Grapevine

NOT ONE BUT two new Chinese car brands will be launched in the UK this month: Chery and Changan.

- MARK TISSHAW

After rapid improvements in design, engineering, technology and branding by Chinese car companies, now comes the scale of their market-readiness.

Chery and Changan have created not just cars but fully fledged car companies too. Both have built large physical dealer networks; set up parts supply chains and warehouses; and worked closely with CAP on residual values and with Thatcham on ensuring cars are easy to repair and therefore cheaper to insure.

For Nic Thomas, UK boss of Changan, the risk is simply "what did I forget?", given the level of preparation that has gone into Changan's UK launch.