Page 73 - How China Is Winning the Tech Race

of red- and white-uniformed repair persons riding on battery-operated bikes to
arrive on the scene within the promised 10 minutes, weaving in and out of
heavy traffic without causing more
air pollution. It offers standard
AAA-like services too: leads for “Chinacars is an auto service portal, but in
auto insurers and repair shops plus fact, it puts much effort into its offline
maps and discounts for mer- business.”
chandise. The site has rankings of
Tangos Chan,
suppliers that are based on
publisher, China Web 2.0 Review
customer evaluations—not com-
parable to the work done by the
American research and consulting
firm J.D. Power but useful for first-time buyers. Then there’s auto news
compiled by 30 editors and staff members in 25 local branches with contri-
butions from Chinacars’ community of online members. Recent posts have
included news about brake problems, maintenance tips, lists of the world’s
fastest cars, and an update on China’s millionth Chery car to roll off a local
assembly line. And don’t miss the Web site’s eye-catching photos of scantily
clad girls posing with cars along with the colorful pop-up ads.
Chinacars leverages China’s fast uptake of digital communications,
leapfrogging past the old-fashioned AAA. To distribute a product mix that
covers tires to spark plugs, Chinacars relies on the Web, mobile phones, call
centers, and satellite transmissions to beam traffic info to drivers’ navigational
devices as they sit behind the wheel. Its snazzy Web site that sports a jazzy-
looking logo is strong on Web 2.0 features that stand out on the red and black
Chinese-language Web site. The interactive community features include tabs
to blogs, an expert’s corner, bulletin board systems, forums, and photos
uploaded by members.
For those who prefer to get service the old-fashioned way, call centers are
staffed by 150 representatives. If you’re in China, you can dial 95156 to reach
them. “Chinacars is an auto service portal, but in fact, it puts much effort into
its offline business,” says Tangos Chan of China Web 2.0 Review. “I think it
is a typical successful case for a brick-and-mortar model in China.”
The online business holds the most promise for this well-positioned
company, which brings in revenues of $35 million and profits of $6 million.
For a specialized site, Chinacars logs in at a hefty 23 million daily page views:

Chinacars.com—Cruisin’ with Style 47