First Wuling Sunshine Produced
In the gigantic China auto market, there are not only models of global makes on the roads but also models which the rest of the world has never seen and made by companies that are virtually unknown outside that country.
Today, yet another new model for the China market makes its debut. This is the Wuling Sunshine minivan which was first displayed at Auto China 2002 in June this year. The minivan will become a mainstay of SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint-venture company between General Motors China and two local companies which last year produced and sold 120,000 vehicles.
Created with the assistance of GM and SAIC’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Centre (PATAC) joint venture, it is claimed to set new marks for safety, emissions and comfort. The Sunshine is the first minivan developed in China that complies with China’s latest automotive safety mandate for mini-vehicles, which will become effective next year. It also is among the first newly-developed minivans in China without a carburettor and instead uses EFI for fuel delivery, providing improved fuel economy and lower emissions.
The interior is roomy and functional with seats for seven adults. The quality and feel of the cockpit are said to be similar to that of a standard sedan, an important step towards providing consumers with more comfortable vehicles.
The Sunshine, to go on sale in 2003 at between RMB40,000 (about RM18,350) and RMB50,000 (about RM22,945), provides SAIC-GM-Wuling a new entry at the upper end of the minivan segment. It is aimed at younger vehicle buyers primarily in second and third-tier cities of China who are looking for a vehicle for business and personal use. Four Sunshine models will be produced with a choice of 1300cc or 1050 cc engines. All models will have only a manual transmission.
