Chery to begin production of budget hybrid this year
As it currently stands, gas in China costs about half what it does in most other countries, and the government spends billions to keep it that way. This being the case, expensive hybrids like the Toyota Prius don't sell in very large numbers. Still, there are a number of analysts who predict that gas will go up in China and that cheaper hybrids could begin to get a foot-hold in the Chinese market. To test the hybrid waters, Chery has introduced its home market to a new inexpensive mild hybrid built off its own A5 platform. Like some of the hybrids from General Motors, the A5 adds a belt-driven starter/generator that runs on just 12 volts and allows for stop/start functionality for its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. Chery tested the vehicle during the Olympic games and is apparently now ready to begin selling its first hybrid to retail customers in China at about a third of the cost of the Prius. With pricing like that, the expected 10-15-percent gain in fuel efficiency could provide plenty of incentive to choose a hybrid.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rob 6:17PM (9/15/2008)
I don't think I would want to be in a gas powered Chery that crashed, let alone one with chemical filled batteries.
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James 7:18PM (9/15/2008)
What was a Chery doing in the UK? Although it's blurry, that's a British street scene and a UK delivery plate. British engineering involvement in the hybrid drivetrain?
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FoxJ30 9:14PM (9/15/2008)
You know you can't beat British electrics + Chinese structural integrity!
John 8:03PM (9/15/2008)
What makes you think Chery does any testing?
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CarbonBlack 9:05PM (9/15/2008)
I would boycott this POS!
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Dazza 8:51AM (9/16/2008)
FoxJ30: You can't beat people still living in 1974 either, evidently.
Mehul 10:21PM (9/15/2008)
Anyone see any last gen Altima in that pic?
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hatchbacks or cool 12:54AM (9/16/2008)
My first point is that hybrids don't work and are overpriced compered with a small hatchback/coupe with a little engine , and the car looks like a ugly kia rio
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Brett1621 8:00AM (9/16/2008)
In China gas prices are over 1.00$ a LITRE which is $4.00 a Gallon. I dont know where you went to school but that doesn't look like half to me!!!
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