By Chang Yanjun

The 5th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition, being the last big international automobile exhibition held in China this year, lifted the curtain on November 20th. Big auto manufacturers brought a great many of new models. And along with China's SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) market gets increasingly mature, there were lots of SUV models in Guangzhou Exhibition, in which there were quite a few new models, and some even made their debut in this exhibition.

As China's auto market getting more and more diversified, SUV has turned to be the first choice for consumers who pursue individualization as well as the first choice for lots of families that want to buy a second vehicle. According to statistic data made by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, from January to October, the production and sales volume of vehicles was 7.2225 million and 7.1503 million respectively, up by 22.60 percent and 24.02 percent year-on-year. The production and sales volume of passenger cars was 5.1423 million and 5.0794 million respectively, increasing by 21.70 percent and 23.57 percent year-on-year, in which the production and sales volume of sports utility vehicle (SUV) was 0.2832 million and 0.2826 million respectively, growing by 52.33 percent and 53.24 percent compared with the same period of last year. The growth rate in SUV market is far beyond the overall growth of China's auto market.

Some insiders analyzed that the increase of SUV market is an inevitable trend, and it indicates the maturity of an auto market. In North America auto market, 9.6 million out of the 16 million new vehicles sold every year are of SUV and Pick-up vehicle types. As a rising auto market, the subcompact car is the first choice of families. But when it comes to a certain extent, the sales volume of SUV will get bigger and bigger.

Influenced by such a trend, in this year's Guangzhou Automobile Exhibition, lots of manufacturers brought their favorite SUV models.

Qashqai of Dongfeng-Nissan was announced to be home-made in the Exhibition. Ren Yong, both Vice President of Dongfeng Motor Group Company Ltd and Deputy General Manager of Dongfeng-Nissan Passenger Vehicle Company, said that Qashqai would come into the market officially in the first half year of 2008, and pre-order would be accepted since January 1st, 2008. Qashqai is the first model of Dongfeng-Nissan developed in Europe and is inosculated with the functions of both passenger cars and SUV. It is said that since Qashqai was launched Europe in this February, the total quantity of order has been close to 140 thousand. And the order quantity in Japan has reached 17,000 since May of this year. Dongfeng-Nissan is pretty confident about the sales volume of such a model in China.

Captiva, the first Chevrolet SUV of Shanghai GM, stroke its first pose on the stage publicly, Chevrolet Captiva, which was introduced to China as an import model, includes two engines, such as 2.4 liter L4 and 3.2 liter V6. Captiva is an all-road SUV based on the latest compact SUV platform of GM, making a success upon coming into the market.

Sportage, a home-made model of Dongfeng Yueda Kia, which came into the market in Shenzhen on October 25th, drew great concern people in the exhibition. As the first SUV model of Dongfeng Yuda Kia, Sportage combines the multi-functions of MPV and handling of passenger cars; it is quite competent in the top and medium-grade SUV market in China.

Changfeng Leopard CS6, which came into the market over one week before the opening of the exhibition, appeared in the display of Changfeng together with other vehicle models. Leopard CS6 is the first city SUV of Changfeng with its completely independent intellectual property rights. It was told that Changfeng shall launch CS7 between 1.8 liter and 2.0 liter next year. At present, Changfeng has already had 5 series include Pajero, Leopard CFA, Leopard Feiteng, etc, which have a total of nearly 30 models.

In addition, Dongfeng Hongda Automobile Company Limited launched two models: new CR-V manual transmission classic and luxury, and therefore the number of CR-V series has increased to 5. The all range SUV of Toyota, new Highlander, also ascended the stage with make-up. The 7th generation new Land Cruiser of Toyota also came out for the first time and is named "Land Cruiser". FJ Cruiser, an import SUV of Toyota that will enter into China market soon, was also laid out on the same display.

There are lots of SUVs with city type among the models. The city SUV sprung up since 2004, and then the SUV market began to be segmented. On the one hand, there are traditional SUVs represented by Paladin and Terracan; on the other hand, there are city leisure vehicle models represented by new CR-V and Tucson that focus on comfort. But city leisure SUV has dominated SUV market. Jeep, which is famous for producing professional off-road vehicles, launched its "City SUV" Compass not long ago. The fast growth of city SUV population promoted the development of overall SUV market, which then gives wider space to the development of city SUV. It is believed that the city SUV will develop its ability to full in the future. Some experts in the circle predicted that the sales of city SUV will grow by 30 percent in 2008, and there will be more new SUV brands.

SUV, being called as "gas-guzzler", has made marked progress in respect of energy saving and environment protection. Lots of city SUVs in the market are quite competent in the fields of fuel saving and environment protection. Moreover, lots of manufacturers have made SUV more and more energy-saving and environment-friendly by using new materials and improving the dynamical system, making some environment-friendly vehicle models have a good sale in the market. In this Guangzhou Automobile Exhibition, we could also see the models, like Lexus's RX400h (the first gas-electric hybrid SUV in the world) and diesel Hover CUV of Great Wall Automobile. Being equipped with diesel-power with Great Wall's independent research and development, Hover CUV contributed a lot to the leading position of the company in SUV market.

In this year's Guangzhou Automobile Exhibition, auto manufacturers made a collective exhibition of new SUV models. The consumers feasted their eyes and felt amazing about so many choices, but they can't help predicting that the competition in SUV market next year would be more intensified.