挑戰德國霸主地位 捷豹路虎中國工廠開業

Jaguar Land Rover is attempting to gain traction in China with its flagship saloons as it seeks to break the stranglehold of its dominant German rivals in the world’s largest car market.

捷豹路虎(Jaguar Land Rover)正試圖通過旗艦轎車產品在中國獲得增長動力，該公司正尋求在世界最大汽車市場挑戰德國競爭對手的霸主地位。

The British carmaker – which yesterday opened its first fully fledged manufacturing facility outside the UK in Changshu, near Shanghai – plans to manufacture its premium Jaguar saloons in China, as it seeks to face off with Audi, BMW and Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz marque.

這家英國汽車製造商首家在英國以外設立的大型製造廠昨日開業。該廠位於上海附近的城市常熟，計劃生產高端的捷豹轎車，與奧迪(Audi)、寶馬(BMW)和戴姆勒(Daimler)旗下品牌梅賽德斯-奔馳(Mercedes-Benz)一較高下。

JLR sold more than 90,000 cars in China last year, but only 16,000 of these were Jaguars. Its far more popular Range Rovers and Land Rovers command 10 per cent of the market for luxury SUVs.

去年，捷豹路虎在中國賣出了9萬多輛車，但其中僅有1.6萬輛是捷豹車型。攬勝(Range Rovers)系列和路虎(Land Rovers)系列要受歡迎得多，佔據中國豪華運動型多用途車(SUV)市場10%的份額。

“The biggest issue that we have with the Jaguar is that we are competing against brands produced in China,” said Bob Grace, head of JLR’s China operations.

“捷豹遇到的最大問題是我們在與中國生產的品牌競爭，”捷豹路虎大中華區總裁高博(Bob Grace)表示。

JLR is betting that the Changshu factory, with an annual production capacity of 130,000 vehicles, can help it catch up with its German rivals, who have extensive manufacturing operations in China.

捷豹路虎期望年產能爲13萬輛車的常熟工廠能幫助其趕上德國競爭對手，後者在中國擁有大規模製造業務。

Imported cars are subject to 25 per cent tariffs and high shipping costs, making them more expensive than locally produced models. Local production facilities also enable carmakers to produce vehicles tailor-made for the Chinese market.

進口車需要交納25%的關稅，並支付昂貴的運輸費用，這使進口車比本土生產的車型價格更高。在本地設立製造廠，還能讓汽車製造商爲中國市場生產定製車型。

JLR, a unit of India’s Tata Motors, will initially produce Range Rover Evoques, one of its less expensive SUV models, with its Chinese partner, state-owned Chery Automobile.

總部位於考文垂的捷豹路虎隸屬於印度的塔塔汽車(Tata Motors)。該公司最初將與中國合作伙伴、國有的奇瑞汽車(Chery Automobile)合作，生產價格稍低的SUV車型——攬勝極光(Range Rover Evoque)。

But from 2016, the Coventry-based carmaker plans to begin production of two more vehicles, including a Jaguar saloon, said Ralf Speth, JLR chief executive. The other vehicle is expected to be the Land Rover Discovery Sport. JLR declined to comment further.

但捷豹路虎首席執行官施韋德(Ralf Speth)表示，從2016年起，這家汽車製造商計劃投產另外兩種車型，包括一款捷豹轎車。另一款車預計爲路虎發現運動版(Land Rover Discovery Sport)。捷豹路虎拒絕進一步置評。

The three German brands collectively sold more than 1m vehicles in China last year, accounting for about 80 per cent of premium sedan sales.

奧迪、寶馬和梅賽德斯-奔馳去年總共在中國銷售100萬輛車，約佔高端轎車銷售量的80%。