The China market likes its 7-seaters, and this offering from Jeep is currently a China-only model. It's part of a joint venture with FCA’s partner Guangzhou Automotive Group (GAC) that also produces Jeep Cherokees and Renegades for the Chinese market.
Making its debut on the "I-Spy an Ugly SUV" thread today its
The Jeep Grand Commander due to be launched at the Bejiing Motor Show at the end of April.
Hmmmm, a "Grand Commander" no less - how very Gilbert & Sullivan!
Didn't they drop the Commander at home - or was that the Compass? Anyway how does it fit in with the Grand Cherokee.
Cheap Jeeps from China could be their undoing, unless they're as bad as those made in Japan, India, & the Phillipines, but XJ Cherokees (the one we know best i.e. not the Patriot masquerading as one here) are still very popular in the US & the prospect of being able to get hold of new ones might just prove too tempting.
p.s. that MG effort's not so bad (to llook at) i.e. there are so many that are worse, actually, it seems rather bland.
Citroens:-
'81 2CV Club
'05 C15
'97 Xantia Exclusive estate
others:-
Jeep XJ Cherokees x 3
'96 Cadillac Eldorado
'99 Cadillac STS
& the numerous "abandoned projects"
The timetable of wider market access for foreign auto markers came after President Xi Jinping told the Boao Forum last week that China would cut import tariffs and relax foreign ownership restrictions. Currently, foreign carmakers are required to set up a joint venture with a local firm in which there’s a 50 per cent investment cap.
The state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Tuesday that China will scrap limits on companies making fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2018, commercial vehicle makers in 2020 and lift restrictions on the wider passenger vehicle market by 2022.
SAIC created the Roewe marque in 2006 based on Rover technology it bought from failed British carmaker MG Rover in 2005. It has also owned the MG brand since 2007, after acquiring the brand’s previous owner, Nanjing Automobile.
Another one is Dongfeng X5. They were able to sell the SUV outside China with that name, without BMW's trademark case against it. It looks like a Mitsubishi Adventure mashed up with Volkswagen Tiguan.
Guess that Tesla have a lot of things that the Chinese want, and maybe the company will get more immediate and sizeable backing in China than in the U.S.
Chinese desperate for clean urban transport, at both ends of the budget, while many outside of California seem decidedly lukewarm.
