Jianghuai Auto to compete overseas with quality

Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd (JAC) said on Thursday the company will keep improving the quality of its products and bring satisfactory cars to overseas buyers.

An Jin, chairman of JAC said Chinese auto companies cannot compete with low prices any more as the cost of labor, the environment and other costs have all increased in China. He said his company will now compete with good quality and let their customers know the value of their cars.

An Jin, chairman of Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd and deputy to the National People's Congress. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

In addition to improving quality, An said the company has been setting up maintenance outlets overseas to provide post-sale service.

"We will not rush to export, with orders but without a maintenance network, in a country," An said.

"Without a maintenance network, a Chinese auto company's presence overseas will not last long," he said, adding that JAC's full-service dealerships in South Africa are even better than those in China.

JAC exported 9,673 cars in the first two months of this year, up 38.2 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the company on March 4. An said the company sells about 450,000 autos overseas annually and accounts for 15 percent of its entire revenue. JAC has the largest market share in Brazil and Chile.

An said his company has established cooperation with other Chinese companies that have presence abroad to explore the markets there. He said it would be very hard for a single company to explore the overseas market by country, but the risks will be greatly lowered if related companies cooperate.