've decided to enter the Romanian market directly with these models. That means we've started over with all the steps needed to bring in the carmaker," Lavinia Bularca, marketing manager with dealer Sixt New Kopel, told MEDIAFAX.

"We hope Chery enters the Romanian market in September," she added.

The Chinese carmaker's Romanian market entry entails an investment estimated at EUR2-3 million, the bulk of which is to go into marketing and advertising.

The Chery brand will be available for sale via Sixt New Kopel and its partners. Bularca said the Chinese car is already in demand in Romania.

Chery Automobile was founded in 1997, is state-owned and manufactured its first car in 1999. Chery's models are A1, QQ3, QQ6, A3 Hatchback, A3, A5, Eastar, Eastar Cross, Cowin, Tiggo, Karry and Riich.

New Kopel is owned by Israeli group Schlomo, which entered the Romanian market in 2005 with the acquisition of Union Motors. In 2006, New Kopel bought the license for Romania of Sixt, one of Germany's biggest car rental services company.

mediafax.ro