Chinese Car Consolidation: You Can Gonow

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Here is one sad aspect to the inevitable consolidation of the wild and wooly Chinese car industry: It will reduce the amount of humorous material. Case in point: Zhejiang Gonow Auto, known as the creator of such memorable cars as the „ Gonow Aoosed GS” will most likely not grace us with more unforgettable nameplates. True to its name, Gonow is gone. Well, not really.

“Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has reached an initial agreement to gain a controlling stake in Zhejiang Gonow Auto,” reports China’s Global Times.

The official agreement was signed on April 26 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. What becomes of Gonow is unclear. People working there say they won’t be swallowed by GAC and life will go on.

People at GAC say that “in the future, GAC will lead the cooperation.”

GAC has been on an expansion frenzy. A new joint venture will build Fiats, possibly Alfas and maybe Chryslers. They had bought Changfeng Auto which has a JV with Mitsubishi and produces its own line of SUV’s.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Jnik Jnik on Apr 28, 2010

    The name might have some use - their ads could use the Moody Blues song.

  • Hakata Hakata on Apr 28, 2010

    And there's always VW. I think a Passat is technically a type of trade wind, but coincidentally, in the Salish language of the Pacific Northwest, means "one whose tie-rods shall need frequent replacing."

  • Accs Accs on Apr 28, 2010

    Jeez umm... A Camry front clip... on a Sequoia. Lets make that boring beige problem even worse...

  • Gsnfan Gsnfan on Apr 29, 2010

    If I can't say the name with a straight face, then I probably shouldn't buy the car.

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