Industry gearing up for Guangzhou show (2)

Japanese brands

Although Japanese brands have suffered from a dwindling market share since September - with sales down 33.7 percent in October and declining 55.2 percent from the same month last year - they have not cut their budgets for the Guangzhou show. The southern market has long been the stronghold for Japanese brands and home to their sprawling manufacturing facilities.

According to show organizers, the scale of Japanese displays is on par with last year, with Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru and Suzuki all bringing rich portfolios.

Reports said Toyota and its luxury brand Lexus will display 46 models - including concept cars, domestically built models and imports - in a 4,500 sq m exhibition area, Toyota's biggest in the history of the Guangzhou show.

The Toyota Venza, a medium-sized MPV set to be introduced to China next year, and the Lexus hybrid 600hL will have their China premieres. The Lexus LFA super-car will also make its debut in China.

Toyota China said even the sharp sales decline will not change its Chinese strategy. The automaker vowed to offer more choices for Chinese customers in the future.

Honda's Concept C, a medium-sized model developed for Chinese customers, will make its first appearance before entering the showrooms next year. The car will be produced at Honda's joint venture with GAC.

Honda will also launch the new Spirior made at its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Corp.

The price of the hybrid car Insight from Dongfeng Honda will be unveiled at the show.

And the RLXConcept, the new flagship model for Honda's luxury brand Acura, will have its Asian debut in Guangzhou.

Dongfeng Nissan will display the all-new imported sports car 370Z and an electric car that will hit the market in 2013.

Nissan's luxury brand Infinit will display the all-new seven-seat crossover SUV JX.

Mazda's sales in the first 10 months dropped 9 percent while October plummeted 45 percent year-on-year, will bring its largest SUV, the CX-9 and the TAKERI concept model for the all-new Mazda 6 that had its world premiere at the Moscow auto show late August.

Both models will hit the Chinese market next year.

The Guangzhou show will last to Dec 2, three days longer than last year.

xuxiao@chiandaily.com.cn

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