RE: Ariel Begins Atomic Expansion In China
Tuesday 14th August 2007
Saunders wants Atom to be No1 sports car in Chinamake and sell its Atom sports cars in China. According to Ariel’s MD Simon Saunders, UK production will continue in Somerset but this new Chinese production facility will cater for the burgeoning Asian market.
Ariel Begins Atomic Expansion In China
Atom sportscar to be built and sold in China
Ariel Motor Co has set up a joint venture to
Saunders wants Atom to be No1 sports car in China
A new company, Quingdao Ariel Automotive Ltd has been set up to manufacture the cars at a new plant in the coastal city of Quingdao. It has already secured 200 orders, the first of which are expected to be completed later this year. Saunders maintains that these cars will remain mechanically identical to the cars produced in Somerset.
Ariel already has a similar licensee agreement in the US, which helps the company to remain small while expanding into new markets. We wonder if the Chinese Atoms will be substantially cheaper?
Source: Autocar
Discussion
I'm not sure if it will be that successful. China's terrain is totally different to that of the UK, miles of featureless straight motorway, congested cities and poorly maintained rural tracks make up the majority of the road system. I cannot see any reason why somebody would buy an Atom for that sort of driving - it's just not a suitable vehicle. When in China I noticed a complete lack of sportscars, in fact the most popular car was the locally made version of the VW Jetta! Unless the Atom becomes a status symbol for the super rich I can't quite see it taking off.
Futuramic said:
I'm not sure if it will be that successful. China's terrain is totally different to that of the UK, miles of featureless straight motorway, congested cities and poorly maintained rural tracks make up the majority of the road system. I cannot see any reason why somebody would buy an Atom for that sort of driving - it's just not a suitable vehicle. When in China I noticed a complete lack of sportscars, in fact the most popular car was the locally made version of the VW Jetta! Unless the Atom becomes a status symbol for the super rich I can't quite see it taking off.
Track toy maybe?I agree with the Futuramic. Having been to China the roads are either fairly straight dual carriage ways, over congested city roads or roads that with no warning suddenly become very poorly made. If you want to go fast / have fun driving across China your best off with a rally breed car as its more likely to be able to cover all terrain, (I may be so what biased as an Impreza owner). Also in China people like to show off their wealth by having big chaffeur driven cars so i doubt this car will even appeal to those wanting to brag about their wealth.
Hope it does well as personally I love the idea of the Atom and the supercharged version would definitely be in my dream garage.
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Hope it does well as personally I love the idea of the Atom and the supercharged version would definitely be in my dream garage.
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Edited by stuartrav on Tuesday 14th August 18:01
I agree with the others who have said that it might not work. The few times that I have been in China and other parts of Asia it just does not seem like a car that they would love, it is too sparse to pull off the luxury tag and is too impractical to be used everyday. I wish them all the luck in the world, but don't be surprised if Ariel starts to have their bodies constructed in China and shipped back to England for a cost reduction. Also, does anyone know how many have been sold in the US?
It is an amazing machine though and looks the part.
It is an amazing machine though and looks the part.
RefinedRogue said:
I agree with the others who have said that it might not work. The few times that I have been in China and other parts of Asia it just does not seem like a car that they would love, it is too sparse to pull off the luxury tag and is too impractical to be used everyday. I wish them all the luck in the world, but don't be surprised if Ariel starts to have their bodies constructed in China and shipped back to England for a cost reduction. Also, does anyone know how many have been sold in the US?
It is an amazing machine though and looks the part.
Quite a lot have been sold in the US, something like 100 and it still has quite a waiting list.It is an amazing machine though and looks the part.
There is already one Atom racing in China.
Ben
WHen I went to CHina there were some fantastic roads!
I suspect you just have to know where to drive it. I can understand what people are saying about the market though. Not flashy enough for those that can afford a car like that in China.
I suppose 200 orders already says otherwise though!
I suspect you just have to know where to drive it. I can understand what people are saying about the market though. Not flashy enough for those that can afford a car like that in China.
I suppose 200 orders already says otherwise though!
Forget about China - they should 'setup a joint venture to make and sell cars' in Essex!
I would love to get my hands on an Atom, but am concerned that the used market seems to be quite controlled and not liquid. Yes I know they don't come up for sale very often - but perhaps that's partly due to the fact that owners only real option other than perhaps eBay is to ask the factory in Somerset to sell it for them. The factories own website has had the same dozen or so examples on it for ages with SOLD over the pictures, and they freely admit people buy them quicker than they can list them.
Also, I don't fancy having to go down to Somerset for a service ( ok Lotus etc could do it, but we all like original FSH ), or wait for them to post me a part if I lose an indicator or mirror etc.
Don't get me wrong - I know owning an Atom isn't like owning a Ford, but it wouldn't hurt if there was somewhere else in the UK ( perhaps near the other side of the country - near large population of London / Essex ), that was a recognised centre for these cars - that bought and sold used examples, offered servicing etc.
I think they could really expand operations in the UK, and it's a shame that they are looking outside of the country first...
Just my two-pence worth anyway. Anyone got an Atom for sale??? :-)
I would love to get my hands on an Atom, but am concerned that the used market seems to be quite controlled and not liquid. Yes I know they don't come up for sale very often - but perhaps that's partly due to the fact that owners only real option other than perhaps eBay is to ask the factory in Somerset to sell it for them. The factories own website has had the same dozen or so examples on it for ages with SOLD over the pictures, and they freely admit people buy them quicker than they can list them.
Also, I don't fancy having to go down to Somerset for a service ( ok Lotus etc could do it, but we all like original FSH ), or wait for them to post me a part if I lose an indicator or mirror etc.
Don't get me wrong - I know owning an Atom isn't like owning a Ford, but it wouldn't hurt if there was somewhere else in the UK ( perhaps near the other side of the country - near large population of London / Essex ), that was a recognised centre for these cars - that bought and sold used examples, offered servicing etc.
I think they could really expand operations in the UK, and it's a shame that they are looking outside of the country first...
Just my two-pence worth anyway. Anyone got an Atom for sale??? :-)
ego said:
Forget about China - they should 'setup a joint venture to make and sell cars' in Essex!
I would love to get my hands on an Atom, but am concerned that the used market seems to be quite controlled and not liquid. Yes I know they don't come up for sale very often - but perhaps that's partly due to the fact that owners only real option other than perhaps eBay is to ask the factory in Somerset to sell it for them. The factories own website has had the same dozen or so examples on it for ages with SOLD over the pictures, and they freely admit people buy them quicker than they can list them.
Also, I don't fancy having to go down to Somerset for a service ( ok Lotus etc could do it, but we all like original FSH ), or wait for them to post me a part if I lose an indicator or mirror etc.
Don't get me wrong - I know owning an Atom isn't like owning a Ford, but it wouldn't hurt if there was somewhere else in the UK ( perhaps near the other side of the country - near large population of London / Essex ), that was a recognised centre for these cars - that bought and sold used examples, offered servicing etc.
I think they could really expand operations in the UK, and it's a shame that they are looking outside of the country first...
Just my two-pence worth anyway. Anyone got an Atom for sale??? :-)
Another tuppence...I would love to get my hands on an Atom, but am concerned that the used market seems to be quite controlled and not liquid. Yes I know they don't come up for sale very often - but perhaps that's partly due to the fact that owners only real option other than perhaps eBay is to ask the factory in Somerset to sell it for them. The factories own website has had the same dozen or so examples on it for ages with SOLD over the pictures, and they freely admit people buy them quicker than they can list them.
Also, I don't fancy having to go down to Somerset for a service ( ok Lotus etc could do it, but we all like original FSH ), or wait for them to post me a part if I lose an indicator or mirror etc.
Don't get me wrong - I know owning an Atom isn't like owning a Ford, but it wouldn't hurt if there was somewhere else in the UK ( perhaps near the other side of the country - near large population of London / Essex ), that was a recognised centre for these cars - that bought and sold used examples, offered servicing etc.
I think they could really expand operations in the UK, and it's a shame that they are looking outside of the country first...
Just my two-pence worth anyway. Anyone got an Atom for sale??? :-)
Point one: As with every single specialist vehicle, one sales conduit is the owner's club. The AAOC has sold quite a few cars and they do go as fast as they come on the market - mostly thanks to a long (almost a year now) waiting list. Plus they often come up for sale on Pistonheads - there's on on right now... see classifieds...
Point two: You can service cars yourself, or get a Honda dealer to do it, or a specialist race technician or engineer. It doesn't have to go back to Somerset. Mine does, but that's because I'm a) technically inept, and b) I trust them with my life - literally.
Point three: Nice idea, and as a Londoner, I'd go for that. There was one company, but sadly they passed on last year. However, the odd trip to Somerset is a great excuse to drive the car, and any excuse will do... Postage is REALLY efficient and they often send stuff before we even pay for it! And sometimes, it's free!
Point four: Simon doesn't want to expand in the UK, he likes the fact that it's a small car company and wants to keep it that way. It's a small car company in the US and it'll be a small car company in China. Small car companies can do things that big ones can't.
If you want one, check out the pistonheads classifieds, and the AAOC forum.
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