This isn't about MG-Roewe, but the second quote is an interesting read about SAIC and one day we may see some connections between the two.
Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703649004575436662701506570.html
GM Plans High-Tech Engines With China Partner
General Motors Co. will team up with its Chinese partner to develop powertrain technologies geared at making cars more fuel-efficient, as the global race to prepare for tougher fuel-economy requirements heats up.
The move aims to boost the fuel economy of small gasoline engines by tapping such technology as turbo-charging -- previously used to go faster -- to travel longer distances on the same amount of fuel.
To meet fuel-economy regulations that are expected to become tougher in markets around the world, "we need to continue to advance technology levels of engines and transmissions not just in China but around the world," Daniel Hancock, GM's vice president of global strategic product alliances said in a telephone interview with The Wall Street Journal Wednesday.
GM and SAIC Motor Corp. Wednesday signed an agreement in Shanghai to jointly develop a family of several high-tech small engines and advanced automatic transmissions.
"Together, we will continue to quickly provide our customers leading-edge technologies that improve vehicle fuel efficiency and deliver robust performance," said Tom Stephens, GM vice chairman of global product operations, in a statement.
The new small engines, whose efficiency will be enhanced by technologies such as turbo-charging and gasoline direct injection, should provide "up to 20%" gains in fuel economy over powertrain technologies available today, Mr. Hancock said.
Those technologies, to be made available in engines ranging from one liter to 1.5 liters, are to be deployed in cars "in a few years" in China as well as markets around the world where GM operates, he said.
The engineering work will be conducted in Detroit and at the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, the two companies' joint venture engineering and design center in Shanghai, he said.
Mr. Hancock declined to elaborate further but noted that the new technologies are "all directed for the interest of [fuel] efficiency while still maintaining good vehicle performance."
The joint development is "significant" because it marks the first time when GM and SAIC – partners for more than a decade already – are going to develop "base" propulsion technology, going a step further than simply integrating existing engine and gearbox technologies into automobiles.
Mr. Hancock said the new technologies are necessary for the U.S. auto maker to meet more stringent fuel-economy requirements around the world. Those anticipated requirements are "definitely going to drive us toward coming up with more efficient propulsion systems and more efficient vehicles in the future," he said.
The joint GM-SAIC development program also could let GM close the gap that was opening with rivals in the development of fuel-efficient cars to deal with the prospect of tougher fuel-economy requirements in China. Ford Motor Co., for instance, is deploying a new family of high-tech engines called "Ecoboost" this year in the U.S. and later around the world.
The technologies, such as turbo-charging and gas direct-injection, that Ford have used to deliver up to 20% better fuel economy in "Ecoboost" engines are similar to those GM and SAIC say they plan to develop. Japan's Nissan Motor Co. has said it is working on similar technology. Ford is aiming to launch in China cars with "Ecoboost" engines late this year. By 2013, the Dearborn, Mich., auto maker is expected to be producing approximately 1.5 million "Ecoboost" engines globally.
Source: http://blog.qq.com/qzone/742924787/1282178063.htm
Why SAIC can "stand up to the master"
August 18, SAIC and GM announced that the two sides will jointly develop a new generation of environmentally friendly energy-saving powertrain technologies, including high-performance small-displacement engine series and dry dual clutch transmission. R & D results of bilateral cooperation will not only be used in domestic, but also will be used in General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Group operations that pertain to all global product and common Xiangyou worldwide intellectual property rights.
Intellectual property means that the two sides shared new technology in a relatively equal status gained in the history of China's automobile industry, it can be said is a historic one, a joint venture in China for many years finally an anti "child bride "The grievance identity, turning masters of.
Before that, the joint venture in China's position can only "tragic history" to describe.
Almost all joint ventures, foreign higher than the Chinese side the right to speak. For each of a joint venture production of foreign brand vehicles, foreign parties have to pay to 'brand royalty'; car trial production in the domestic market, production, the same charge 'transfer fee', or even the introduction of a joint venture to test, manufacture of equipment , should be charged 'equipment cost'. And all components of procurement have to listen to foreign parties to Beijing Hyundai, for example, most of its components must be from the modern Mobis procurement. Moreover, the foreign party will put some in their own countries have already phased out the technology, bring China to the Chinese people with 忽悠. What is basically foreign to the technology, the Chinese side on the technology ... ... so unequal treaties and many others.
Then, the SAIC Why can "slave" to "General", stand up for master?
First, China has become the world's most promising auto market.
2009, China became the world's largest car market, car sales double over 13 million, which gave the Chinese side of the joint venture a great bargaining power, to face their foreign partners.
Affected by the global financial crisis, common to this car can be said to Shangdebuqing Forum veteran. GM global sales in 2009 to 7.48 million, down 10.6% year on year. But he badly weakened, the Chinese market has given him the most crucial support in 2009 GM sold in the Chinese market is still up to 1.8264 million, sales increased by 67%. The first half of this year, GM sales in China is rapidly accumulated up to 1.21 million, surpassing the 1.08 million in U.S. sales. This is also 102 years since General Motors set up the overseas market sales for the first time more than the U.S. mainland, the Chinese market and it has become GM's largest car market today. Thus, there is no reason not to pass the Chinese market for its global core market lock, nor dare the Chinese market lightly, if he is experienced in the Chinese market as Fiat, Suzuki, PSA failure as GM will only will be demise.
Fiat why they failed in the Chinese market and the key reason is the joint venture partnership with discord. Because they fear a joint venture partner "steal" technology, will in the international market to get out of cars in China to produce, import parts through the sky-high claims to earn a profit, greatly hurt the joint venture initiative. While any of the models have improved in their headquarters, thus greatly reducing the joint venture, the responsiveness to market changes.
GM, after all, is the depot for many years after the veteran, they will not take their old path of Fiat, GM to help SAIC is helping to understand themselves, only to establish a strong joint venture, they can together in the Chinese market Zongheng Bai , invincible. So GM will take the initiative to set up pan-Asia-Pacific region in China R & D center, will take the initiative to "make" a 1% stake in Shanghai GM to Shanghai Automotive to realize the absolute controlling stake. The general pay too soon paid off, in the Chinese market, Shanghai GM sales for three consecutive years won the league title.
While in helping SAIC, GM can be obtained more and achieve a real sense of win-win, GM why not?
Second, the rapid growth of SAIC has won universal respect.
When asked to Shanghai Automotive's role in the cooperation, the Hu Maoyuan that GM has a strong in R & D base, the Shanghai Yi Zhi cars are low-cost R & D management experience in R & D output of Shanghai Automotive Touru Shao management Moshi Jubeiyoushi fast, Both sides can learn from each other.
After many years of experiences, SAIC's own R & D capabilities have been enhanced, and SAIC's own brand vehicles, "Rong Wei" in Chinese market success, but also for general admiration.
And general first came to China 12 years ago compared to today's Shanghai Automotive, has not previously unconditional cooperation that the vulnerable groups. GM would like to earn in China pours, they must give SAIC more returns.
SAIC stand up for the owner to the joint venture, the Chinese opened a good start to the Chinese automotive industry has turned a historic one, also hope to learn more Chinese cars SAIC, stood up in the joint venture for the owner, the real to achieve "market for technology!"
