Chery's car scores highest grade in local impact test.

Taipei, June 1, 2009 (CENS) -- A Taiwan-assembled model of China's Chery Automobile scored the highest five-star evaluation in a recent local impact test on the eve of the entry of Chinese autos into the island, breaking the stereotype "toufu-car image of Chinese cars among local people, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN), sister publication of Taiwan Economic News (TEN).

In the test, conducted at the Automotive Research and Testing Center (ARTC), located in Changhua Coastal Industrial Zone, Chery's A3 model even scored 16 points, the top grade, in the critical side-impact testing. In the item of front-impact testing, it scored 14.76 points. The outcome surprises many local industry insiders, as some locally made autos obtain less than 10 points in the impact test.

The local agent of Chery declined to confirm the testing result, saying it will publicize it at proper time. The testing outcome, if confirmed, will greatly boost the image of the company's autos in the local market, paving the way for its local debut, scheduled in September at the earliest.

The Panda model of China's Geely Automobile will also undertake an impact test at ARTC soon and will hit the local market in September, too.

Chery's A3, with engine displacement of 2,000 c.c., is expected to bear a price tag of NT$450,000-500,000, comparable to the popular Vios model of Toyota, which has an engine displacement of 1,500 c.c.

Taiwan's automobile market reached only 220,000 units last year, one fiftieth of China's 10 million. However, due to its intense competition, the successful penetration of the local market can help Chinese automakers enhance its image in the global market.

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