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Europe to Test-Drive Chinese SUV
The Landwind car factory in Nanchang is the first Chinese plant to export to Europe. The first 200 vehicles reached the Belgian port of Antwerp on July 4.
(By Peter S. Goodman -- The Washington Post)
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Bijvelds shipped two sample models to Europe and hired engineers to work on making them emissions compliant. Three months and $1.8 million in investment later, he had the fix: the addition of about $350 worth of gear.
In March, Bijvelds became Landwind's sole distributor in the European Union's 25 countries, plus Switzerland. He has since ordered 600 vehicles.
Neither Bijvelds nor Jiangling officials will disclose the price he pays, but the retail base price is about $20,400. That includes 64 percent in taxes payable to the Dutch government. The closest competitors, Hyundai and Kia, sell in Europe for at least $33,000.
Bijvelds plans a slow roll-out. He picked the Netherlands first because there is no domestic competitor. He plans to open 10 dealerships in Belgium in August and is exploring the German market as well. He says he will easily sell 3,000 cars this year.
Bijvelds has spent nothing on marketing. News spreads by word of mouth, as a stream of customers appears here, to the first and only dealership.
"It's a nice-looking car, a lot of space and a really good price," said Peter Karel, 58, as he signed the papers to buy a 2.8-liter diesel model for about $25,000 -- less than half the price of a Nissan he had considered. As for the vehicle's national origin, Karel shrugged. "When Nissan first came to Europe, people said, 'Well, it's a Japanese car and we don't know what that is,' but it's worked out well," he said. "If it's a good ride, then fine."
Special correspondent Jason Cai contributed to this report.
