Otro automóvil eléctrico chino: el Haima MPe Concept

En el último Salón del Automóvil de Shanghai la apuesta por los vehículos eléctricos fue más notoria que en ediciones anteriores. Haima es una de las firmas que ha presentado dos coches eléctricos, el MP y el MPe.

El MPe es un pequeño vehículo eléctrico urbano. Puede alcanzar los 120 km/h de velocidad máxima y recorrer hasta 200 km con una sola recarga.
 
Su sistema Plug-In le permite enchufar el vehículo en cualquier toma de corriente convencional. Las baterías de litio son de desarrollo propio, una de las grandes ventajas del país, que se une a otras, como un mercado en expansión, las grandes reservas de litio en el Tíbet y unos salarios muy inferiores a los de Europa, Japón y Estados Unidos.

Todavía es un prototipo, pero el avance de los chinos supera todas las previsiones. La gran fábrica del mundo es muy probable que domine la industria del automóvil de forma indiscutible.

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Haima Brings New Strategy and New Models to Shanghai Auto Show

The 13th Shanghai International Automobile Exhibition will open on April 20, 2009. “Science & Technology Drive Blue Future” is the theme for Haima on this show. Haima brings the new strategy “Blue Engine” and new models with several platforms to the auto show, which indicates Haima’s technical strength and advanced development layout.

Aim to become the “Expert of Medium Class Car”, Haima brings many new great models to Shanghai. According to Mr. Qin Quanquan, vice chairman of the board of Haima Group, the strategical layout of Haima covers four platforms and seven product series. The platforms include A00 class, A0 class, A class and B class; and the product series include MPV, SUV and other models.

Haima also brings two models of electric cars—Me and Mpe. Me is one pure electric car, which could run 160km with one time charge. Developed by Haima Shanghai R&D center, Mpe is Haima’s most advanced new energy model.

Mpe applies parallel electrical structure of high-power supercapacitor system and high-capacity lithium-ion power battery system, which ensure the excellent of Mpe’s drivability. 

The electric passenger vehicle of Haima3 is equipped with high-efficiency electric driving system supported by high-power and high-octane lithium-polymer battery packs, which provides excellent environmental performance while generating great driving power. The fuel consumption of this vehicle is only one fifth of equivalent-class vehicle, which is really a great temptation.

The layout of new platforms and new strategy not only indicate that Haima has made great progress in product development and planning, but also indicate Haima undertakes a more mature and steady development.

FAW Haima Automobile Co., Ltd. is located in Jinpan Industrial Development Area of Haikou city, covering total land area of 3000 mu. The last two decades has witnessed the development of Haima Automobile into a large scale passenger vehicle manufacturing firm with domestically leading manufacturing facilities and process of stamping, welding, painting and final assembling for the annual production capacity of 150,000 units.

Currently, there are totally 3,000 employees working for Haima and another around 15,000 employees working for associated companies including Haima’s sales networks and suppliers. Haima Automobile has been benefited from its excellent capital structure and advanced management system, and shared product development, supply platforms and marketing networks with its strategic partners.

As a state-designated passenger vehicle manufacturing complex, Haima has played an important role in China ‘s manufacturing industry, ranking among the Top 500 of China’s industrial enterprises, and the Top 100 of China’s machinery industrial enterprises. Haima’s annual production and sales volume reached 130,000 units, making an increase of 60% on a year-on-year basis.

In 2007, Haima Stock Company accomplished the strategic layout of Haima Automobile in Central China’s automobile market and launch the new FSTAR brand by reorganization of Zhengzhou Light Automobile Co., Ltd., expansion of production capacity and R&D of new products. Sharing of Haima’s technology, R&D and supply system and entirely introducing the mature management mechanism and quality control system, Zhengzhou base will enrich products series through projecting mini-van segement as the breakthrough point.

Partnership with Mazda (1990-2006)

Haima had cooperated with Mazda from 1990 to 2006. Over these 16 years, Haima’ engineers had been sent to Mazda to receive strict training on manufaturing process, quality control and production management, while Mazda’s experts were dispatched to provide on-site instruction and assistance in Haima.

The win-win cooperation had benefited both Haima and Mazda. With the success of Haima in China ‘s auto industry, Mazda realized its strategy to enter into Chinese market; and by adopting advanced manufacturing technology through the cooperation with Mazda, Haima has grown to be a widely recognized automaker in China with products of excellent performance and superior quality.

The Gradually Matured Product Series

From the launch of the first hatchback HX6380 in 1991 to Haima3 in 2007, totally 31 product versions in 17 series have been introduced in 16 years. The introduction of Premacy and Family was the turning point for Haima Automobile. In 2000, Haima Automobile decided to introduce a new product Premacy, a small MPV, by acquiring technical license from Mazda and joint development with the licensor.

The MPV was at that time becoming popular in developed countries but still a vacant model in China. The effort of Haima resulted in the official launch of China’s first SMPV on May 18th, 2001, after only 9 months’ work covering prototyping, testing, tools making, facility installing and commissioning until start of production. Premacy has gained fundamental market share among the domestic SMPV products, taking 80% of the total market sales in 2005.

The second hit was the launch of Family (Mazda 323) on July 18th, 2002, a medium class sedan with hottest competition in domestic market, with the speed just as quick as for Premacy. The market performance of Family was outstanding and it is widely recognized as Three Best Selling Models. On Aug.31, 2006, the first Haima brand sedan Family was publicized. The whole breakthrough forges an outstanding leading model in the medium class sedan. The monthly sales volume of Family has been exceeded 10,000 units for continuous 4 months.

Haima Automobile has formulated its strategic policy in 3 steps for new product development, Cooperation (through opening to partners), Development (through cooperative activities), and Self-Reliance (with developed capabilities). With the main idea of adopting state-of-the-art technology of both domestic and overseas partners and utilizing Haima’s own capability in product development, 16 products have been planned for short, medium and long terms.

The Engine Plant

With the total investment of 1.25 billion RMB, Haima’s engine project covers an area of 27,000 square meters. Once launced, the engine plant will be capable of producing 225,000 units engines per year and making the annual turnover up to 2.2 billion RMB. Phase I project has been put in production in October 2006. The first IPR engine, HA-VIS-1.8, has been put into mass production and equipped onto Haima3 and Freema.

The engine plant is installed with world-class manufacturing equipment for cylinder block, cylinder head, crank shaft and assembling and heat testing, which are introduced from HELLER (Germany), COMAU (France) and other well-known companies. The production lines are flexible for 1.6L, 1.8L and 2.0L engines. Currently, Haima has developed successfully series of engines, such as HA-VVT-1.6, HA-VVT-1.8 and HA-VVT-2.0.

Supply and R&D System

Haima Automobile has built its own module supply system and R&D technical system Benefiting from the cooperation with Mazda for 16 years, On one hand, with the newly developed engine and mature underbody components, Haima seeks professional R&D institutions worldwide for joint design and development of complete vehicles, aiming at realizing “modularization, synchronization, industrial rights, internationalization, and systematism”

On the other hand,the cooperation with some famous companies is upgraded with the idea of joint development, united procurement, two-site production, synchronized technology, allocated market, and self brand use. Up to now, over 110 benefit-sharing suppliers have jointed Haima team to make fine vehicle products, some of which are well known in China with stable product quality and excellent commercial terms.

Upgrated Production Facilities and Strict Quality System

Numerous modern manufacturing equipment has been introduced from Japan,Germany , UK , France , Italy , USA and Sweden.

Stamping: automatic line for de-coiling, leveling and blanking; un-stacking robots, stamping line with automatic transforming.

Welding: spot-welding and arc welding robots from ABB. The whole main welding line is roboticized with complete automatic work piece transforming; on-line inspection system of ABB and 3-coordinate measuring machine of Italian Coord3.

Painting: automatic spraying machine from BINKS and spraying robots from ABB.

Assembling: on-the-time flexible assembly line with leading automation level in China to ensure steady product quality.

As the result to set up quality assurance system, Haima Automobile became the first built-up vehicle manufacturing enterprise in China to be awarded the ISO9000 standard certification in September, 1994. Over the years ever since, efforts have been made to modify and improve the quality system to maintain its effectiveness, sufficiency and suitability.

The APQP method has been adopted for quality control during the course of product design and development. ISO/16949 certification is required for component suppliers and quality supervision on components is conducted by PPAP. With the finished CBU products, strict quality control is carried out with inspection equipment and by promoting quality sense and operational skills of the employees.

During the 16 years’ cooperation with Mazda,Mazda’s quite strict vehicle quality evaluation system was adopted to make sure that the quality of product is up to the standards of Mazda.

Marketing System

The construction of Haima’s sales network started in 2001, following Guangzhou Honda and Shanghai GM, strictly in compliance with the international 4S standards-sales,services,spare parts,and surveys of market information. By now, more than 230 Haima sales stores and over 230 service stations have been built to form a complete marketing network all over China.

Haima Corporate Culture

A Haima corporate culture has been gradually shaped over the years of its development.

Work Manner: Strict, Practical, Efficient, Innovative

Management Style: Study, Teamwork, Morality, Institution

Manager’s Goal: Pursuing Maximum Profits for the Shareholders, Seeking Maximum Benefits for the Employees, Making Maximum Contribution to the Society

Company Mission : Building A New Enterprise , Creating A New System, Casting A New Team, Cultivating A New Culture

Corporate Philosophy: We Work Attentively In Grateful of Blessings We Are Granted.

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Put China on electric wheels

Sunday, April 26, 2009
The China Post news staff

One hundred and one years ago, Henry Ford "put America on wheels." His Model T was the most successful car Ford Motor Company has ever built. The simple, affordable model sold 15 million units before it was phased out in 1927, a time marking America’s "peaceful rise."

A century later, the empire built by Ford is struggling to stay alive, together with two other titans in America’s auto industry, General Motors and Chrysler. Henry Ford was a visionary entrepreneur and inventor who was able see what the future would hold for the industry. Putting America on affordable wheels was a visionary idea that changed American lives.

Now, devoid of vision, Detroit’s Big 3 car makers have been withering on the vine. For decades, they churned out gas guzzlers at a time when gasoline prices were shooting through the roof, and when greenhouse emissions have caused global climate change that threatens to destroy the planet.

As America and the rest of the world celebrated Earth Day this week, a time to heighten environment awareness and renew commitment to a carbon-free, greener world, mainland China is working silently on an idea that might change the lives of its 1.3 billion people much like what Henry Ford did for the Americans a century ago.

Mainland China is making great efforts to develop all-electric cars that use electricity instead of gasoline as power. They believe electric cars will be the cars of the future and are trying to put China on wheels — inexpensive and clean vehicles.

Their ambitions were demonstrated at the Shanghai auto show that opened Monday. Chinese automakers have unveiled a slew of battery-powered cars, hybrid cars and other energy-saving models that could help address the air pollution in Chinese cities.

China’s double-digit economic growth in the past three decades has made the country’s large industrial cities the worst polluted metropolises on earth. In 2008 when Beijing hosted the Olympics, all of the polluting factories were relocated away from the capital to alleviate pollution. Motor traffic was severely restricted during the Olympics. These draconian measures produced only some ephemeral remedial effects on urban pollution. China is the most unlikely country to develop a green economy. The world’s third largest economy is also the world’s biggest polluter in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. It is not a signatory of the Kyoto Protocol, arguing that it is still a developing country, so it is encouraging to see that the country is embarking on a program to develop electric and energy-efficient cars.

At the Shanghai auto show, Chinese auto makers Geely and Chery displayed their innovative, homegrown models that have attracted world attention. Geely’s Panda model, a battery-powered hatchback, looks like a car for the future, at least as far as the less-affluent Chinese consumers are concerned. It is priced under US$9,000, able to go 150 km between charges at 60 kph. It seems perfect for commuting.

It may seem strange that a developing country like mainland China could become the world’s largest market for automobiles. But it is eerily true. China has replaced the United States as the leader in global car sales this year, and is the only auto market that is still growing despite the worst global economic slowdown since World War II.

Last November, Beijing announced a US$585 billion stimulus package to battle the financial storm. Much of the fund will be invested in infrastructure buildup, such as highways. This would be good for the country’s automobile industry, which has the potential to become a world leader in electric cars.

It is wise for China to develop electric cars because it makes a virtue out of a liability. China cannot compete with the United States, Japan, Korea, and a host of European countries including Germany in making gasoline-driven cars. Electric cars are simpler mechanically. The most important technology is battery. If China can make a breakthrough in battery technology, it will get a lion’s share in the global auto market, considering its advantages in labor cost and the huge domestic market.

To be sure, mainland China is not a pioneer in the electric cars. Japan is the market leader in hybrids. The South Koreans are good in making batteries. In fact, GM’s plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, which will be marketed next year, uses LG batteries made in Korea. So China is skipping the sophisticated and expensive international combustion engine to jump right into batteries. Two years ago, premier Wen Jiabao picked Wan Gang, a former Audi auto engineer who later became the chief scientist for a government research panel on electric cars, as Minister of Science and Technology, the first minister in three decades who is not a card-carrying Communist party member.

Also, thousands of Chinese engineers are racing against time in search of a better battery to overcome the limitations of electric and hybrid vehicles. Don’t underestimate China’s "backyard blast furnace" type of research and development because it sometimes worked wonders. Its homemade Shenzhou VII blasted three astronauts into space last year, and its athletes won 51 gold medals in the Beijing Olympics.

All indications are that China is determined to become a leader in electric cars in the near future and to put the vast country on wheels, which will be carbon-free and accessible to people whose per capita GDP could be as low as US$3,200.

www.haima.com/2006/english2007/