Lake Forest, Calif., November 13, 2018 – The formation of a new sales and distribution company in the United States for the Chinese auto brand Zotye Automobile was announced today by Duke Hale, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HAAH Automotive Holdings and Wangsheng Zhu, Chairman of Zotye Automobile International Co. The new company will be known as Zotye USA and headquartered in Lake Forest, California.
Zotye Automobile International Co. designs, engineers, manufactures and sells the Zotye brand vehicles in China and globally.
The company’s first U.S. product with be an SUV but the specific model has not been announced. Engineering development and homologation work on the model is underway and is proceeding smoothly. Sales to retail customers in the U.S. are expected to begin in 2020, according to Zotye USA.
“I am beyond thrilled to make this announcement, the result of more than four years of discussions and negotiations with the Zotye in China. With the agreement, we have begun setting up a franchised dealer network to handle sales and service in America. We’ve had discussions with several major dealers already and will have more to say about that in the months to come,” said Hale.
“HAAH has rich experience in automobile sales and a series of unique and feasible innovative sales concepts, which will successfully propel Zotye Automobile in the American market. This cooperation extends the solid foundation for Zotye Automobile in the international market,” said Zhu.
The Zotye USA sales team is led by industry veteran Senior Vice President of Sales Bob Pradzinski. Other members of the senior executive team will be announced in the future.
“HAAH Automotive Holdings is a disruptor and we will be adding innovative features and processes to the customer and franchise dealer system. These new ideas will dramatically improve the current system, bringing in greater simplicity to the purchase process and more transparency for customers while also offering dealers unique advantages. The result will be a system that will function better for everyone,” said Pradzinski.
About Zotye USA
Zotye USA will handle all sales, distribution, parts and service for Zotye vehicles in the United States. The vehicles will initially be imported from China where they are currently designed, engineered and produced by one of China’s leading automakers, Zotye Automobile International Co.
About Zotye Automobile International Co.
Zotye was formed in 1998 and today is a holding company for about 30 different firms with more than 30,000 employees. It has major manufacturing and operations facilities in nine Chinese cities and research and design operations in four countries.
About HAAH Automotive Holdings
HAAH Automotive Holdings was formed by a group of leading auto industry executives and experts to create a new experience both for customers and its dealer partners. Designed to meet the needs of 21st century car buyers, the company is creating new methods, processes and procedures to increase transparency, clarify pricing, and simplify purchase and vehicle service for the customer. The company is based in Lake Forest, Calif
