Chinese vehicle makers shine at Dubai's motor show

DUBAI - China's largest vehicle manufacturers displayed their latest models Tuesday at Tuesday's opening of Dubai's annual International Motor Show (DIMS), which runs through Saturday.

Shanghai's SAIC Motor Corporation has brought to the show its latest range of models of Morris Garages (MG) and Maxus brands. The firm has recently announced the opening of its first-ever Middle East head office in Dubai, amid soaring demand for affordable luxury cars in the Gulf.

The smaller sedan MG-GS and the multi-purpose Maxus G10 also made their Middle East debut.

SAIC Motor Corporation reported car sales of 5.62 million units in 2014, maintaining its leading position for the 10th consecutive year as China's biggest automobile seller.

The Guangzhou Automobile Group, also known as the GAC Group, which ran an aggressive regional marketing campaign for many years, advertising through all media platforms, sponsoring programs as well as time-limited special offers, displayed its second generation GS5 Super, GA6, GS4 vehicles along with the brand new 1.5T.

"GAC Motor's second generation vehicles abide by the industry's highest quality and safety standards," said Wu Song, GAC Motor's General Manager.

The Guangzhou car firm targets mid to high-end markets globally.

The car market of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, the United Arab Emirates - Dubai being the motor show host country - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman are the focus of Dubai's 2015 biennial International motor show. During the first half of this year, GCC sales reached 890,000 units.

Subsequently, this set the stage for an unrivaled 18 global and 139 regional launches, with 16 new concept cars to be revealed during the 13th DIMS presentation at the World Trade Center.

Dong Feng Motor (DFM), China's second largest vehicle company, is displaying its full range of vehicles in the show, including the Fengshen series such as the AX7, A30, H30 CROSS, Dongfeng Joyear S50, S500, XV, the high-mobility special off-road vehicle Warrior, DFSK C35, and the Flagship RICH pickup.

DFM's corporation exhibition themes are: "Trust, Co-creation and Win-win."

Four newly-designed vehicles, the AX7 SUV, the A30 passenger vehicle, the RICH pickup, and an off-road vehicle Warrior, will all make their debut in Dubai.

The GCC automotive sector is expected to reach 1.88 million unit sales by the end of 2015, a growth rate of 5.6 percent compared with 2014, according to the Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai's motor show organizers.

During the five-day show, demand for increased display floor space for the first time resulted in expanding the show to the Dubai World Trade Center's Zabeel Halls, so as to accommodate over 600 vehicles which covered a total floor space of 85,000 square meters.

This year's participation represents a 30-percent increase over previous shows, with organizers anticipating over 100,000 visitors from 37 countries throughout the show.