China’s Qoros Expands Lineup for Europe

Qoros Auto Co. Ltd. a venture between China's Chery Automobile Co. and Tel Aviv-based Israel Corp. is expected to expand its lineup in Europe to three models by year-end.

The company debuted the Qoros 3, a five-door hatch version of its GQ3 sedan, at the Geneva auto earlier this week.

The venture is testing the European market in Slovakia, where the €21,000 sedan went on sale earlier this year. The 7-year-old company has not yet announced pricing for the hatch.

Both cars will compete with such established models as the Ford Focus, Peugeot 308 and Volkswagen Golf and Jetta. Qoros has annual capacity to build about 150,000 vehicles at its factory in Changshu, most of which are being sold in China. The plant can be expanded to 350,000 units if demand increases.

Qoros has developed its models with Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, which describes the cars as world-class competitors. Last autumn the Qoros sedan won a top five-star safety rating from Brussels-based EuroNCAP.