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CMC Ties Up with Chinese Affiliate SEM in New-car Development

2012/06/25 | By Quincy Liang

Taipei, June 25, 2012 (CENS)--T.H. Liu, president of Taiwanese automaker China Motor Corp. (CMC), the local assembler of Mitsubishis and maker/exporter of CMC own-branded vehicles, recently said the company has started new-car development plans with its affiliated Chinese automaker South East (Fujian) Motor Co., Ltd. (SEM).

Originally a joint venture between CMC and Fujian Motor Industrial Group (FJMG), SEM is now a joint venture between CMC, FJMG and Mitsubishi Motors of Japan to produce, sell Mitsubishis and SEM vehicles.

Liu said SEM plans to launch a new model developed in partnership with CMC by mid- 2013, which will be produced in Taiwan and China.

In the past, Liu said, CMC focused on local assembly, sales of cars developed by Mitsubishi Motors of Japan, but has in recent years, coupled with its parent the Yulon Group, have accumulated sufficient experience and know-how in product development.

The remodeled Mitsubishi Colt Plus sub-compact produced and sold in Taiwan is a good example, Liu explained. CMC also participated in the development of SEM passenger cars as the V3 as well as the ready-for-debut V5 and V6 sedans.

Liu said that the tiny car market in Taiwan used to prevent local automakers from investing seriously in new-product development, forcing them to rely on OEM to survive.