Chinese auto giant set to enter UAE

Haima, one of the largest Chinese automobile manufacturers, is set to enter UAE and has tied up with Abu Dhabi based - First Motors a subsidiary of Bin Omeir Holding Group (BOHG).

Haima will be introducing 6 new models during the Dubai International Motor Show being held from December 16 to 20.

BOHG has diversified business interests in the UAE, Middle East and Africa, across many sectors including automobiles, commercial and military vehicles, car rental and leasing, logistics, banking, insurance, real estate developments and construction among other industry segments.

“We believe that UAE has a lot of potential and are looking at the mid income segment. With 21 years’ of development, Haima Automobiles has established complete supply chain and sales and services framework in line with international standards,” said Fred Huang, general manager, Haima Automobiles.

“As per published reports it is increasingly apparent that the UAE automotive market is mature, with vehicle ownership rates of over 540 per 1,000 inhabitants, a rate that exceeds most of the developing world. We are positioning our vehicles in a particular segment and we are confident that we will further boost the automobile sector in the UAE,” he added.

FAW Haima Automobile Company, one of the vehicle production bases, is located in Haikou city in South China covering an area of 2 million sqm and achieves an annual production capacity of 150,000 units of passenger vehicles. FAW Haima has two factories and one engine factory with complete manufacturing facilities and process of stamping, welding, painting and final assembling, and the third factory is under construction now, after completion, the total annual production volume will be 300,000 units.

Having started its strategic cooperation with Mazda in 1992, Haima has built its own R&D technical system and quality control system benefiting from the cooperation with Mazda for 15 years. With the newly developed engine and mature under body components, Haima collaborates with professional R&D institutions worldwide for joint design and development of complete vehicles.

Haima started exporting its cars in 2007 and now the sales network covers Middle East, North Africa, East Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. The countries the company covers currently include Egypt, Algeria, UAE, Syria, Jordan, Libya, Venezuela, Peru, Moldova, Philippines and so on.

Till now, nearly 10,000 units Haima cars and matched spare parts have been exported to the overseas markets

Esemka Ingin Seperti Kijang

Banyak orang menganggap, mobil buatan anak bangsa kurang mumpuni, baik secara kualitas maupun penampilan. Tapi, coba lihat mobil buatan anak-anak SMK yang satu ini. Dari segi tampilan, dan kualitasnya tidak meragukan.

Tidak seperti produsen mobil China yang kebanyakan mentah-mentah mencaplok desain produk lain untuk membuat mobil nasional mereka. Tapi Esemka benar-benar mendesain Digdaya sendiri, dengan kreasi sendiri.

Begitu juga untuk dapur pacunya. Esemka mengerjakannya sendiri, mengambil basis dari mesin KIA yang sebelumnya sempat dikembangkan Mazda yang mengambil basis dari GM dan Chrysler, sehingga jadilah mesin tipe Esemka 1.5i.

"Semua kita kerjakan sendiri," ujar konsultan Departemen Pendidikan Nasional Ari Setiawan, ketika dikunjungi detikOto, di pameran Indonesian Manufacturing, di JI Expo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Rabu, (2/12/2009)

Ari pun mengakui memang masih banyak kemiripan dengan produk lain, tapi itu wajar, karena setiap permulaan pasti meniru, mencontoh, tapi pada akhirnya bisa berkembang sendiri.

Sehingga, sampai saat ini, mereka sedang mengembangkan ECU (Electronic Control Unit) agar bisa dilokalisasi juga, karena untuk mobil Esemka, hanya tinggal ECU yang masih mengambil dari Siemens.

Harapannya, tambah Ari, semua pihak bisa memberikan apresiasi, karena biar bagaimanapun, produk anak-anak SMK ini akan terus berkembang, terus menyempurnakan diri, karena tidak ada yang instan.

"Seperti juga Toyota Kijang, dari mulai Kijang buaya yang tanpa jendela kaca, sampai sekarang ada Kijang Innova, nah, kita juga bakal seperti itu perkembangan kedepannya, tunggu saja," pungkas Ari.