Ｆｉｒｓｔ Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ Ｃａｒｓ Ａｒｒｉｖｅ ｆｏｒ Ｓａｌｅ ｉｎ Ｗ．Ｅｕｒｏｐｅ

The first Chinese cars for saleinWestern Europe arrived inthe Belgian port of Antwerpon July 5.

Dutch car dealer Peter Bijveldssaid he had already found buyers forthe 200 Landwind five-door sportsutility vehicles (SUVs) and was con-fident of selling about 2，000 of themthis year.

Bijvelds said he was selling thecars， made by Jiangling LandwindMotor of Jiangling Motors Group， for nearly half the price of their nearest competitor

\"I think there's a big market，\" he told reporters.

Bijvelds has a five-year exclusive deal with Jiangling to sell the SUVs in 27 Eu.ropean countries， and said he was holding talks to set up a distribution network irBelgium before expanding across the continent.

Priced at about 17，000 euros (US$20，220) after taxes in the Netherlands， the SUVwill be the last thing Europe's car makers want to see on the road as they grapple witrweak consumer spending， high raw material and fuel costs and relentless pricecompetition.

Bijvelds' dealership， based in the southeastern Dutch village of Erp， is makingslight alterarions to the Chinese vehicles to meet Europe's strict emissions standards

One version of the SUV has a 2.8-1itre diesel engine made by General Motor，Corp.. It is also available with a 2-1itre or 2.4-1itre petrol engine made by Mitsubishi

Japan's Honda Motor Co Ltd began exporting Chinese-made Jazz compacts trEurope on June 24， but the first shipment of 150 cars will not arrive until mid-July，spokesman said.

Honda's joint venture in Guangzhou with Guangzhou Auto Group Co Ltd antDongfeng Motor Group Co.，Ltd. plans to build some 10，000 Jazz units this year ex.clusively for export to Europe.