The first two MG cars of Chinese carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SSE: 600104) (SAIC) have arrived in Israel. SAIC acquired British carmaker MG Rover in 2005. The cars are for display, technical training, and market testing by SAIC and Peugeot Citroen importer David Lubinski Ltd. One of the cars is the two-seater MGT-F sports car and the other is the MG 550 sedan.
The cars do not yet fully comply with EU-4 or EU-5 emissions standards, so they will probably only be displayed passively, without an Israeli license for travel. European standard-compliant MG cars, which will receive Israeli licenses, are due to arrive in the third or fourth quarter of the year.
Meanwhile, IDB Holding Corp. Ltd. (TASE:IDBH) unit Clal Motors Ltd. is considering the import of cars of China's BYD Co Ltd. (Shenzhen: 1211) , although they also currently do not comply with EU-4 or EU-5 emissions standards for regular imports. Clal Motors reportedly planned to display BYD cars at the Galgalim (Wheels) Auto Show in Tel Aviv this April, but the event was cancelled.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 12, 2009
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