Roewe

Roewe 荣威
Industry Automotive
Founded 2006
Headquarters Shanghai, China
Products Automobiles
Parent SAIC Motor
Website www.roewe.com.cn
Roewe
Simplified Chinese 荣威
Traditional Chinese 榮威

Roewe is a vehicle marque created by the Chinese automaker SAIC Motor in 2006. Roewe vehicles were initially based on technology acquired from defunct English carmaker MG Rover.[1] SAIC was unable to purchase the rights to the Rover brand name (which was bought by Ford instead) and created the Roewe marque as a replacement.[2] The MG name is preferred in most markets outside China.

Roewe can be considered an indigenous Chinese luxury vehicle brand name[3] alongside others such as Hongqi.

Name

The name Roewe originates from SAIC's failure to acquire the Rover brand name from BMW c. 2005 (it was instead sold to Ford in 2006,[4] and the brand is currently owned by Tata Motors). Composed of the Chinese characters Róng and wēi, which roughly mean "glorious power", the name is a transliteration of Rover, although SAIC has stated that it is derived from Löwe, the German word for lion. Loewe, pronounced much like Roewe by Chinese speakers, is also the name of a Spanish manufacturer of luxury leather goods.[5]

History

SAIC purchased technology relating to the Rover 75 and Rover 25 after the 2005 collapse of MG Rover, and the Roewe marque first appeared on a version of the 75, the Roewe 750. Originally intending to purchase all assets of the failed British company, SAIC was outbid by Nanjing Automobile.[4] In 2007, SAIC merged with Nanjing Auto, so it now controls those MG Rover properties, such as the MG name and a Birmingham factory, the Longbridge plant, that it was initially unable to acquire.[6]

English engineering firm Ricardo assisted the development of early Roewe models and set up a new company in the UK, Ricardo (2010) Consultants Ltd, which helped bring the 750 to market.[2] According to SAIC, work on the vehicle was also done in China.[7] In 2007, Ricardo (2010) Consultants was purchased by SAIC and renamed SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre.[8] It employs over 200 British ex-Rover engineers.[9]

Current models

Roewe 950/ e950

Roewe 950

The Roewe 950 is a B-plus class or E-segment executive saloon and the flagship model of the Roewe range. It was launched in April 2012 and is based on the long wheel base version of General Motors' Epsilon II platform, which it shares with the Buick Lacrosse.[10][11] The 950 was developed over a three-year period at a cost of around 1.8 billion yuan.[12]


Roewe 360/360 Plus

Roewe 360 Plus

The Roewe 360 was the replacement for the outdated Roewe 350. However the 350 remains to be in production serving as the cheapest model in the Roewe product range. The Roewe 360 shares the underpinnings of the MG 5 hatchback and the MG GT sedan.


Roewe E50

Roewe E50

The Roewe E50 all-electric supermini was unveiled at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition as a concept car.[13] In November 2012, SAIC introduced the production version of the E50 for the Chinese market with sales commencing in 2013.


Roewe RX8

Roewe RX8

The Roewe RX8 is Roewe's flagship full size SUV that debuted in April 2018 on the Beijing Auto Show, sharing platforms with the Maxus D90. [14]

Roewe RX7/ Marvel X

Roewe Marvel X

The Roewe RX7 is a mid-size CUV with a fastback. The electric version dubbed the Marvel X debuted during the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

Roewe RX5/ eRX5/ ERX5

Roewe RX5

On 9 June 2016, Alibaba officially unveiled the Roewe RX5, its first “internet car” in collaboration with SAIC. The RX5 is available for pre-order; it is priced upwards of RMB 148,800 ($22,300) with deliveries scheduled to start in August 2016.[15] According to Roewe CEO Wang Jian, the new internet technology will allow the joint venture to quickly adapt its cars to become self-driving.[16] Alongside the regular RX5, the plugin hybrid eRX5 and the full electric ERX5 with subtle styling differences were also revealed at the same time.

Roewe RX3

Roewe RX3 in Shanghai

In September 2017, the production of Roewe's subcompact crossover RX3 has started.[17] Developed by the SAIC UK Technical Centre, the third Roewe SUV model, Roewe RX3 is positioned right below the RX5 and will compete against B-segment crossovers such as the Buick Encore and Ford EcoSport.[18] The Roewe RX3 also shares the underpinnings of the MG ZS SUV.

Roewe i6/ei6

Roewe i6

In November 2017, SAIC launched the replacement of the Roewe 550, the Roewe i6 sedan which shares the platform with the second generation MG 6 sedan.[19] As for ei6, the hybrid version was also launched into the market at the same time.

Roewe i5/Ei5

Roewe Ei5

Roewe i5 is a compact station wagon sharing the platform with the Buick Excelle GX wagon. The all-electric version called the Ei5 was first introduced and provides a range of 310km. The Ei5 made its debut at Auto Guangzhou 2017. Roewe will launch an entry-level Ei5 model with a range of 251 km.[20]

Former models

Roewe W5

Roewe W5 in Shanghai, China

Roewe launched the W5, its first SUV, at the 2011 Auto Shanghai motor show. The W5 is based on the SsangYong Kyron and is powered by the same 1.8 litre engine as used in the Roewe 550 and 750.[21]

Roewe 850

The Roewe 850 is the license-built Chinese version of the SsangYong Chairman full-size luxury vehicle.

Roewe 750

Roewe 750

The Roewe 750 is an executive saloon that was produced by Roewe in China between 2006-2016, based on the Rover 75. Launched in October 2006 and codenamed SAC528 during development, the wheelbase of the Roewe 750 is stretched by 103 mm (4.1 in) compared to the Rover 75.[2] The drivetrain is a 2.5L V6 petrol engine(184bhp), based on the Rover KV6 engine and designated NV6, and the gearbox is a brand new 5-speed automatic. The company claims that 85% of the car is improved. Later, a 1.8T (turbo) petrol engine based on the Rover K-series engine, delivering around 160 bhp (119 kW; 162 PS) was introduced. The standard 1.8T version Roewe 750 was priced at 180,000 Yuan (US$29,000 or £14,500) in January 2008.[3]

Roewe 550/ e550

Roewe 550

The Roewe 550 was formally launched at a 2008 motor show, and features LED lights on the rear; various audio, climate, and sat nav controls through a touchscreen; and a panoramic glass roof.

The 550 was developed by an Anglo-Chinese collaboration between the British consultancy firm Ricardo 2010 and SAIC's in-house development team.[22][23] Underneath, the 550 is based on a shortened Rover 75 platform and features a development of BMW's Z-axle system also used in the 75.[24]

Using a powerplant based on the Rover K series engine, options include 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre naturally aspirated or turbocharged petrol and 2.0 litre diesel engines. The 1.8 litre turbo (named "Kavachi" after a submarine volcano in the South Pacific) delivers around 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS), while the 2.0 litre diesel, complying with Euro IV emissions regulations, provides similar levels of power. A hybrid version was shown at the 2010 Beijing Autoshow.[25]

The Roewe 550 is sold as the MG 550 in Peru and Chile, but most export markets will only receive the sportier MG 6 derivative. Chinese-built MG 6 models for the UK market undergo final assembly at the MG Longbridge plant as of April 2011. Production will stay small at no more than 3,000 units per year.[26]

Roewe 350

Roewe 350

The Roewe 350 is based on the Roewe N1 concept car of 2009.[27] The production version was publicly launched at the Beijing Auto Show in 2010 with a SAIC-developed 1.5 L engine. The engine produces 107 hp (80 kW), but currently only meets Euro 4 emissions standards.[28] The 350 is produced at a former Nanjing Automobile production base in Pukou, China.[29] It is sold as the MG 350 in Israel, Peru, Colombia and Chile. SAIC revealed an all-electric version of the Roewe 350 powered by lithium-ion batteries in late 2010.[30]

Sales

A total of 155,336 Roewe vehicles were sold in China in 2013, making it the 29th largest-selling car brand in the country in that year (and the 13th largest-selling Chinese brand).[31]

Exports

Outside of China, Roewe-derived models are currently sold under the MG marque.[32]

In 2008, the Roewe 550 and 750 were launched in Chile under the names MG 550 and MG 750, respectively.[33] The smaller MG 350 and sporty MG 6 were displayed at the eleventh Santiago Motor Show in October 2010.[34]

European sales first began in Belarus, with an MG-badged version of the 550.[24] British car magazine Autocar tested the Roewe 350 in 2010 suggesting that the model would be built and sold in the UK, but Roewe denied this.[35] Nonetheless, as of April 2011 SAIC's MG6 (a reworked Roewe 550) commenced assembly at the old MG Rover plant in Longbridge. The European market cars feature certain improvements over its Chinese siblings, meeting Euro V rather than Euro IV emissions standards.[36]

References

  1. ↑ "Rover becomes 'Roewe'". The Daily Telegraph. 13 October 2006.
  2. 1 2 Adams, Keith (19 September 2008). "Roewe 750". AROnline. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Fang Yan and Tom Miles (27 December 2010). "SAIC invests $1.5 billion to boost own-brand car capacity: paper". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  4. 1 2 China debut for Rover-based car bbc.co.uk, Monday, 20 November 2006, 20:41 GMT
  5. ↑ Fairclough, Gordon (13 October 2006). "Over With Rover, China Firm Calls Car Line 'Roewe'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  6. ↑ REFILE-UPDATE 2-SAIC to make MG 6 in UK, upbeat on own-brand car reuters.com, Wed 25 November 2009 5:04 am EST
  7. ↑ SAIC Motor Technical Center SAIC Official Site
  8. ↑ 70. Business Combinations C. The Group as the acquirer... SAIC Motor Annual Report 2008, page 165
  9. ↑ Implement the Scientific Development Philosophy and Fulfill Corporate Social Responsibilities: Independent innovation, sustainable development of enterprise SAIC Official Site
  10. ↑ Sutcliffe, Ashley (12 April 2012). "Roewe | Roewe 950 hits the market, priced competitively". chinacartimes.com. China Car Times - China Auto News. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  11. ↑ Roewe website on 950 (2012). "荣威950,荣威950报价和图片,油耗测评-上汽荣威950官方网站". roewe.com.cn. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "Roewe setting the pace for refined domestic cars". China Daily. 18 June 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  13. ↑ "SAIC's First Pure-Electric Car, Roewe E50, to Hit Market in October". ChinaAuto Web. 2012-05-26. Retrieved 2013-02-09.
  14. ↑ Tycho de Feijter (29 January 2018). "Official Photos Of The Roewe RX8 SUV For China". Car News China. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  15. ↑ Jon Russel (6 July 2016). "Alibaba unveils its first smart car — and it's available for pre-order now". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  16. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3677374/China-joins-race-build-self-driving-cars-Leading-venture-says-step-vehicles-driverless-technology.html#ixzz4FJ02vp3I
  17. ↑ "Roewe RX3 goes off production line at third plant of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle". Gasgoo. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  18. ↑ "SAIC working on developing second own brand Roewe SUV". Gasgoo. 7 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  19. ↑ "SAIC Roewe i6 2018 model starts at RMB 89,800". Gasgoo. 28 November 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  20. ↑ "Total sales of Roewe, MG soar 70% year on year". Gasgoo. 7 December 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  21. ↑ "Autocar 19 April 2011". Autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  22. ↑ Roewe cashes in on MG Rover's British heritage telegraph.co.uk,2:04 pm BST 25 August 2010
  23. ↑ "Roewe reveals reborn Rover 45". Auto Express. 5 May 2007.
  24. 1 2 Sloman, Adam (16 February 2010). "Roewe 550: the story so far". AROnline. Archived from the original on 1 May 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  25. ↑ Factbox: A glimpse of Chinese green cars reuters.com, Wed 21 April 2010 11:40 pm EDT
  26. ↑ Bailey, David (12 April 2011), "MG 6 Years on", Birmingham Post
  27. ↑ "Autocar 24 March 2010". Autocar.co.uk. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  28. ↑ "Autocar 10 April 2010". Autocar.co.uk. 10 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2011.
  29. ↑ Nanjing base sees 50,000th Roewe 350 SAIC Official Site, 24 December 2010
  30. ↑ SAIC's Roewe 350 all-electric car unveiled globaltimes.cn, 11 November 2010
  31. ↑ "2013 Passenger Vehicle Sales by Brand". China Auto Web. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  32. ↑ SAIC expands MG line-up in Europe bbc.co.uk, 12:38 GMT, Wednesday, 24 March 2010
  33. ↑ "MG: Morris Garages". MG Motors Chile (in Spanish). SKBergé Automotriz. Retrieved 12 March 2009.
  34. ↑ "Noticias: MG en el XI Salón del Automóvil" [News: MG at the 11th Motor Show]. MG Motors Chile (in Spanish). SKBergé Automotriz. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  35. ↑ "24 March 2010". BBC News. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  36. ↑ SAIC launches new MG car in UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China, 2011/04/13

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