Beijing Auto announces own-brand product development plans

Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings (BAIC) has announced its own-brand product development plans for the next couple of years, reports Asia Pulse. The automaker aims to complete testing of its locally developed automatic transmission (AT) by the end of this year and conduct research into its BC802 turbocharged powertrain to be mass-produced by the first half of 2011. Having already secured access to platforms and related technology from General Motors’ (GM) Saab brand, BAIC will develop and launch a modified version of the Saab 9-5 model in the local market by the end of 2010. The company said in a statement that annual output of its self-developed vehicles will reach 100,000 units next year, with three new models due to be launched in the Chinese market before early 2012. (January 21, 2010)