Hard Shoulder:IRELAND IS to get cars made in China from the start of 2011.
The Great Wall Motor Company, one of the few independent carmakers in China, has signed a contract with IM Group, which imports Subaru into Ireland, for IM to sell its cars throughout Europe.
IM will initially sell the Chinese-made cars in eastern Europe before brining them to Ireland and Britain in 2011.
IM was unable to confirm which of Great Wall’s cars will be offered by Irish dealers, although a spokesman said its European concept – the Phenom small family car – is ready for production and is likely to be the launch model.
IM also stressed all European-bound models will meet EU-type approval standards. “This will ensure that Great Wall models deliver high standards of crash-worthiness, equal to those of modern European and Japanese vehicles,” it said.
Pricing has not yet been announced but is expected to rival Korean competitors such as Kia.