I think a similar article was posted a while ago. But 288,000 yuan to 302,000 yuan ($35,680-$37,410) for a Chinese-built Prius?!! I don't think that many Chinese ppl can afford that unless the Chinese government's willing to help out.
No doubt. I was shocked by that price. A cousin of mine lives in Chengdu (an industrial city a bit bigger than Chicago) and $300/mo for rent is pricey. $35K for a car seems completely out of the question. Maybe that's why they're only making 3000/yr.
"Toyota and FAW, Japan's and China's top auto makers, had agreed in 2004 to assemble the Prius in Changchun by the end of this year with complete knock-down kits imported from Japan." Does anyone know what is meant by complete knock-down kits??
So basically, ship the car with the shell ready and install the mechanical bits in China using chinese labour? Good, that means it'll stay in China.
While I doubt Prius at US$35K will sell well in China, don't estimate Chinese people' buying power. RollsRoyce sold 50 units right AT the autoshow!!! 50! The problem with China is some are extremly wealthy, others are very poor. (yes, Chengdu is considered as a poor city) In Shanghai and Beijing, rich people are every where (businessmen, corrupted officials, foreign investors, etc.). You will be shook if you have not been to China for the past 5 years. Shanghai has far more skyscrapters than any city in US that I know of. Yet, the country rural area is no different from 30 years ago... The reason I think Prius will not sell well is because rich people in Asia don't care about fuel econemy. People in US are so used to inexpensive automobile. A Toyota Camry can easily cost 2X ($40K) than US in most Asian countries, yet people buy them by cash. Vehicles, like houses, are status symbols in Asia. Performance is less important, but luxury is.
I agree. On my most recent trip to Beijing (last month), I noticed an awful lot of shiny new Audis, often sharing traffic with delivery guys transporting computer printers on battered old three-wheel bikes (there's modern China in a nutshell). People who can afford shiny new Audis can also afford Prii, though they are also less likely to worry about how much they spend on gas.
Choosing a Prius doesn't have to be about gas savings or pollution for that matter at all. Some choose it for the technology itself, the avantgarde design or other things.
