Dr. Gao, who had a six-year stint as Deputy Manager of Pan Asia Automotive Technical Center Limited (a 50-50 JV between GM and SAIC Motor) before starting his present job, now has responsibility for managing SAIC Motor’s four Technical Centres at Nanjing and Shanghai in China, Leamington Spa in England and Pyungtaek in South Korea in addition to overseeing the implementation of a three year Future Product Programme based on six platforms, ten different engines and three separate transmissions.

SAIC Motor’s original intention was to develop a total of five platforms, for the following models, by 2010:

- a B segment supermini,
- a C segment, Roewe 550-based, series,
- a D segment, Roewe 750 derivative series,
- an E segment large car series and
- an SUV series.

However, Dr. Gao stated that, since the acquisition of MG, a sixth platform had been added to the Future Product Programme: ‘The sixth platform is a sportscar platform. The Roewe brand had no space for a sportscar, so the sportscar platform will go to MG.’

Dr. Gao also revealed that a total of ten new engines are to be rolled out over a five year period and that these will include all new families of 1.3- and 1.6-litre four cylinder, 2-litre and 2.4-litre four cylinder and 3-litre and 3.6-litre V6 cylinder petrol engines. Dr. Gao added that SAIC Motor are working on alternative powertrains using CNG and hybrid systems and that the company also has access to a range of diesel engines by virtue of a controlling stake in South Korea’s SsangYong Motor Company.

SAIC Motor’s Technical Centres are also developing three new transmissions. Dr. Gao said that: ‘We’re designing gearboxes according to the size of the engines. We’re working on a six speed manual with a range from 200nm to 400nm. Automatic gearboxes are also being developed.’ The Beijing Youth Daily article claims that the range of engines and gearboxes are expected to be put into production by early next year.

Dr. Gao also told the Beijing Youth Daily’s interviewer about the future division of responsibility between SAIC Motor’s Technical Centres. The Technical Centre in Shanghai’s main focus will be on the development of the Roewe brand and the design of flagship models. However, following the integration of the Nanjing-based Technical Team, the Shanghai Technical Centre will also assume responsibility for the MG platforms. SsangYong’s Technical Centre will concentrate on designing cars to meet the specific needs of the South Korean market while the European Technical Team, based at SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited’s premises at Leamington Spa in England, will be working primarily on cutting-edge technologies and their initial application to SAIC Motor’s new products.

The Beijing Youth Daily’s reporter also discussed the ‘brand positioning struggle between the MG and the Roewe brands’ with Dr. Gao who indicated that NAC MG and SAIC Motor had completed a joint appraisal of the respective brands’ attributes and had now clearly mapped out their positioning. Dr. Gao specifically confirmed that MG will be a sports brand and that the MG range will be targeted at consumers who appreciate a sportscar.

Dr. Gao added that: ‘Introducing a brand that no one has any connection to would not be a great idea – to persuade people to buy a car from a new brand would need a lot of time and, more importantly, a lot of money. Now with MG, we can take that brand global. No matter whether the cars are made overseas, or merely sold overseas, we will sell them under the MG brand.’ He also confirmed that SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited will be responsible for the design and development of all the MG models based on the six platforms mentioned above and intended for sale in Britain and Europe.

AROnline’s own, independent, research indicates that the Beijing Youth Daily’s article accurately represents SAIC Motor’s overall strategy for the MG brand. However, certain elements of the projected timetable might yet prove to be a tad optimistic because the specific details of the MG Brand Development Strategy and Future Product Programme have still to be finalised.

Interestingly, SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre Limited was awarded the Chinese Inward Investor of the Year Award at last month’s KPMG China Business Awards 2008 Dinner in London. Dr. Gao, the company’s Chairman, was presented with the award by Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham, Minister of State for Trade.

China's BYD Auto yesterday officially launched a so-called "mid and high-end" model F6 in China. The model was displayed at Geneva Auto Show earlier this month.

Xia Zhibing, general manager of BYD, released prices for all F6 models: The 2.0 liter comfortable version RMB 89,800 ($12,647); the 2.0 liter luxury version RMB 100,800 ($14,200); the 2.4 liter Noble version RMB 126,800 ($17,860); the 2.4 liter Flagship version RMB ($22,500). These four models will be available as of this month.

"We hope to sell 3,000 F6 cars a month this year and the monthly sales could reach 100,000 cars next year," Xia Zhibing told Shanghai Securities News.

BYD plans to sell 200,000 vehicles this year, including 150,000 F3 vehicles, 25,000 F6 vehicles and 25,000 F1 vehicles, according to Wang Jianjun, spokesman for BYD.

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