| Shanghai Automotive’s (SAIC)
plans to export its new line of Roewe branded, Rover-based cars into Europe
have been put on hold as the company focuses on the Chinese market.
Head of SAIC’s international operations, Phil Murtaugh, said: “SAIC
does have intentions to expand the Roewe brand into international markets,
but only after we have fully achieved success in China. We have to get
it right at home before we go outside of China. I do not know when we
will start exporting.”
Earlier in the year, 2007 was given as the target for the Rover-based
cars to start appearing across Europe and the UK.
Going on sale in China as the Roewe, it is believed that SAIC will attempt
to acquire the Rover name from Ford before the vehicles go on sale outside
China. Ford originally took up the option on the Rover name when it came
up for sale, ostensibly to avoid potential confusion with its Land Rover
brand.
Murtaugh also stated that by 2010 SAIC had set a target of $5 billion
to be generated from exports and overseas operations.
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