CHERY Automobile Co Ltd announced it has teamed up with a Uruguayan company to make and export bulletproof sedans, a niche market no Chinese car maker has yet to tap.
　　
The nation's fourth-largest car maker in terms of sales last year has signed a contract with Bognor SA through one of its subsidiaries to set up a joint venture in its home city of Wuhu in Anhui Province.

Chery will own 70 percent of the new venture which will specialize in making bulletproof cars. Bognor will hold the remaining stake. Both parties did not disclose financial details of the deal.

The Chinese company said its mainstream model, the Oriental Son, will be the first car to be bulletproofed, and its target markets will be overseas. Next year, the auto maker plans to make its Tiggo sport utility vehicle and a commercial vehicle, dubbed V5, bulletproof.

"The bulletproof car market is an emerging one," said Fan Shiwei, who is in charge of the project. He said no Chinese car makers have driven into this market yet.

The prototype bulletproof Oriental Son model passed tests in Uruguay last year and was used to ferry Wu Bangguo, chairman of China's National People's Congress, during his visit to the country in September.

Auto analysts said Chery hopes to extend cooperation with more global auto giants and will increase its research and development capability as well as building a global recognition.

Source:佚名