No mention was made either of the creation of an American subsidiary called Brilliance Autokam, based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Headed by an American, David Shelburg, this company already has over 10 potential dealers willing to sell Brilliance cars in the US. Moreover, according to the Shanghai Daily newspaper, the company was close to a US launch, but chose to postpone it for two years due to the American economy instability.
Meantime, four models were shown at Cobo Center: the M1 and M2 sedans, cars of the size of a Hyundai Sonata with a 1.8-liter 170hp 4-cylinder engine; the M3 coupe, which is similar in size to the Tiburon and which shares the M1/M2 engine; and, finally, the FRV compact hatchback, which has the dimensions of a Chevrolet Optra5 and a 1.6-liter 106hp engine.
Brilliance is part of Brilliance Jinbei, a conglomerate founded in 1991 that specializes in the manufacturing of small minivans that are the size of a Dodge Caravan. The automobile manufacturing division was set up in 2000. At the same time, a plant capable of building 145,000 cars was built.
In 2007, Brilliance sold 114,317 mainly in China. The cars designed with the help of major companies such as Ital Design and Porsche are also exported in small numbers to Western Europe, Russia and Egypt. Finally, Brilliance became BMW partner in China, in 2003. It now assembles some of its products for the local market.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
Meantime, four models were shown at Cobo Center: the M1 and M2 sedans, cars of the size of a Hyundai Sonata with a 1.8-liter 170hp 4-cylinder engine; the M3 coupe, which is similar in size to the Tiburon and which shares the M1/M2 engine; and, finally, the FRV compact hatchback, which has the dimensions of a Chevrolet Optra5 and a 1.6-liter 106hp engine.
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| Brilliance M3 |
Brilliance is part of Brilliance Jinbei, a conglomerate founded in 1991 that specializes in the manufacturing of small minivans that are the size of a Dodge Caravan. The automobile manufacturing division was set up in 2000. At the same time, a plant capable of building 145,000 cars was built.
In 2007, Brilliance sold 114,317 mainly in China. The cars designed with the help of major companies such as Ital Design and Porsche are also exported in small numbers to Western Europe, Russia and Egypt. Finally, Brilliance became BMW partner in China, in 2003. It now assembles some of its products for the local market.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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