You've got 250,000 yuan and your dream is to own a house and car in Beijing. But it seems like the only things that get you are a janitor's closet and a high-polluting huangbaoche (yellow-marked vehicle). Maybe what you need is to combine the two and buy a mobile home.
Faced with Beijing's out-of-control house prices, locals are considering turning to recreational vehicles (RVs) such as the Sailing car from Great Wall Auto (GWA). The company will release their new, cheaper domestic model in May, which will meet the city's current emission standards.
The current Sailing is popular in China but has not been granted Beijing Transport authority license plates due to its lack of national standard emissions. "At the moment, only models costing at least 450,000 yuan meet the requirements," Guan Jingzhao, manager of Beijing Centech Investment Management Co. Ltd, who deals in the remodeling and sales of domestic and imported mobile homes, told Lifestyle. The low-budget Beijing model will cost around 300, 000 yuan, cheaper than any other import. While it is possible to buy a suitable Beijing mobile home, current domestic models are no better value than the expensive imports. "Beijing is our most important market, and several domestic types priced from 468,000 to 698,000 yuan qualify for the Beijing plate number," Guan told Lifestyle.
That hasn't stopped Beijingers looking for ways to cheaply sidestep the system, with some obtaining number plates from neighboring Tianjin and Hebei Province. As that requires traveling to those cities for an annual vehicle inspection, the idea has yet to gain much popularity. That may change, though, with the as-yet unnamed low-budget GWA; the company is even offering discounts of between 10 and 30 percent to those who pre-order before January 15th with the cheapest potentially costing a bargain 220,000 yuan.
Ready to roll
For those looking to invest, the RV provides a mixed range of comforts and conveniences. On the one hand, the seven-square meter interior includes a pull-down bed, three sofa areas, LCD TV, mini-kitchen with fridge and induction cooker, and a private bathroom. GWA's Sailing, which made its debut last August, has already proven popular with consumers; sales exceed those of other, more expensive models. "The low price is the most alluring part for the common Chinese consumers," one such owner, Yu Minqiang, told Lifestyle.
But there are disadvantages. "The storage battery only lasts 10 hours for just the lighting," Yu said. "I never use the air-conditioner, as it uses so much electricity," he added. As for generating your own, "It is very costly, as it needs to use so much gasoline," Wang Renhe, another owner, told us. Other potential problems include water supply and security.
Wang Renhe, a university professor who famously traveled to Tibet and ascended Qomolangma in an RV in 2007, has some advice for anyone wishing to improve their vehicle as a domicile. Replacing the induction cooker with a gas cooker saves battery life (a 2.5-liter canister should be enough for a month's travel). More creatively, Wang suggests installing solar panels and a wind battery on the roof to boost power.
Liu Junjie, a 25-year-old single IT worker, is one Beijinger excited about the forthcoming low-price model. "With a car like that, there's no need to rent an apart-ment, and you can also use it for travel and work," he noted.
Berth of a salesman
Indeed, some companies are taking advantage of the multi-purpose vehicle to save money. Yu Minqiang, the manager of a fertilizer company, had a mobile home re-sprayed with specially commissioned advertising; his sales reps use the vehicle when touring other provinces. According to Yu, some small-town hotels are particularly unappealing or unhygienic. The company RV means his employees can not only enjoy familiar accommodation, but also save on hotel fees. Of course, with the paint job, "Wherever we go, local people know what we do."
For those unready to commit, there's always renting. "We have dozens of available for the customers to rent," said Wang Hongxing, manager of Tramper Mobile House Club, a renting agency for touring cars. At 800 yuan per day, the agency offers one of the most competitive deals available. Meanwhile, anyone keen to get the most out of the newly leased mobile home should check the Beijing Zhong Tian Hang RV Club (www.crvc.com), an online forum for local caravan enthusiasts that includes suggested routes, maps and advice.
Tramper Mobile House Club 流浪汉房车俱乐部
Address: 3 Bisenli, Tiancun Road, Haidian District
Tel: 8818-2336 / 153-0110-5196
Boshilian Auto Sales Center 泊士联汽车销售中心
Address: 95 South Fourth Ring Road East, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6738-8688 / 8768-1160
