Most aptly timed sales launch in car history?: Guangzhou Auto to begin sales in the US with its ‘Trumpchi’ brand
GAC plans to use a research centre it is setting up in Silicon Valley to deepen knowledge of local consumer preferences
Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, which produces cars in China with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, plans to start exporting its own brand of cars to the US next year and become the first Chinese carmaker to begin retail sales to American consumers.
GAC, which created its “Trumpchi” brand in 2010 after being a production partner for foreign carmakers for more than a decade, will start a research and development centre in Silicon Valley in the first half of this year to prepare for the company’s entry to the US, the company’s president Feng Xingya said.
“Exporting to the US is a key part of our efforts to become a global player and success in North America is a vital yardstick,” Feng said on the launch day of the Detroit Motor Show, and 12 days before the car’s namesake is due to be sworn in as the United States’ 45th president.
“We won’t ship our cars here before we are fully confident that our cars would nail it.”
Chinese automakers have set their sights on breaking into the US retail market with their own brands for a long time, with Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co and Volvo Cars owner Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co declaring their American ambitions at least nine years ago.
Neither have been able to meet that target, though BYD has begun to sell electric buses to fleet owners in the U.S. and Volvo Cars is exporting made-in-China vehicles to American showrooms.
