|
[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
About 30 per cent more cars are expected to be sold in 2006. This year's Auto Expo in Beijing is packed with ideas on how stand out among the crowd. As our features correspondent Jennifer Pak reports, personalizing your car is all about attitude.
 (right-click, save as)
Driving in major Chinese cities is hardly gratifying for those who have the need for speed. Traffic in Beijing is jammed from morning till night.
But that's not stopping some from wanting to make their vehicles have the LOOK of a sports car.
Shi Zhanhong of Gangjiu Company is a supplier to auto body shops. He deals mostly in products that change the look and feel of a car. In North American terms, we call it "supping up."
Shi says he's seen a lot change in the business over the last 10 years.
"Before people's demands were more on the outside. Like changing the exterior, changing the tire rims. But now people have very high expectations. Now they want speed, steadiness, hard or softer shock springs, and detailing."
Shi says many will drop tens to hundreds of thousands yuan to supe up their cars. He says these are mostly men between the ages of 20 and 40 who like racing - those who have style and personality.
"They figure that their cars may not be worth as much as BMWs or Mercedes Benz, or cars that are very popular, more fashionable, often thought of as more upscale. But they'd think, 'My car may not be that hot, but I can change it to go faster … plus I like it.' So they'll go change it."
In China, cars are seen as a status symbol. People selling SUVs and related products are trying to sell to people that bigger is better.
Xin Zheqiang is the General Manager of Zhongshan Jinguang Auto Commodity Factory.
"It can elevate your status driving a bigger car. It gives you a sportier feel. If you have the money, of course you'd want to. The bigger the vehicle, the better as 4 by 4's go."
If size matters, then the domestic version of the American Hummer is the king of the road.
Wuhan's Xiaolong Auto-Tech company is hoping to start selling the XL 2060L that measures the size of a small tank, by 2007.
Managing Director Ye Zhao Guo says they hope the Hummer look-a-like will be put to good use by people traveling outside the major cities.
"Because of our geographical layout, we have a lot of rough terrain, so we need good quality SUVs."
Ye wouldn't reveal the price of their car.
But people crowding around the Hummer look-a-like knew that having attitude on the road, definitely doesn't come cheap.
China Drive is one of CRI's radio programs aired from Monday to Friday. We pick the most interesting life reports from China Drive. Stay tuned.
1 2 3 4 5
|
Director: Liu Chi