JAC chairman says quality key to overseas push

The chairman of Jianghuai Automobile Co Ltd has vowed to continue to raise the quality of its models as it targets more overseas buyers.

An Jin, a deputy to the National People's Congress, said Chinese vehicle companies can no longer compete on low prices and labor costs, and his company is making efforts to ensure quality standards are raised, while prices still remain affordable.

Jianghuai's products are sold in more than 100 countries and regions in the world.

Three models of its light truck HFC range were all awarded "export inspection-free" certification in December last year by the State General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the country's quality watchdog.

An said the company sells about 450,000 vehicles overseas annually, which account for 15 percent of its entire revenue.

JAC aims to achieve a sales target of 1.6 million units with revenue of 100 billion yuan ($16 billion) by the end of 2015, and An said he hopes exports will account for one-quarter of the entire revenue.

JAC has the largest market share in Brazil and Chile. The company exported 500 light trucks to Brazil in October, marking China's single largest vehicle contract to the South American nation.

The company is also the second-largest commercial vehicle brand in Egypt, with more than 3,000 vehicles on its roads.

JAC first entered Africa when it delivered a batch of light-duty trucks to Algeria in 2001.

Since then, it has sold vehicles to more than 30 countries and regions, including Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Ghana. Its product portfolio in Africa has also been expanded to cover light, mid-sized and heavy-duty trucks as well as passenger vehicles.

In addition to improving quality, An said the company has been setting up more service outlets overseas.

"We will not rush to export to any country without a maintenance network in the country," An said.

According to company statements, the focus of its customer service is solving problems rapidly and effectively.

In Angola, for instance, some users once complained about the loss of power in their heavy-duty trucks.

JAC engineers discovered that the problem stemmed from a lack of regular maintenance. They then offered maintenance services on site and trained drivers on how to take care of the vehicles.

Song Xinli contributed to this story.

lixin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 03/14/2013 page17)