The Chinese Chery A160 was launched on the 7th of this month by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz in KL.
The Chery A160 costs RM61,519 (on the road with insurance). Alado Bumi Auto Sdn Bhd which distributes this brand in Malaysia, expect to sell about 3000 units this year.
FYI, the ALADO group: ALADO Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (Pte. Ltd.) comprises of :
1. ALADO Automobile Sdn. Bhd.
2. ALADO Marketing Sdn. Bhd. &
3. ALADO Bumi Sdn. Bhd.
(Their website is terrible.)
Other models on line for launching later this year includes the A41 and B14 models.
Read the Star report here.
You can read about the specs of the A160 and the T240 at the Motor trader website here.
They were initally supposed to launch the mini QQ model but put it off following the allegations that it had copied GM Daewoo's Matiz and Spark designs. They later filed a lawsuit in China and GM is asking for compensation of 80 million yuan (US$9.6 million). however, Chery deinies this and says that they developed the design on their own.
Chery Automotive Co. only started exporting cars in October 2001 and it exports cars to more than 10 countries including Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Cuba, Syria and now Malaysia.
According to an American importer, Chery will be the "next Toyota...".
