SAIC with MG Motor India and their Hector SUV have shown to the world that a right product strategy, at the right price and with the right feature set can penetrate in a difficult market. Almost as if looking at this success story, another Chinese car manufacturer is keen on entering the Indian car market. Reports suggest that at the 2020 Indian Auto Expo, FAW Haima Automobile make a debut along with Great Wall Motors which have already confirmed their presence. This would be the first time the Indian car buyer will get up close to the FAW Haima range of cars. Haima Automobile is a company founded in 1988, so it is not too old with a lot of heritage. It is based in China and is known for having sold rebranded Mazda cars in the local market. Later, Haima was bought by FAW (First Automobile Works).
Haima was selling cars based on the old Mazda chassis till recent times, but the brand has now developed their own new chassis architecture which is modular. Dubbed as the Haima Global Architecture (HMGA) platform, the brand will introduce utility vehicles to begin with. Recently, the Haima 8S SUV was revealed which is a rival to the likes of MG Hector. The brand had earlier showcased the 7X MPV as well which will be a 7-seater people mover.
The Haima 8S SUV will have a turbo-petrol motor sizing 1.6L in capacity and can sprint from 0-100 kmph in less than 8 seconds with an output of 193 HP and 293 Nm. The 7X MPV on the other hand will be a rival to the likes of Kia Carnival, as it is larger than the segment gold standard in India which is the Toyota Innova Crysta.
Haima might showcase multiple products at the Indian Auto Expo to gauge market response and customer sentiment. There is no final plan if at all they plan to enter India, and where the production unit would be set up. Nevertheless, with existing car brands stepping awat from the Auto Expo blaming high costs but the reality being their poor sales performance, it makes a good stage for new car brands to enter India and showcase their products which the Indian buyer isn’t aware of. At least, Haima can generate some buzz and curiosity…
