Jiangsu Kawei Automotive Industry Group Company, one of the new entrants in China, the world’s largest automobile market, is testing the waters in India. The company, which has been a component maker, launched its first passenger vehicle (an SUV) in 2013. The only Chinese passenger vehicle OEM at the ACMA Automechanika trade fair held in New Delhi last week, Kawei has already begun discussions with a potential partner in India. Leon Chou, vice-general manager of Kawei International, knows that it is “not easy” to enter the “very competitive” Indian passenger vehicle market. “If we want to be successful, we must manufacture in India,” says Chou.

With annual sales of 20,000 units, Kawei is a very small player in the huge Chinese market, but looks like it harbours big ambitions. The OEM has already started exports to some markets in the Middle East and Latin America.

Along with a twin-cab pickup truck, the Chinese OEM also had a full-electric SUV on display at the trade fair. Called the EV1, the 2.5-tonne SUV is driven by an 80kW motor and has a claimed driving range of over 250 kilometres.