China's Lifan Passes Crash Test in Russia

SHANGHAI - November 6, 2007:

Chongqing Lifan Group, one of China’s leading motorcycle makers, said its Lifan 520 sedan produced by the company’s assembly line in Russia has passed the Europe R-94 crash test.

The test was performed by Russia's national collision experimental laboratory. The sedan's four doors can open easily after the car runs at 35 mph (56 km/h) into a deformable wall. Dual front airbags and side airbags work well and the dummy hasn't been damaged. The passenger compartment held its shape very well and there was no leak in the fuel tank.

Lifan said that this result has paved the way for Lifan’s expansion plan in Russian market. Lifan has established an assembly line this year and the company plans to sell 8,000 vehicles in Russia next year and 40,000 units annually by 2010, according to Mao Gang, general manager of an imports and exports unit under Lifan Group.

In August this year, Lifan Group signed a $160 million supplying contract with Russian company AutoMir. Under the contract, AutoMir will purchase 30,000 sedans in KD forms from Lifan in the next three years.

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