GUANGZHOU Automobile Group aims to sell a well-equipped five-passenger SUV in the United States for about the price of a compact car by the end of this decade.

    Automakers from China have talked in the past about selling cars in the United States only to run into reality — such as a lack of dealerships to sell them or subpar quality by U.S. standards. But a top Guangzhou official said Monday that the company is already laying the groundwork to begin sales there no later than in 2019.

    Guangzhou Automobile Group, known as GAC, unveiled three new vehicles Monday at the annual auto show in Detroit: a plug-in hybrid concept car called EnSpirit, the five-seat gas-powered GS7 SUV, and the electric GE3 SUV. The company also displayed a sedan.

    GAC wants to start sales in the United States no later than in 2019, and is working on setting up a dealer network, building a U.S. research center this year, and complying with stricter U.S. safety regulations, director and general manager Yu Jun said through an interpreter.

    The GX7 SUV, with a leather interior, touch screen and automatic transmission, would cost from US$15,000 to US$18,000 in the United States at present, Yu said, about the same as a base model Chevrolet Cruze compact car. By comparison, the five-seat Toyota RAV4 small SUV starts around US$25,000. (SD-Agencies)