Qoros debuts new sedan at Geneva with more in the pipeline

The Qoros 3 Sedan on display at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. The company is also presenting two concept vehicles at the show. [Photo/China Daily]

Qoros Auto Co Ltd, the new independent carmaker from China, made its public debut on Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show by unveiling the first in a series of new models aimed at discerning young buyers in China and Europe.

The 50-50 joint venture established in 2007 by Chery Automobile, China's biggest automaker by sales, and Israel Corp, the largest holding company in its namesake country, is the only Chinese automaker at the show, after China's battery and car maker BYD Co Ltd exhibited its models at the event in 2010 and 2011.

Qoros is presenting the world premiere of its first production vehicle, a four-door compact car, the Qoros 3 Sedan.

The company is also presenting two concept models - the Qoros 3 hybrid and Qoros 3 estate - at the show.

It's been a busy period for the fledgling car company after it prevailed in a legal tussle last week in Switzerland filed by German luxury vehicle producer Audi AG, which claimed the Qoros name violates its right in using the letter Q on vehicles.

The Qoros 3 Sedan on display at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. The company is also presenting two concept vehicles at the show. [Photo/Xinhua]

A Geneva court ruled that Audi must pay 15,000 Swiss francs ($15.880) in costs to Qoros and rejected a temporary injunction requested by the German auto giant.

"Debuting our first car at the Geneva Auto Show indicates Qoros' confidence and commitment to producing high quality cars," said Guo Qian, chairman and chief executive of the Changshu, Jiangsu province-based company.

"Being accepted by the European media and customers here, which are among the most critical for cars, will mean real success for Qoros," he added.