PARIS -- China Automobile France plans to sell the controversial, Chinese-built Shuanghuan CEO here starting early next year.
In June, a Munich court banned German sales of the CEO after BMW claimed the model infringes on its design rights.
BMW says the CEO closely resembles its X5 premium SUV. Shuanghuan’s German importer, China Automobile Deutschland, is appealing the ban.
The CEO is sold in Italy by Martin Motors of Milan. About 90 CEOs were sold in the country in the first eight months, according to the UNRAE association of foreign car manufacturers in Italy.
China Automobile France marketing director Benoit Chambon said it will position the CEO as a low-cost alternative to premium SUVs. The CEO’s entry price in France will be €25,900.
The company also plans to sell the Zhejiang Jonway UFO, which will start at about €16,000. The UFO resembles early versions of the Toyota RAV4 medium SUV.
China Automobile France says it will set up a 100-showroom dealership network by 2010 to sell Chinese cars.
The company has opened a showroom near Bordeaux, southwestern France, to present its planned lineup to potential dealer partners. The company says it has already signed 30 contracts with potential retailers.
Electric cars coming soon?
“Our goal is to launch the brand in early 2009 with a solid group of dealers,” Chambon told Automotive News Europe.
Chambon said the company had no objectives regarding sales volumes.
China Automobile France will disclose more about its plans during a press conference at the Paris auto show October 3.
The company will show the CEO and UFO at the Paris show alongside a concept for a 2650mm-long electric city car and a dune buggy-like vehicle powered by a 52hp, 800cc three-cylinder gasoline engine made by China’s Chery Automobile.
The two cars are manufactured by Shanghai Tandem Motor, an 11-year-old manufacturer of motorcycles, scooters, utility vehicles and go-karts that is branching into automobiles.
Luca Ciferri contributed
