New car brand for Geneva

This is a teaser photograph heralding the debut in Geneva next year of a brand new car brand, writes Brian Byrne. Qoros is a joint venture between the Chinese Chery Automotive and global industrial holding company Israel Corporation.

The first car from the Qoros brand will be a compact family saloon, currently on test in Australia and other parts of the world under the code name CF11.

The producers say the car will be produced to European requirements in quality and finish, and will be engineered to achieve the highest levels of the Euro NCAP safety programme.

Following the CF11's debut in Europe, it will be put on display at the Shanghai Motor Show. Sales in Europe and China will begin towards the end of next year.

Chery Automobile is China's largest car manufacturer. The Qoros cars will be built in a brand new factory, with a planned eventual capacity of 450,000 units.

Israel Corporation is Israel's larget holding company, with interests in a wide range of industries, including fertilizers, speciality chemicals, energy, shipping and transportation.