Chinese Auto Maker FAW Launches Car Sales in Russia

VIENNA – Queen Group, the Russian importer of FAW Group cars, launches sales of the Chinese brand.

Russian customers can place preliminary orders for FAW’s Besturn B50 sedan, with the first cars to be delivered to buyers in early August. The first 500 units already are on the way to Russia, where Queen Group has a dealer network of 145 outlets.

Queen Group plans to import about 33,000 of the China-built cars into the country over a 3-year period, including 3,000 by the end of 2012. General Director Alexander Gnyezdyuk says FAW also plans to sell other models, including an SUV, in the country. The Chinese auto maker also expects to add its V-2 minivan to the Russian market this fall.

The Besturn B50, powered by a 103-hp 1.6L 4-cyl. gasoline engine, starts at RR499,000 ($15,300) in Russia.

Queen Group has gained experience as an importer of cars in the low-cost segment. From 2003-2007, the company was the Russian importer of Uzbekistan-built Daewoo models. It also brought Ukrainian ZAZ cars to Russia and Kazakhstan between 2009 and this spring.

The Russian company has the rights to sell FAW cars in Kazakhstan, as well.

Queen Group sold about 20,000 ZAZ Chance cars, formerly known as the Daewoo Lanos, in Russia last year. The Ukrainian auto maker did not extend its contract with the importer after it expired in April and instead founded its own Russian import operation.

FAW cars were sold in Russia some years ago. At the time, the Chinese auto maker considered car assembly in the country, but its plans never materialized and sales were halted during the global economic crisis of 2008.

In recent years, FAW has been discussing assembly projects with Avtomobilnaya Kompaniya Derways, the Russian assembler of several Chinese-made brands, but no agreement has been reached.