In 2016 Chinese car-maker Lifan is intending to introduce a new model yet unparalleled in the Russian automotive market. As the head of the company’s Moscow office Sun Zejun recently told Autostat agency, the model under a tentative name СА09 is more of a seven-seat station-wagon with increased ground clearance and fancy up-to-date design. At the same time, the vehicle dimensions will not be as bulky as frame SUVs normally feature.
- “Basically, out of all the car models currently sold in Russia CA09 may, with a great reserve however, be matched with Lada Largus – again to some degree only. But that is the view angle we are keen to avoid because we are after different customers groups, actually,” said Mr Zejun.
Apart from CA09, by middle 2016 Lifan will have brought to Russia the new generation of Solano sedan and have restyled its Х60 crossover. As to X80 SUV, Russia customers may expect to see it in the motor salons only after 2016.
According to Autostat, in 2015 Lifan sold 12 578 cars in the country, which is 36% less than in 2014. Nevertheless Lifan remains #1 Chinese car make in Russia and plans to increase sales by 20% in 2016.
Earlier Lifan announced the construction of a new facility near Lipetsk in 2017. The First Stone Ceremony for a factory of 60 000 cars per year was held last July in Lipetsk Special Economic Zone. Lifan is to invest $300 mln into it.
#News of SEZ
