Chinese Cars Enter Local Market

The Chinese cars with all models and sizes have become seen nationwide and to the extent that they got into the competition with the US, Japanese and Korean cars with inventive marketing campaigns.

The Chinese cars could get a foothold at local markets through launching unusual marketing campaigns that were unknown before when Chinese auto manufacturers discovered that these campaigns are necessary to get into a competition with other counters.

The campaign "buy one, get one free", which is a common form of sales promotion, is no longer based on electrical appliances or household cleaners; however Chinese adopted that campaign to promote their latest models in Kuwait.

Moreover, the campaign of "warrant for life" is some of the Chinese marketing campaigns adopted by agents to promote cars at local markets in different countries.

The Chinese car companies offered competitive programs, including maintenance and spare parts, to attract more clients even after the process of purchase.

"The existence of Chinese cars at Kuwaiti markets is considered an inventive work and a strategic thinking," Omar Al-Qadi, a company's CEO, told KUNA.

He, however, added that although Chinese cars are traded at local markets, their spread is still moderate, expecting the market will experience in the upcoming years more circulations of Chinese cars in Kuwait and the Gulf region as well driven by diversity and specifications.

He pointed out that China has different experiment in cars manufacture than US, Japan and Korea as they started manufacturing with little capabilities until they developed their models.

China has benefited from European and Japanese models in this field as Chinese manufacturers started their industry depending on these models in making products at their workshops. He noted that there are varieties of Chinese cars that can be suitable for all classes, indicating the Chinese auto companies produce high-quality cars and benefit from the huge local market.

"At least 20 million cars are bought annually in China." China manufactures cars of Japanese, US and European models at its markets and are labeled "the country of origin is China", he added.

Al-Qadi said that China makes a large number of non-Chinese cars, but the Chinese model is still little and will have a promising future in Kuwait and the Gulf region.

He added that Chinese models at Kuwait's market have so far hit six and are expected to reach 16 to give consumers multiple choices.

"Chinese manufacturers are eyeing mainly the Gulf markets as they are their platform before heading to the US markets." Enji Abu Hashish, sales manager at local agent for one of Chinese car brand, said that the aim of the campaign -- buy one, get one free -- is to brief Kuwaiti consumers on Chinese models. "The campaign was launched as it was important to help people be familiar with such models of the Chinese cars," she said, adding the campaign attracts many people.