Antonov Share Discussion Threads

[crystalclear] 20/4/2005 23:58

There is a new tie up between Ford and Nanjing. Nanjing were thinking of joining up with Shangahi to share in the Rover joint venture (before things went sour), so Nanjing are a potential outlet for Shanghai's Antonov tranmissions.

Now here is another potential outlet. Shanghai Skoda.




Monday, April 11, 2005

Czech automaker to produce cars in China

PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Czech car manufacturer Skoda Auto is to start production in China, an official said Monday.

The company's spokesman Jaroslav Cerny said that Skoda signed a deal with Shanghai Volkswagen on Monday to start producing its Octavia model in China in 2007.

Skoda Auto is owned by German manufacturer Volkswagen AG.

The company is planning to produce 40,000 vehicles in the Shanghai plant in 2007 and hopes to increase the annual production to about 80,000 cars in the following years.

Skoda Auto currently sells 2,000 cars in China each year.

"At the beginning, the cars will go to the Chinese market, but we hope we could later export them also to the neighboring countries," Cerny said.

Skoda Auto is the country's largest and most profitable exporter. It sold 451,675 cars of its three models, Fabia, Octavia and Superb, in 90 countries in 2004. Apart from its three plants in the Czech Republic, the company also has plants in Ukraine and India.

[crystalclear] 19/4/2005 01:44

=

It appears to be correct. The information has maybe been copied from an mg-rover forum, but links are provided to the UK governement patent site for anybody that wants to check details. I tried but the site is offline for the night!

I hesitated for a moment wondering if the Streetwise is a synonym for the Rover 25. (I don't know much about Rovers!) It seems not to be. I does look though like the Chinese have been buying the rights to the cars where the Antonov transmission is in the design process.

[crystalclear] 19/4/2005 00:50

I'm not sure sure what to make of the previous posting as I've not seen one like it before and I'm not sure where information like that is sourced to be able to check its authenticity.

If we take it at face value, the SAIC seems to be the owner of the 'Rover' Streetwise design. If SAIC is now going to have difficulties or complications getting its hands on any new Rover designs, what can they build to exports?
Apparently not much apart from the Rover Streetwise, The Rover 75, and the Rover 25 I think it was. The Rover Streetwise is the car due to get the 5th generation Antonov transmission, and the Rover 75 is the car due to get the dual clutch Antonov transmission.

If SAIC has trouble getting hold of more car designs from MG Rover, then they will be more committed to the two cars which we know have Antonov transmissions in development.

==

Given the Chinese restrictions (tax) on importing completely knocked down cars (not to mention new rules on emissions) it remains to be seen which OEMs will feel encouraged to buy (fuel efficient) transmissions in China and what their options will be. I can well imagine SAIC putting pressure on Shanghai Volkswagen and Shanghai GM to use the SAIC Antonov transmissions.

The problem at the moment seems to be that the OEMs might have to try prototypes from Antonov rather than from Powertrain Limited if they want to know what the Chinese will be capable of delivering.

[crystalclear] 18/4/2005 16:38

Seems that Antonov sponsored Dennis Retera won a round of Formula Ford.

[crystalclear] 18/4/2005 16:31

I replied to EJ's post but my PC crashed.
Now AOL link is dropping
I'll post these one by one!

[mac] 14/4/2005 16:44

It will be interesting to see who buys Rover out of administration, without the pension liabilities!!!

[dafad] 10/4/2005 19:33

Might we see an rns tomorrow am re ROVER COLLAPSE??

[ariane] 09/4/2005 05:54

enjoy your weekend crystal

[crystalclear] 09/4/2005 00:36

to enable their automatic transmission plans to be maintained.

This is the first real statement from Antonov PLC that SAIC want the Antonov transmissions and that Powertrain is the intermediary that can help supply the technology [pull side, demand driven], rather than Antonov partnering with Powertrain and then hoping to be able to get SAIC to use the technology [push side, supply driven].

The Antonov information about Chinese interest after the Frankfurt motor show (September 2003) gave me the opinion that SAIC might be the driving force behind this deal, although the didn't emerge immediately: it needed the SAIC Rover part of the jigsaw before I could see what might be happening. Comparative volumes (SAIC 800,000 planned, Rover optimistically stating 200,000 but currently making 100,000) indicated that SAIC might lie behind the Antonov Powertrain alliance.

=

Other sources indicate that SAIC has secured rights to the K series engine technology.

Before SAIC can export, they now need car bodies. With Ssangyong they have SUVs, but they will need more than that. My money is still on new models from Rover.

I believe Antonov when they say SAIC and Antonov can work around things if Powertrain are not in the middle. However, not producing Rover cars at Longbridge would mean maybe 100,000 less Antonov transmissions per year. And problems with Powertrain Limited might mean Antonov would have to work separately with Powertrains partners, Tata for the Streetwise, Sonalika, and SAIC, so it might make life more difficult.

Finally, Rover was presumably the source for new car designs for SAIC, so there may be delays getting a body sorted out for SAIC's car export plans.
It remains to be seen whether SAIC had completed negotiations for the existing Rover 75 - potentially a so called transplant factory. It would be interesting to know too what became of the vehicle design jobs that some time ago were reported to be moving to Shanghai. Do new car designs belong to SAIC (or the joint venture) and have the staff relocated, or do car designs remain with a failing MG Rover?

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The main question as I see it, is do SAIC have the intellectual property for car bodies when this all unfolds? (K-series engines seems sorted and transmissions is a matter between SAIC and Antonov.)

[ariane] 08/4/2005 14:07

LONDON (AFX) - Antonov PLC said it expects no adverse impact following
termination of discussions between Phoenix Venture Holdings and the Shanghai
Automotive Industry Corp over the future of ailing carmaker MG Rover.
Phoenix operates Rover and its engine supplier Powertrain Ltd as separate
stand-alone units, while Antonov supplies Powertrain with gearbox and clutch
technology
Antonov added it expects SAIC to acquire parts of Powertrain, which will
enable current product development plans to continue.
However, it also said that if this is not achieved, it expects to reach
agreement directly with SAIC to enable their automatic transmission plans to be
maintained.
tc

[crystalclear] 03/4/2005 02:48

The odd person has asked what proof is there in the public domain that Antonov are involved with SAIC rather than just Powertrain for MG or Rover only stuff.

I know we take it for granted here, but I think this shows it beyond reasonable doubt with referenced public domain knowledge.



· DCA ("Dual Clutch Antonov") initial development phase completed, with MG Rover 75 prototype construction beginning in early 2005. Initial production expected to commence in late 2007



Rover is planning to manufacture its 75 model in China and sell it to domestic customers. However, the company has revealed that its new medium-sized car, the designs of which are being finalized, will be produced for export in both the UK and China.

[crystalclear] 31/3/2005 14:35

Logically they should be out today, otherwise they have failed to produce them in the quarter!

[basketbob] 31/3/2005 11:16

Edwards

I emailed the firm.

Prelims will be published today or tomorrow.
The final results will be published before end of Q2.

Good luck

[edwards45] 30/3/2005 13:35

Can't be too long before Final Results... (30.03.04)

[crystalclear] 08/3/2005 23:21

SAIC agrees to pump $245 million into MG Rover
(For the limitation of translation level, the article is only for reference.)

[crystalclear] 06/3/2005 20:31

Rover admits 2,300 face sack as Phoenix Four stand to net £10m
By Tim Webb and Jason Nisse

06 March 2005

MG Rover's rescue joint venture with the Chinese car maker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) will be completed next month. The company's owners, the Phoenix Four, will hold on to businesses worth £10m, while up to 2,300 workers will lose their jobs.

The Independent on Sunday has obtained details of a letter, jointly signed by MG Rover's chief executive, Kevin Howe, and the SAIC president, Zhao Feng Gao, sent last week to MG Rover's dealers.

The letter says that the long- awaited joint venture should be signed on 20 April. ....