New Delhi, Feb 13 Even as slowdown dents the country's automobile sector, it has not been able to diminish the interest shown by China-based SUV manufacturer Faw Haima in India, where it sees vast potential to market its passenger cars.
The development assumes significance as many Chinese automobile manufacturers' like Great Wall Motors have entered into India lately.
"Though it's been declining in 2019, the Indian automotive market is still in the top of the global automobile consumption market and its market potential is still huge," said Williams Dong, GM, Haima Automobile International Corporation.
"Haima Auto will respond to the unique characteristics of the Indian market with a more rigorous attitude. On one hand, Haima Auto will deepen the investigation, enhance the local cooperation, and research how to integrate into the market," he said.
On the other hand, Haima seeks to break the routine and create "differentiation" in the market, he added.
According to the Haima General Manager, although Japanese and Korean auto brands have obvious advantages in India, the company "believes that Chinese auto brands have the capacity to meet this challenge".
In the past, Haima SUVs have been exported to many countries overseas, while the company has already set up production lines in Russia and the Middle East.
At present, Haima Automobile and Bird Electric have reached an initial cooperation intention in the field of new energy vehicles.
"We will enter the Indian market by producing electric vehicles in CKD mode," Williams Dong said.
The company is seeking cooperation opportunities in the field of traditional fuel vehicles too.
"We will introduce SUV products in time according to the needs of the Indian market, whether it is compact SUVs or electric SUVs," he said.
The company's investment plan in India is currently "under study and discussion".
"Both sides are making detailed work plans for plant construction, sales and after-sales service system establishment and localisation promotion," he added.
At the recently held Auto Expo in Greater Noida, Haima Auto exhibited its all-new Haima 7X, 8S, and new energy E1 products, of which Haima 7X is the first right-hand-drive model of Haima Auto.
(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@.in)
( With inputs from IANS )