FAW Benteng takes on Accord and Camry in China

It's a well-known fact that foreign automakers desiring to crack the Chinese market are required by the government to buddy up with a Chinese domestic automaker. First Automotive Works Group (FAW) is in bed with not only Volkswagen and Toyota, but Ford's Japanese affilitate, as well, with which it produces the Mazda6 for the Chinese market. At last week's Hangszhou Auto Show FAW introduced the Mazda6-based Benteng midsize sedan that will take on the Accord and Camry in China with a pair of 2.0L and 2.3L engines, a five-speed manual tranny, ABS with electronic brake force distribution, stability control and six airbags. Inside Line is reporting FAW hopes to sell 10,000 units in China by the end of the year, though doesn't plan to export the sedan to foreign markets.

[Source: Global Auto Index via Inside Line]