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As there is increasing global demand for more efficient, lower emission and more economical autos, the 21st century is even known as an age for diesel engine vehicles. Given the fact that there is still a long way to go before vehicles driven by fuel batteries and mixed fuel run on the streets in troops, diesel vehicles, safe, economical and environmental friendly, are gaining favor and significance.
Bright as its future is, its traveling in China lap is bumpy. Most consumers still bear in their mind an impression of diesel vehicles with dark smoke and thrilling noise. Some existing diesel engines emitted much more tail gas than is allowed. All of these have eventually stop diesel engines from giving a start to any cars in big cities, such as Beijing.
But there is still hope. In the policy on the technologies of pollution prevention and treatment of diesel motors issued by Sate Environmental Protection Administration in 2003, it is stated clearly that no discrimination should be imposed against any production and use of engine products with advanced technology and low pollution in the light of the development of diesel vehicles and diesel engines for vehicles. Departments concerned also released similar policies which lists aims of gas emission for various stages.
At present , there is a wide gap between China's diesel standards and Europe's, but some parts of China can catch up soon in the future, said Xu Liangfei, chairman of Wuxi Weifu Group, a fuel injection equipment maker and Robert Bosch's Chinese partner.
A recent survey by J.D. Power from US asserted that by 2015, sales of diesel vehicles would have reached 28 percent of the total sedan sales around the world, or 27 million units, from 12.5 million units in 2003. sales outside Europe is expected to grow about 60 percent. Upward curves can be seen for sales of diesel sedans in Europe, Asia and South America.
In fact, auto makers are eager to put more diesel cars in the streets in China. FAW's second diesel model Bora TDI was off the production line in February this year. FAW's maiden foray into diesel sedan is its Jetta SDI.
Last year, LandWind under Jiangling Motor, Anhui Jianghui Automobile, Huatai Goup, and Chang Feng Motor, which are all Chinese auto makers, launched their own diesel series. Shanghai Volkswagen is considering POLO and Passat driven by diesel. Fiat, Ford and Peuyeot all will have their diesel engine fleets arrive in China market within this year.
In 2003, the rise of diesel in the global market boosted the domestic market for passenger cars fueled by diesel engines. Early comers will have a head start in the competition. Calls for diesel models in the domestic market have grown with the better quality diesel oil and diesel engines available. The market demand for such autos has been heating up in 2004. Policies for driving diesel cars have been loosened in major cities which promise the greatest potential and imposed most difficult stumbling stones.
On August 8, Robert Bosch GmbH set up its largest overseas investment in diesel system in Wuxi, China. Bosch holds a 67 percent of the shares while its Chinese partner, Wuxi Weifu Group holds the remaining 33 percent in the joint venture which is incorporated with a registered capital of 200 million euros (US$247 million). It will be put into operation at the end of 2005.
Bosch thinks its China operation, involving production and R&D of modern diesel system, is an integral part of great significance in its global strategy. It has high expectation for China market in the future and predicted diesel vehicles in China to reach 3 million units by 2013, mostly commercial automobiles.
Bosch vows to introduce and localize the state-of-art diesel system in china and help their Chinese customers upgrade the mechanical diesel injection system with electronic technologies.
The joint venture will turn out high-temperature diesel injection system, especially the common rail series.
The joint venture will do more than production. It has decided to spend 50 million euro building a world-class technical center which will be completed in 2005. this will not help Bosch better customize its products, but also fuel its R&D and promotion of its most sophisticated diesel technologies and products in China.
(People Daily August 16, 2004)
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