+++ We've heard for years that automakers in CHINA hoped one day to export their wares to the United States. Ironically, the global economic slowdown could be what gives the Chinese incentive to finally make it happen. Chinese automakers ramped up production capacity to meet surging demand at home only to see the local economic conditions slow from 30 percent growth in 2010 to just 2.5 percent in 2011. On top of that, the Chinese auto marketplace has now become crowded with foreign and domestic competitors. "The rapid growth phase of China's auto market is coming to an end, and we see exports as one possible outlet for all the capacity we have built up", Xing Wenlin, Great Wall Motor vice president in charge of overseas markets, tells Reuters. While most Chinese-made cars aren't up to American quality expectations, developing automotive markets like Egypt, Ukraine, Brazil and Indonesia are clamoring for cheap, reliable transportation. Chinese automaker Chery said earlier this year it would be selling cars in Europe by 2015. Geely's purchase of Volvo in 2010 has boosted the Chinese company's automotive technology expertise and could help it achieve its goal of doubling exports to 70,000 units this year. While the U.S. is still out of reach for most Chinese automakers, Geely may begin selling a Chinese-made car in the UK by the end of this year. If successful there, a logical next market would be North America. +++ The FISKER Atlantic extended-range plug-in vehicle will start production about a year after its previously estimated mid-2012 date. The Atlantic, formerly known as Project Nina, will compete pricewise against the BMW 3 Series, as well as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4. That would put the model in the 60.000 euro pricerange, according to the publication. The model, which will still be produced at Fisker's Delaware plant, will have 300 horsepower, a 0-100 time of 6.5 seconds and emissions of 50 grams per kilometer of CO2. The status of the Atlantic has been in question since plans for the former General Motors plant in Delaware were put on hold once the U.S. Department of Energy froze most of the $529 million in loans earmarked for the California-based company. Fisker unveiled the Atlantic at the New York Auto Show last month, saying that the car's price tag would be "a much lower price point" than Fisker's Karma sedan. +++ When we asked Volkswagen last year why it was building a factory in the U.S., after having missed the irrationally volcanic era of car sales, we were told that even a 12-million-per-annum market was still too big to ignore. A report in Reuters paints FORD 's situation in China somewhat the same way: Ford is only now attacking the Chinese market, building plants and increasing local capacity there, after numerous other players have established their positions. Nevertheless, there's still much to play for. Whereas our market is expected to hang around in the 12- to 15-million-unit range, China's market is predicted to hit 30 million cars per year by 2020. Said one analyst, "People are saying the Asia Pacific auto industry by 2020 is half the world's industry". A little piece of China's colossal market will, anywhere else, still be considered a pretty big piece of pie. After years of false starts and missteps in The Middle Kingdom, Ford sells 6 cars in China now, but they weren't developed for the Chinese market and haven't taken off with buyers there. Over the next 3 years Ford intends to introduce 15 more cars, many of them SUVs, and 20 engines to the Chinese market that can make better impressions on the locals. That won't put it anywhere close to market leaders General Motors (which already sells 35 cars there and is lining up 60 more models, and has the preeminient Buick brand) or Volkswagen. But even the 3.1 percent share that one analyst predicted was in Ford's reach by 2020, up from 2.8 percent now, will be enough to turn Ford's currently desultory Chinese-market profits into something like a $700-million spigot once its production and offerings are stabilized. Ford is investing $600 million and $760 million in 2 projects with its joint venture partner Changan Ford Mazda Automobile to expand capacity to 1.5 million autos per year. At the moment, The Blue Oval has no plans to take Lincoln across the Pacific. +++ HYUNDAI announced plans to double its annual production capacity at its Hyundai Assan Otomotiv Sanayi (HAOS) facility in Turkey from 100,000 units today to 200,000 by the end of next year. The South Korean automaker said it took the decision because of the growing demand from Europe and Turkey for its A- and B-segment models. In addition to the B-segment i20 that has been built in Turkey since 2010, the HAOS plant will produce the next generation of the A-segment i10, starting from the end of 2013. "The year 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Turkey factory and we have produced more than 700,000 vehicles since 1997, contributing to Turkey’s economy", said Won-Shin Chang, President & CEO of HAOS, during a ceremony for the launch of production of the facelifted i20. "With the new investment to raise our production capacity to 200,000 units, we will be able to better meet the rising demand from our customers in Europe and Turkey", he added. To raise capacity in the Turkish facility, Hyundai and its suppliers will invest 476 million euro over the next 18 months. Hyundai said the expansion is expected to create 750 new jobs at the plant and about 2,400 when adding suppliers. +++ One month ago, JAGUAR LAND ROVER signed a joint-venture agreement with China's Chery Automobile Company. JLR's 12.1 billion yuan ($1.9 billion U.S.) investment, if approved, will pay for a plant in Changsu to build Jaguars, Land Rovers, engines and joint-venture models. The facility will also house a research and development center. Chery has submitted the paperwork to clear the deal with the Chinese government. The agreement must pass muster with the Ministry of Enviroment Protection, after which it will go to the National Development and Reform Commission. When the agreement was first inked an Indian analyst said, "it will be some time before we see the results"; a nod to the fact that government approvals can take a long time. Subaru is an instructive example, having signed an agreement with Chery a year ago. Sources said the deal was ready to be approved last November, but that was the last that has been heard of it: it's still waiting on the necessary signatures. But JLR has the long view in mind: it sold 38,890 vehicles in China last year (all imported); a figure representing double-digit sales gains for both brands. The proposed factory will have a capacity of 130,000 units, providing a healthy buffer in case the bureaucracy sits on things. +++ PEUGEOT wants a piece of the pie in the popular family sedan segment in Russia with the launch of its locally built 408 (a 4-door 308), which is already offered in several other regions around the world including China and South America. The 408, which has a 10 cm longer wheelbase than the hatchback, goes on sale in Russia with a starting price of 549,000 rubles (14,000 euro). Along with 3 different trim levels, the 408 offers Russian buyers a choice of three 1.6-liter petrol engines with 110 hp, 120 hp and 150 hp, and a more frugal 1.6-liter turbocharged diesel rated at 112 hp that returns a combined fuel consumption of 5.0 liter/100km. During the presentation of the 408, François Poirier, the Director General of Peugeot Russia said: "We are delighted to present to Russian customers a new, modern and practical family saloon that combines an expressive appearance, excellent road handling and a high level of safety". He continued: "The new car will be assembled at the factory in the Kaluga region. All the above mentioned qualities of the new 408 are supplemented with the very attractive price of 549,000 rubles". +++ PININFARINA projects it will turn a profit for 2012, thanks in part to debt restructuring. The Italian design studio hasn't seen a profit in 8 years, but signed a deal in April to restructure $182.6 million in debt. The move effectively stretched the studio's repayment deadline from 2015 to 2018. At the same time, Pininfarina announced it will likely see an operating loss this year, but a one-time gain of $57.6 million will result in the net profit. Last year, the company lost $8.3 million in the first quarter, though that figure has dropped to just under $4 million during the first quarter of 2012. Pininfarina also saw its net revenue increase by $2.9 million. The company designs vehicles for manufacturers the world over, including makes like Ferrari, Maserati, Rolls-Royce and Cadillac, though CEO Silvio Pietro Angori recently announced China is set to become the studio's largest market this year. That title was previously held by Germany. +++ The door has not yet closed on SAAB. Hoping for yet another 11th hour stay of execution, the defunct carmaker's chief union, IF Metall, has written directly to president Obama, asking him to intervene. While on the surface, this may seem silly, it's actually rather clever, even if it has little likelihood of working. With the United States government still owning 26 percent of General Motors, the Swedish union is hoping it can appeal to Obama to pressure General Motors into granting licenses to continue manufacturing Saab vehicles, according to the report. It\'s this sticking point that has torpedoed every attempt to forestall Saab's dissolution, as GM fears that were it to allow continued production of Saabs developed under GM's ownership, it would open up the possibility of intellectual property conflicts, particularly if a Chinese manufacturer that competes with GM's own Chinese partner, SAIC, acquires Saab. You have to admire Saab loyalists, as they clearly have not given up hope. But in this case, they just don't have any other options: Unemployment in the Saab hometown of Trollhättan has hit 40 percent, according to the report. +++