Brilliance shines but won't commit to US launch

Brilliance Auto has been a fixture at recent European auto shows, and the Chinese firm made its Detroit debut this year – though executives would not commit to a US launch schedule.

Instead, the company was here on an extended fact-finding mission, said vice-president He Guohua. “The North American International Auto Show is an excellent platform for us to measure ourselves against international standards,” he said. “It is one of the five largest auto shows in the world, so we must come here.”

Brilliance showed four models, including the M3 coupe and the FRV C-segment hatchback, as well as two four-door sedans, the large M1 and smaller M2, which Brilliance claims is the fastest-selling domestic-brand car in China. Both the M1 and the FRV have been styled by Giugiaro.

All are powered by Brilliance's own engines – a 170bhp four-cylinder 1.8 turbocharged petrol engine in M1, M2 and M3, and a 1.6-litre 106bhp four-cylinder petrol engine in the FRV.

Brilliance last year exported 23,000 vehicles, mainly to emerging markets such as Russia and Egypt. Around 700 cars were sold in Germany in 2008, though the company has had problems gaining type approval. Some older models performed badly in crash tests, though Brilliance claims newer models such as the FRV would gain four stars in Euro NCAP crash testing.

In China, Brilliance produces around 300,000 vehicles, including BMW 3-series and 5-series models in a joint venture, plus Toyota minibuses under licence. He Guohua said expertise from these ventures was being applied to Brilliance's own cars; for example, Brilliance bodyshells are painted in the same paint shop as the BMW bodies.

This year Brilliance is targeting global exports of around 40,000 vehicles.