Two companies which provide public relations services to the automotive industry - the UK's Automotive PR Ltd (APR) and China's Voiceone PR (Voiceone) - have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding under which they will work together to assist motor industry clients with Chinese interests.

 

This will include both Chinese automotive companies wishing to promote themselves to international clients and Western businesses trying to raise their profiles in China.

 

The collaboration is described by APR as a significant initiative which is driven by the dramatic growth of the motor industry in China - both domestic producers seeking to internationalise and global players selling or manufacturing in China.

 

By combining their resources in this way the two companies plan to be able to offer high quality media relations and promotional services for their clients - inside and outside China. They will also be jointly targeting new clients.

 

Martin Hayes, Managing Director of APR and Chairman of the Joint Voiceone/ APR Steering Committee, said: "No-one in the global automotive community can ignore China and its own domestic producers have to sell successfully on the international stage if they are to exploit their full potential.

 

"Until now there has been a lack of professionalism in the way Chinese companies have communicated to the outside world, while Western companies have been uncertain about how best to get their messages heard by Chinese audiences - both consumer and business. Now we can address both of these issues thanks to this innovative partnership," said Mr Hayes.

 

Chris Xu, Managing Director of Voiceone, said: "APR is a perfect partner for Voiceone since it knows and understands the international motor industry and its media. At the same time our national network of offices can provide strong levels of assistance for Western companies operating in China. Together we can win major new business. More importantly, this means we are now on the road to the global market."

 

Voiceone, with headquarters in Beijing, operates from three main offices, together with a number of branches across China. It lists automotive firms Chery and Brilliance among its client list and celebrates the tenth anniversary of its founding this year. 

 

London-based APR is a provider of specialist PR services to the European and increasingly global automotive industry. It has an associated business APR of America in New York and has a full-time Mandarin speaker on its own team, as well as a representative in Shanghai. It represents companies such as Bosch, Chevrolet, Corus, DAF Trucks, General_Motors and Ferrari and has worked for Nanjing MG for almost two years. The company was formed in 2000.

From: just-auto.com editorial team