The Great Wall arrives in Australia

[Amaroo Park]

The Chinese invasion of the Australian automotive industry has begun in ernest. A line up Ute's from a company called Great Wall Motors has gone on sale yesterday.................................

[ROB IS THE STIG]

Any pics??

[johnh875]

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...2575DF002A21E8
They are based on old Isuzu/Holden Rodeo's with different front sheetmetal. I think they will succeed because businesses will go for the cheap vehicle - after all the Kia Pregio and Mitsubishi Express vans sell despite major safety issues. Passenger cars would be more of a challenge.

[Amaroo Park]

The engines arent Isuzu though. I believe they are old Toyota of sorts

[Razor]

Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce you to Lada's main rival.

[Amaroo Park]

lol rival to Lada? wouldn't think so

[Amaroo Park]

http://www.greatwallmotors.com.au/

[johnh875]

Saw one on the road yesterday, and quite a few outside a dealership

[JHamilton]

The SA220 looks just like a late model Nissan Frontier (Navara).

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Amaroo Park

lol rival to Lada? wouldn't think so

Any cars made by nations using the communist the political system equal crap more or less. Ever saw the Top Gear ep when they tested out commie built cars?

[Amaroo Park]

Quality is the massive question really. I certainly think that you would have to wait 5 plus years and see what the quality is really like.

[icemachine]

Everyone laughed at the first Honda's brought over in the early 70's. Not saying that Great Wall will acheive the same, but they are just the beginning. China has about 50-60 different "Marques" although many of them are just 1 plate knockoffs of Western vehicles. Others assemble CKD's imported from other JV partners.

[Amaroo Park]

The Great Wall recently got a 2 star rating in ANCAP crash testing here in Australia. 2 out of 5 is not good really

[bludvl_x19]

But better than the one star Proton Jumbuck.

You wouldn't catch me buying either however....

[johnh875]

Also better than the Mitsubishi Express (L300) van which is amazingly still sold here.

[Matt]

Front sheet metal looks to be off of a Nissan Frontier. I know for a fact the headlights are.

EDIT: Just saw the V240 version....

[Pro Racer]

Originally Posted by johnh875

Saw one on the road yesterday, and quite a few outside a dealership

one pulled up next to me at the lights yesterday i looked sideways and thought i was next to an old late 90's rodeo then after i took off i looked in my mirror to change lanes and seen the front of it an thought WTF. now after seeing this thread it explains it.

[Amaroo Park]

I havent seen as many of these things on the road as i would have expected. Perhaps the Australian buying public is a great deal smarter than I had given them credit for.

[GTRMagic]

The big NSW dealership is now located where Marshalls Mercedes operated from in Parramatta's Auto Alley.

ATECO & Mr Crichton are obviously looking for a volume replacement for the Kia brand (and previously Suzuki)

[Amaroo Park]

That he is and he will be supplimenting it soon with Chery!!

[Amaroo Park]

I wonder when some serious roadtests of these things will be done

[Gaz170]

Had to get an affordable new car recently, someone suggested a Chery, like seriously
They cost under 10 grand here, that's it as far as positives go.

Actually, for a good laugh, check out the website http://www.cheryinternational.com/A1/

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Amaroo Park

I wonder when some serious roadtests of these things will be done

Has anyone seen a serious road test or had any experience with the quality or lack of it in a Great Wall?