Delay in Launch of New Hyundai Creta's Chinese Rival

The increasing turbulence at the international border of Galwan Valley in Ladakh led to a brutal face-off between the Indian Army and Chinese military, recently. The news brought in a strange heat around the citizens to boycott Chinese products in the country. Recently, the Maharashtra government has also put a hold on investments from 3 Chinese companies in the state.  However, the decision was imposed before the tension started to grow at the borders. The three companies that were planning to invest Rs. 5,020 Crores were GWM (Great Wall Motors), PMI Electro Mobility in JV with Foton, and Hengali Engineering.

“The decision has been taken in consultation with the Union government. These were signed prior to the killing of 20 Indian soldiers on the Indo-China border. The ministry of external affairs has advised not to sign any further agreements with Chinese companies.”

Commenting on the decision, Subhash Desai, Industry Minister said.

Talking of the GWM, the brand is known as the biggest carmaker in China and owns several other brands as well. GWM has recently signed an MoU with the state government of Maharashtra for investing Rs. 3,770 Crores. The MoU was signed during an online conference that was also attended by Sun Weidong, who happens to be the Chinese Ambassador. With a hold on the investments now, GWM will not be able to commence its operations in India.

The Chinese carmaker was planning to launch the Haval F5 compact-SUV as its first offering in the country. GWM had planned to launch the Haval F5 as a direct rival to the new Hyundai Creta. However, it now seems like a distant dream for the Chinese giant. The Haval F5 was also showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo, early this year. It featured a 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine that puts out a peak power output of 168 PS and max torque of 285 Nm. In terms of features, the top-spec F5 that was showcased at the expo floors was loaded with a panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, 9-inch infotainment screen, 12.3-inch driver display and more.