China has exported its first shipment of compact cars to the US, it
was reported on Monday.
The Tianjin Automotive Xiali Co. delivered its first shipment of
252 Xiali economy cars to be distributed by American Automobile
Network Holdings Inc. in the US, Xinhua News
Agency reported late Monday.
The report said that Tianjin Automotive's deal with the US company
involves the export at least 25,000 Xiali cars over the next five
years.
The Xiali is produced by Tianjin Automotive as part of a joint
venture manufacturing deal with Toyota Motor Corp..
Tianjin Automotive is counting on the Xiali's competitive
advantages of price and reliability to help the company
successfully land on the US market, the report said.
The export deal comes as Tianjin Automotive struggles in China 's
auto market due to a price war among domestic manufacturers and an
increase in foreign imports.
In
the first quarter ended March 31, Tianjin Automotive posted a net
loss of 31.4 million yuan (US$3.79 million), compared with a net
profit of 30.5 million yuan a year earlier.
Competition in China 's car market is expected to become
increasingly more intense as car tariffs are gradually reduced as
part of China 's World Trade Organization commitments.
(China
Daily June 11, 2002)