SPARK is not up to Euro II Standard Beijing and Shanghai can not be on the card
On December 25, 2003, at 09:10, a report from News Morning News highlighted the challenges facing the SPARK model, produced by Shanghai General Motors Wuling. Despite its launch on the 8th of this month, the vehicle's market availability remains extremely limited. Last week, only 12 units arrived in Shanghai, leaving many interested consumers unable to secure one before the end of the year.
The shortage is largely due to disruptions in the supply chain for SPARK spare parts, most of which are imported from abroad. Import quotas have restricted the flow of these components, leading to production delays. Additionally, the automatic transmission version of the SPARK has not yet met the Euro II emission standards, making it ineligible for license plates in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
Wu Songwen, sales manager of Cheda Gas Chevrolet, confirmed that Shanghai’s three dealers received a total of just 12 SPARK vehicles, with each dealer getting four units. Around 80 customers in Shanghai have placed orders, including 20 from Cheda. Wu stated that approximately 20 more units are expected to arrive before year-end, with 70% of the subscribers hoping to take delivery before the Spring Festival.
According to dealers, only a few parts—such as glass, tires, seat belts, and air-conditioning compressors—are locally manufactured. The rest are imported, and due to annual import quota restrictions, many components cannot be declared immediately. This has led to production bottlenecks, with the manufacturer struggling to meet demand.
Dealers estimate that the total production of SPARK this year will be around 200 units, which is considered a small number for nationwide distribution. Cao Zhigang, vice president of SAIC-GM-Wuling, who was traveling in Japan at the time, said the company is working to increase the supply of imported parts and address the issue of emissions compliance for the automatic transmission model. He expressed confidence that these issues would be resolved early next year.
Cao also noted that the SPARK's launch could impact the sales of the QQ model. Once production increases next year, the car’s market presence is expected to grow. However, the SPARK’s 0.8L engine size makes it unsuitable for Shanghai, where stricter regulations limit its appeal.
Outside of Beijing and Shanghai, where emission standards are less strict, the SPARK is highly popular. In Hangzhou, for instance, buyers often pay an expedited fee of 5,000 yuan to ensure their vehicle is delivered within three months. This highlights the strong demand for the model despite its current limitations.
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