JAC exports 500 light trucks to Brazil

Anhui-based JAC, one of the top 10 auto makers in China, exported 500 light trucks to Brazil on Oct 26, marking the country's largest single deal to a South American nation and showcasing the firm's advanced technology.

As one of the two major auto makers in East China's Anhui province, JAC (Jianghuai Automobile Co, Ltd.) made 40 billion yuan ($6.3 billion) in sales with 500,000 autos in 2011. It is now ranked 249 in China's top 500 list, numbering six in Anhui and first in the provincial capital of Hefei. JAC was founded in 1964.

At a ceremony for the export of the JAC light trucks to Brazil, Yu Cairong, JAC's deputy general manager and general manager of JAC International, said the shipment showcased the outstanding image of Chinese commercial vehicles and signaled JAC's success in gaining a stronghold in Brazilian market.

Yu stressed that with full-line independent brand vehicles including light, medium and heavy-duty trucks, MPV, SRV, sedan, bus chassis, buses, engineering machinery, engines and gearboxes, JAC's products are being sold in more than 100 countries and regions in the world.

Oscar Yu, head of JAC International's Light Commercial Vehicle Department, said JAC's auto exports to Brazil - the 4th largest car market in the world - hit 37,725 units last year and won wide applause from the local buyers.

Starting to explore the Brazilian market in 2009, JAC began to conduct cooperation with Brazil's largest car dealer SHC Group in 2011, he said, affirming that after one-year of R&D, the current 500 trucks being exported represent the highest standard of China's light trucks in N1 category.

JAC President An Jin noted that currently with more than 100 4S stores and 13 KD (knockdown) plants overseas, JAC aims to achieve sales of 1.6 million units with sales revenue of 100 billion yuan, 2.5 times the present figure by the end the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15).

Marcos Santos, SHC Group representative who came to Hefei for the ceremony, noted that his firm - with a sales history of 25 years in Brazil - is very proud of its cooperation with JAC, and hopes to see better links in the future.

The present 500 light trucks signaled a major opportunity for JAC in Brazil, and also exhibited JAC's advanced technology, he said in an interview.

Jean-Claude Moyen, sales director of ZF Drivetech (Hangzhou) Co Ltd, said at the ceremony that as a great nation, China will certainly witness a success in Brazil, which has a great potential in auto sales.

The 500 light trucks being exported to Brazil also use technology from ZF, which is a multinational company based in Germany, with 121 plants in 27 countries worldwide with a full staff of 72,000.