Chinese automaker Zotye Auto has no plans to bring EVs to the market in the near future.
Here in the United States, the vast majority of our household products are manufactured in China. Interestingly, though, we haven’t seen many Chinese-built cars hitting our shores, but that may be about to change. Earlier this year, Ford partnered with Zotye to produce low-cost small electric cars to Ford’s dealers in the Chinese market. Now, the company plans to send its own SUVs over to the U.S. in 2020. While Zotye plans to enter the market within the next two years, they haven’t formally announced which model will come first.
Possible models include the Zotye T700 SUV that first debuted in Shanghai in 2015. According to a company statement, “Engineering development and homologation work on the model is underway and proceeding smoothly.” HAAH Automotive Holdings, Zotye’s parent company, has promised to bring innovative features through a franchise dealer system.” To that end, they set up shop in Lake Forest, California to handle sales, distribution and parts in the U.S. market.
Plans to sell in the U.S.
At this point in time, Zotye does plan to sell the cars under its own brand name. We’ve seen similar efforts in the past, like GAC Motor and with the Trumpchi brand. GAC planned to start selling its models in the U.S. starting next year. Although, we haven’t heard much about their efforts in the past few months.
Zotye, like GAC, will need to convince American consumers that it is an innovator and an alternative to long-standing brands to really succeed. It wouldn’t be the first time foreign brands gained a foothold in the U.S., though. Japanese brands successfully made their way into the U.S., as have Korean brands more recently.
It seems Zotye Auto is serious about its intent however, according to HAAH Chairman and CEO Duke Hale. “We’ve had discussions with several major dealers already and will have more to say about that in the months to come.”
