New Chinese Car Brand in SA: BAIC (pronounced Bike)

[FiestaST]

A new Chinese Car Brand launches in SA. This one is interesting as it will actually be built in SA. As one of the tweets says...When last did a new brand build a factory right here?!

 

[FiestaST]

 

[KleinBoontjie]

:wtf:

EDIT: Sorry, I'm speechless. Look bad....

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

So, is it a car or a Baic?

 

[HavocXphere]

eh...they didn't even try to submit it for ncap testing.

Instead it went for the c-ncap. An inferior chinese copy of ncap. Yes really.

Think I'll rather walk.

It's good for SA investment though. Locally produced deathtraps are better than imported ones.

 

[FiestaST]

So, is it a car or a Baic?

It's a BAIC (Bike) Car

 

[itareanlnotani]

Its so not pronounced BIKE. We call it by the letters B A I C (Bee Ay Eye See) in China.

 

[Zoomzoom]

Way too expensive. Does SA really need another model in that size and price range? I'd much rather see a people's car in an affordable basic model.

 

[FiestaST]

Its so not pronounced BIKE. We call it by the letters B A I C (Bee Ay Eye See) in China.

Thanks for the Intel.

Are you familiar with the car brand? Hands on etc

 

[itareanlnotani]

Thanks for the Intel.

Are you familiar with the car brand? Hands on etc

Haven't seen one on the road here, most of the cars in Shanghai are typically western brands.
Non JV Chinese brands generally sold in the 2nd and 3rd tier cities.

Cars I have owned in China have included Beijing Cherokee, BMW 320i, BMW 328 convertible, BMW 735iL, and a Peugeot 206.
You can see how my fortunes have gone up and down over the years

I do need a new car, but I'm probably going for a fake Landrover (LandWind X7), or if I make a bit of cash, something electric.

The D20 is an older cheapy model - 2014. Pricier than say a QQ, but still not something that I'd want to buy myself.

http://chinaautoweb.com/car-models/senova-d20-hatchback/

A friend in Suzhou just bought one of these - https://www.carnewschina.com/2017/0...ior-goes-mitsubishi-cheap-and-saab-expensive/

Shanghai Auto Show is coming up next week, unfortunately I can't walk at the moment, so won't be going, otherwise could have posted some photos.

 

[Lupus]

That's a bit pricey for a new model trying to break in, what are the sales figures like on the Chinese cars? I mean I hardly see any driving around, okay I did see a Landwind but I thought it was a Land Rover the other day.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Going to give Chinese a miss for now.

 

[FiestaST]

BAIC’s R11-billion SA car investment: New D20 hatchback, sedan arrives

The latest addition to the growing ranks of Chinese automakers in South Africa is launching its first product range into the local market. Beijing Automotive Group Co (BAIC) has launched its D20 in SA, which arrives in both hatchback and sedan derivatives.

BAIC (curiously pronounced 'Bike') is investing millions in SA to create a vehicle factory capable of building its models locally. However, the automaker isn’t waiting for the local assembly in South Africa to start selling cars; in April 2017 it’s rolling out its model range, starting with the D20 hatchback (built in China).

So what exactly is the 'Bike' D20? It’s an aggressively-priced city car aimed at budget buyers, with prices starting from R149 000 for the hatchback and R209 900 for the sedan.

Design

The two D20 body styles, hatchback and sedan, measure 4m long, with the sedan being 282mm longer. If you’ve spotted similarities to a certain German MPV, you’re not far off; BAIC acknowledges the design resemblance: “Overall styling of the hatchback is reminiscent of the first-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class model.”

BAIC has a technology-sharing agreement with Mercedes-Benz and the D20 hatch and sedan range being launched in South Africa is built on the basic platform developed by Mercedes-Benz for its Smart ForFour.

Engines and suspension

The local D20 range comprises five hatchback derivatives and a single sedan option. The hatch can be fitted with either a 1.3-litre or 1.5-litre petrol engine and a five-speed manual or four-speed auto. The sedan is only available with a 1.5-litre petrol mated to four-speed auto.

Power is derived from two, four-cylinder petrol engines (1.3 and 1.5) capable of 75kW/128Nm and 85kW/148Nm respectively.
Power is sent to the front wheels via the five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed auto, with the latter having three mode settings; Eco for saving fuel, Snow for a smooth pull-away on uneven surfaces and Sport for a delayed shift when, says BAIC, “driving enthusiastically”.

Suspension is by means of MacPherson struts in front and a torsion beam at the rear. Disc brakes are fitted to all four wheels with ABS and EBD. Reversing sensors are fitted to all models. The steering column can be adjusted.

There are two trim levels; Comfort and Fashion.
The Comfort specification has fog lights, auto-on headlights, rain sensing wipers (except 1.3-litre model), power windows, leather-trimmed steering wheel, reversing radar and height adjustable headlights.

The Fashion spec adds electric sunroof, day-time running lights, alloys, auto folding exterior rear-view mirrors, audio system with 6.5” touch screen, GPS, USB, CD player, radio and six speakers with speed-sensitive sound level adjustment. Other features exclusive to Fashion derivatives include aircon, an electric sunroof, day-time running lights, folding side-mirrors (heatable).

The rear seat of the hatch is split 60:40 and the backrest can be folded to provide, claims BAIC, 1190 litres of load space, while the sedan’s luggage boot capacity is rated at 450 litres.

Safety

The D20 is fitted with front airbags, foglights, automatic fuel cut-off, height-adjustable headlights, ABS and EBD, child safety door locks, auto headlights and two ISOFIX mountings. Rain sensors are standard on all models except the 1.3-litre model.

Huge investment in SA

BAIC, together with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is investing up to R11-billion in South Africa, including a full-scale vehicle manufacturing facility, which will be the first one in South Africa, and Africa Continent, in the last 40 years. The factory is situated in the Coega Industrial Development Zone in Port Elizabeth. The construction of the first stage of the manufacturing facility is currently underway and the production is scheduled to start in early 2018.

What about dealers? BAIC says "The D20 model range will be sold and served by a newly-established, national network of 21 dealers covering most of the key cities and towns in the country."

The D20 is sold with a five-year/120 000km warranty with service intervals of 10 000km. According to BAIC: “There is a free service at 3000km. Service and maintenance plans are an option from the dealers”.

Prices
D20 Hatch 1.3M/T (Comfort) - R149 990
D20 Hatch 1.5M/T (Comfort) - R169 990
D20 Hatch 1.5M/T (Fashion) - R179 990
D20 Hatch 1.5A/T (Fashion) - R189 990
D20 Sedan 1.5A/T (Fashion) - R209 990

http://www.wheels24.co.za/NewModels...ment-new-d20-hatchback-sedan-arrives-20170410

 

[FiestaST]

BAIC D20 - specs and pricing in SA (2017)

BAIC, the 4th largest automaker in China, has launched in South Africa and will offer a range of vehicles, starting with the D20 hatchback. Details within…

There’s a new car brand in Mzansi and it’s called BAIC (pronounced ‘bike’). The arrival of BAIC in South Africa coincides with a massive equipment investment of up to R11 billion, to construct a plant in Port Elizabeth (which is currently underway) with local production expected to begin in the first half of 2018.

The BAIC D20 is based on a development of the platform of the first-generation Smart ForFour.

The BAIC SA Plant will start with a production capacity of 50 000 units per annum, and once fully operational, the plant will produce up to 100 000 units per annum with the intention of supplying vehicles to the rest of Africa. The construction of the plant will reportedly create more than 2 500 jobs during the construction phase while 10 000 jobs will be created directly and indirectly when the venture is fully operational.

South African consumers can expect a range of passenger vehicles, including SUVs and bakkies to be offered from BAIC in the future. To kick off its arrival in South Africa, BAIC is offering the D20 hatchback and sedan to customers from launch. For now, the D20 is imported from China, but not for long…

Neat, simple design for the D20 cabin, with comfortable cloth-upholstered seats fitted. Sunroof fitted to Fashion derivatives.

BAIC D20 – Key Details

The BAIC D20 hatchback range comprises 2 naturally aspirated engines, a 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre, while the sedan version is only offered with the 1.5-litre engine. The 1.3-litre unit has power and torque outputs of 75 kW and 128 Nm respectively, while the figures for the larger-capacity powerplant are 85 kW and 148 Nm of torque. BAIC claims a fuel consumption figure of 6.4 L/100 km for the 1.3-litre manual, 6.5 L/100 km for the 1.5-litre manual and 7.3 L/100 km for the 1.5-litre automatic.

There are two trim options available, the base-spec Comfort and the higher-spec Fashion trim option. A manual transmission is offered for both the 1.3 Comfort and 1.5 Comfort, as well as on the 1.5 Fashion hatchback. An automatic transmission is only offered on the high-spec 1.5 Fashion hatchback and on the 1.5 Fashion sedan.

Perceived interior quality in the D20 Comfort seems very good at first glance. Design similar to first-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class.

Given the aggressive pricing of the D20, the standard specification seems very generous. Fashion models will even have a comprehensive touch-screen infotainment system, a sunroof and climate control. All models get electric windows, rear-park distance control, two airbags, ABS with EBD, Isofix child-seat mountings at the rear and auto headlights. The 1.5-litre models even get auto wipers.

First Impressions

Rear legroom is exceptional in this segment of the market, but the seatbacks are very upright.

We did not have the opportunity to drive the BAIC D20 at the brand's launch in Johannesburg, but static first impressions are favourable. The build quality, in particular, will be a talking point, with the D20 seemingly boasting superior paintwork, welding, fit and finish etc. compared with most vehicles at the R150 000 mark. BAIC has been building high-quality cars in China for a long time (including Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai), so should have quality sorted. Most impressively, the warranty is very long (5-years/120 000 km).

The D20 also offers more space than other products at its price point. Rear legroom is very generous and the base of the rear seat lifts up and folds forward, allowing for the rear seatbacks to fold flat. I also appreciate the fitment of height-adjustment for the driver's seat.

We will update you as more official information becomes available. For now, take a look at pricing for the new BAIC D20 hatchback and sedan and look out for full review on Cars.co.za soon!

BAIC D20 – Price in South Africa

BAIC D20 1.3 Comfort M/T Hatchback – R149 990

BAIC D20 1.5 Comfort M/T Hatchback – R169 990

BAIC D20 1.5 Fashion M/T Hatchback – R179 990

BAIC D20 1.5 Fashion A/T Hatchback – R189 990

BAIC D20 1.5 Fashion A/T Sedan – R209 990

The BAIC D20 is sold with a 5-year/120 000 km warranty and the first service is free. An initial dealer footprint of 20 dealers will provide service to customers nationwide with the number expected to grow in coming months. BAIC also offers vehicle finance in partnership with ABSA.

http://www.cars.co.za/motoring_news/baic-d20---specs-and-pricing-in-sa-2017/43239/

 

[FiestaST]

Chinese D20 lands in SA to take on the Polo Vivo

Chinese car brands generally haven't had a very successful run in South Africa despite typically offering major price savings over established makes. Cars and bakkies from brands like Chery, JMC, GWM and FAW trickle out of local showrooms in small numbers, while we've seen the local demise of Chinese marques Chana and Geely.

But this hasn't discouraged newcomer BAIC (Beijing Automotive Group Co) from entering our market, and in a major way. China's fourth-largest automotive firm is building an R11-billion factory in Port Elizabeth's Coega industrial development zone, where from 2019 it will begin assembling vehicles for the local and export markets.

In the meantime, BAIC (which is pronounded "bike") this week launched an imported car, the D20, as its first product on local soil. At around four metres long it's a small car in hatchback and sedan derivatives available in 75kW/128Nm 1.3-litre and 85kW/148Nm 1.5-litre petrol guises, in five-speed manual or four-speed auto. The five-model range sells for between R149 990 and R209 990, placing it into price competition with the market-leading Volkswagen Polo Vivo.

BAIC has a technology sharing agreement with Mercedes-Benz and the D20 shares a platform with the Smart ForFour small car. Styling is also borrowed from Benz with the hatchback bearing a strong resemblance to the first-generation B-Class.

As per the usual Chinese-car formula, value for money is the big selling point here. The D20 is quite well kitted and standard features across the range include dual front airbags, ABS brakes with EBD, electric power steering, parking sensors, auto-on headlamps, and electric windows. There are ISOFIX mountings in the rear seats for child seats.

The more expensive Fashion versions are really specced to the hilt with a number of features that aren't commonly available in this price segment. In Fashion models you get an electric sunroof, daytime running lights, alloy wheels, automatic folding side mirrors, climate control, remote central locking, audio system with 16.5cm touch screen, navigation, USB, CD player, radio and six speakers with speed-sensitive sound level adjustment.

Rain sensors that automatically switch on the windscreen wipers are standard on all models except the 1.3.

The BAIC D20 will be sold through a national network of 21 dealers in the country's major centres. Prices include a 5-year/120 000km warranty with service intervals of 10 000km, with optionally available service and maintenance plans.

Journalists were not able to drive the D20 at Monday night's media launch in Joburg, but I sat inside the cabin of a hatchback on display and it seemed reasonably well put together. The dashboard plastics were hard but the general fit and finish seemed decent for the price and the styling had a modern vibe. It didn't have the cheap-and-nasty feel of some Chinese cars, particularly the earlier ones that came to our market.

The cloth-covered seats seemed comfortable, there was also good legroom in the back seat and the boot contained a full-sized spare wheel.

The two engines are modern units that on paper produce good outputs for their size, and come with variable-length intake manifolds to optimise power delivery across the rev range.

Until we get to experience one on the road however (and BAIC has not yet confirmed whether it will offer test drives) it's not possible to say how this Chinese newcomer stacks up in a highly competitive budget-car market against long-established rivals like the Vivo and Toyota Etios, among others.

BAIC D20 PRICES:

1.3 hatch Comfort, 75kW – R149 990

1.5 hatch Comfort, 85kW – R169 990

1.5 hatch Fashion, 85kW – R179 990

1.5 hatch Fashion auto, 85kW – R189 990

1.5 sedan Fashion auto, 85kW – R209 990

COMPETITORS

Renault Sandero 0.9T turbo Expression, 66kW – R159 900

Toyota Etios hatch 1.5 Xi, 66kW – R163 900

VW Polo Vivo hatch 1.4 Conceptline, 55kW – R172 300

Toyota Etios sedan 1.5 Sprint, 66kW – R180 500

VW Polo Vivo hatch 1.6 Comfortline, 77kW – R201 300

VW Polo Vivo sedan 1.6 Comfortline, 77kW – R209 800

http://www.iol.co.za/motoring/chinese-d20-lands-in-sa-to-take-on-the-polo-vivo-8616297

 

[pinball wizard]

Two hundred and ten thousand rand? What in actual **** is going on?

 

[Neoprod]

So, is it a car or a Baic?

The name is a clue...if you're considering this, rather get a bike.

 

[FiestaST]

CHINESE AUTOMAKER BAIC ENTERS SA WITH CUT-PRICE D20

Back in August last year, we reported that Beijing Automobile International Corporation (BAIC) had announced an R11-billion investment in South Africa, with the move described as “the biggest automotive investment in Africa in the last 40 years”.

The Coega Development Corporation, which operates the 11 500 hectare Coega Industrial Development Zone, said it had concluded a deal with BAIC for a completely knocked down (CKD) automotive manufacturing plant near Port Elizabeth, with production scheduled to start in early 2018. Reports at the time suggested that the BAIC factory in South Africa would build the X 25 SUV, the Yinxiang S6 and a pickup truck.

But the Chinese state-owned enterprise has decided to launch its first product in South Africa before production actually kicks off. And that vehicle is the D20 you see in the images above.

Locally, it will be offered in both hatchback and sedan form, with prices starting at R149 990 and running through to R209 990. The D20 will be sold through a newly established, national network of 21 dealers “covering most of the key cities and towns in the country”.

BAIC says that the D20 “draws on Mercedes-Benz’s Smart ForFour chassis” (and the hatch’s styling certainly draws on first-generation Mercedes-Benz B-Class looks), thanks to the automaker’s technology sharing agreement with the German giant.

The local D20 range comprises five hatchback models and one sedan, with the former body style offered with either a 1,3-litre (75 kW/128 N.m) or 1,5-litre (85 kW/148 N.m) naturally aspirated petrol engine (and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission) and the latter exclusively with a 1,5-litre engine and automatic ‘box. BAIC says both units are Euro 5 compliant.

Two trim levels will be on offer: Comfort and Fashion. Features of the Comfort model include rear foglamps, automatic headlamps, a rain sensor (bar the 1,3-litre model), electric windows, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, reversing sensors and automatic illumination of the luggage compartment.

The Fashion level adds an electric sunroof, day-time running lights, alloy wheels, automatic folding side-mirrors, an audio system with a 6,5-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, USB, CD player, radio and six speakers.

All variants feature disc brakes at all four corners (complete with ABS and EBD), two airbags, and a pair of Isofix mountings in the rear. The BAIC D20 boasts a five-year/120 000 km warranty, with service intervals of 10 000 km (the first service is required at 3 000 km, although it comes free).

Interestingly, the first unit of BAIC’s Zimbabwe Pickup SKD Project was last month assembled in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Pricing:
BAIC D20 Hatch 1,3 Comfort: R149 990
BAIC D20 Hatch 1,5 Comfort: R169 990
BAIC D20 Hatch 1,5 Fashion: R179 990
BAIC D20 Hatch 1,5 Fashion auto: R189 990
BAIC D20 Sedan 1,5 Fashion auto: R209 990

http://www.carmag.co.za/news_post/chinese-automaker-baic-enters-sa-with-cut-price-d20/

 

[FiestaST]

D20 App (poorly optimized on my Plus iPhoney):

 

[Pitbull]

I actually like it. Wonder how much the engine can take when it comes to modifications.