Is America Ready for Cheap Chinese Cars?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Chrysler announced Thursday that it will sell a small, inexpensive car built by Chinese automaker in South and Central America as early as next year and in the U.S. by 2009. The car is expected to cost about $10,000. But shortly after the Chinese government approved the deal between the two companies, Chery's president contradicted Chrysler and said the car would sell for about $7,000 and go on sale in the U.S. by next year. Such is life in the Chinese auto industry.

There is no question that Chinese automakers are going to be part of the U.S. auto scene. The question is when, and to what degree American consumers will accept cars made in China.

A recent spate of recalls and tainted products from China has dealt a serious setback to the image of goods made in China, according to some analysts. Tainted pet food, fake pharmaceuticals, and substandard tires have all made headlines in the U.S. And China's own General Administration of Quality Supervision just reported this week that in the first half of 2007, 19.1% of products China manufactured for domestic consumption were found to be substandard.

...

Why are dealers so anxious to sell Chinese cars when the image of the country is worsening with American consumers? "They are afraid of missing out on the next Toyota," says Sandler. Talk about a high bar to clear for the Chinese.

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/...age_top+stories

[William33 110]

This will be a much longer road for the Chinese, than it was for the South Koreans.

It took Hyundai more than 10 years to build a reliable and profitable line of cars.

At 7-10K, it will draw a niche crowd.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Hmmm who knows, maybe in about 15 years?

Edited July 9, 2007 by MariaDane

[homesick_american 1]

Over 20 years after Hyundai penetrated the US market, I've bought one. I don't see myself ever buying a Chinese car. I hate Chinese goods; the quality is so SHABBY.

[broma25 2]

The chinese make everything else that is sold here.....its no suprise to me they want to introduce cars!

[Caladan 19]

I hope their quality is better than their tainted produce and meats.

[homesick_american 1]

I hope their quality is better than their tainted produce and meats.

No joke. It's so hard to avoid Chinese goods nowadays. I'll pay more for non-Chinese goods but good luck finding any.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

This will be a much longer road for the Chinese, than it was for the South Koreans.

It took Hyundai more than 10 years to build a reliable and profitable line of cars.

At 7-10K, it will draw a niche crowd.

There were some reasons that it took Hyundai that long.

It introduced its products into North America (Canada only) in 1984, and was actually successful--in 1986, it ranked second in sales among imports there. I actually had a 1986 model Pony (which I regret not smuggling somehow into US when I got my first TN-1 job in 1994--it could have saved me some $$ initially).

To the US, Hyundai introduced the Excel in 1986--and shortly afterwards (1987) scrapped its successful Canada-only models Pony and Stellar.

It then got hit by two mistakes:

• Hyundai had been using somewhat dated Mitsubishi engines till then; the ones on the Excel and the Stellar's replacement, Sonata (introduced to US as well as Canada) were prone to overheating (in Canada, this problem had not been noticed--but in parts of South and Southwest US, it couldn't be long-hidden)
  
• They decided to actually start manufacturing in North America (like Toyota and Honda) including parts, but chose the [wrong place to put their factory--Bromont, QC!!! The results were shoddy product-quality (earlier imported from Korea could be considered "average", basically reasonable for the price) and poor parts-availability.
  

[GaryC 7]

Chinese cars perform horribly in crash tests

by Auto123.com, auto123.com (June 27, 2007)

If recent crash test results are any indication, then North American automakers have little to worry about in terms of a Chinese invasion. Recent videos and images circulating the internet show some repulsive-looking crash tests on a few models. The tests were conducted in Germany at the ADAC Test Centre.

In particular, the Brilliance BS6 was put into a 40-mph offset front impact which saw the frame deflect so badly that the driver door popped out of its frame, and later required a crowbar and some muscle to open. The rocker panels kink and bend, showing a lack of integrity in the car's structure, while the A-pillar collapsed like a poorly-built piece of patio furniture.

Compare the photos or video to a top-marked North American car, and the Chinese machine looks like it was traveling four times the speed after the impact. A BMW 3-series, for instance, shows little to no intrusion into the passenger compartment in the same test that would have seen the driver's legs mangled in the Brilliance. Side-impact performance was equally as poor, and fatalities would be probable. This was a machine intended for sale in North America within a year or so, and would have competed with the VW Passat and Audi A6. Good luck, Brilliance.

The BS6's less-than-brilliant crash impact performance earned it one star, a failing grade. But it's not the only Chinese deathtrap tested by the ADAC in the recent past. In 2005, they tested the Jianling Landwind SUV, and the machine performed so poorly that sales were halted in Europe.

Brilliance said they wouldn't stand in the way of owners wishing to return their cars because of the crash tests.

These crash tests won't help any more than the name, "Brilliance" did.

[Mononoke28 135]

I'm not sure about Chinese cars at this point but give me a used (1-2 year-old) Japanese car and I'm there.

[buckeye6976 0]

http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2...;s+paper+A+to+Z

[homesick_american 1]

Chinese cars perform horribly in crash tests

by Auto123.com, auto123.com (June 27, 2007)

If recent crash test results are any indication, then North American automakers have little to worry about in terms of a Chinese invasion. Recent videos and images circulating the internet show some repulsive-looking crash tests on a few models. The tests were conducted in Germany at the ADAC Test Centre.

In particular, the Brilliance BS6 was put into a 40-mph offset front impact which saw the frame deflect so badly that the driver door popped out of its frame, and later required a crowbar and some muscle to open. The rocker panels kink and bend, showing a lack of integrity in the car's structure, while the A-pillar collapsed like a poorly-built piece of patio furniture.

Compare the photos or video to a top-marked North American car, and the Chinese machine looks like it was traveling four times the speed after the impact. A BMW 3-series, for instance, shows little to no intrusion into the passenger compartment in the same test that would have seen the driver's legs mangled in the Brilliance. Side-impact performance was equally as poor, and fatalities would be probable. This was a machine intended for sale in North America within a year or so, and would have competed with the VW Passat and Audi A6. Good luck, Brilliance.

The BS6's less-than-brilliant crash impact performance earned it one star, a failing grade. But it's not the only Chinese deathtrap tested by the ADAC in the recent past. In 2005, they tested the Jianling Landwind SUV, and the machine performed so poorly that sales were halted in Europe.

Brilliance said they wouldn't stand in the way of owners wishing to return their cars because of the crash tests.

These crash tests won't help any more than the name, "Brilliance" did.

Hyundais were ####### 20 years ago but my 2007 Sonata LE has 8 airbags that I've seen (I think that's all it has), ESC, ABS, and traction control as standard, and it has a five-star crash test rating. It is ranked highly for reliability too and the build quality is very good...it's at least as good as the Toyotas I test drove and better than the Nissans and Fords. It also has a great ride and is comfortable as hell and has a nice peppy V6 engine which is great for highway driving. All in all it's a good car and I think I made a good choice; I've had it less than a week. Safety and reliability are the two most important factors for me in choosing a car...along with price...and I couldn't get a safer or better car for what I spent on this one. I got it for 3k below invoice because the 2008s are coming in and they're clearing out the 2007s. (If anyone in DFW is wanting one, go to Huffines Hyundai in Plano and ask for Tommy; he treated me well.)

There's hope for the Chinese manufacturers, but I wouldn't waste my money on one for at least 20 years...especially if they're being sold by Chrysler, which is the worst car company in America IMHO. I've owned two Chryslers and I definitely won't own one again unless they really clean up their act.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Chinese cars perform horribly in crash tests

by Auto123.com, auto123.com (June 27, 2007)

If recent crash test results are any indication, then North American automakers have little to worry about in terms of a Chinese invasion. Recent videos and images circulating the internet show some repulsive-looking crash tests on a few models. The tests were conducted in Germany at the ADAC Test Centre.

In particular, the Brilliance BS6 was put into a 40-mph offset front impact which saw the frame deflect so badly that the driver door popped out of its frame, and later required a crowbar and some muscle to open. The rocker panels kink and bend, showing a lack of integrity in the car's structure, while the A-pillar collapsed like a poorly-built piece of patio furniture.

Compare the photos or video to a top-marked North American car, and the Chinese machine looks like it was traveling four times the speed after the impact. A BMW 3-series, for instance, shows little to no intrusion into the passenger compartment in the same test that would have seen the driver's legs mangled in the Brilliance. Side-impact performance was equally as poor, and fatalities would be probable. This was a machine intended for sale in North America within a year or so, and would have competed with the VW Passat and Audi A6. Good luck, Brilliance.

The BS6's less-than-brilliant crash impact performance earned it one star, a failing grade. But it's not the only Chinese deathtrap tested by the ADAC in the recent past. In 2005, they tested the Jianling Landwind SUV, and the machine performed so poorly that sales were halted in Europe.

Brilliance said they wouldn't stand in the way of owners wishing to return their cars because of the crash tests.

These crash tests won't help any more than the name, "Brilliance" did.

Hyundais were ####### 20 years ago but my 2007 Sonata LE has 8 airbags that I've seen (I think that's all it has), ESC, ABS, and traction control as standard, and it has a five-star crash test rating. It is ranked highly for reliability too and the build quality is very good...it's at least as good as the Toyotas I test drove and better than the Nissans and Fords. It also has a great ride and is comfortable as hell and has a nice peppy V6 engine which is great for highway driving. All in all it's a good car and I think I made a good choice; I've had it less than a week. Safety and reliability are the two most important factors for me in choosing a car...along with price...and I couldn't get a safer or better car for what I spent on this one. I got it for 3k below invoice because the 2008s are coming in and they're clearing out the 2007s. (If anyone in DFW is wanting one, go to Huffines Hyundai in Plano and ask for Tommy; he treated me well.)

There's hope for the Chinese manufacturers, but I wouldn't waste my money on one for at least 20 years...especially if they're being sold by Chrysler, which is the worst car company in America IMHO. I've owned two Chryslers and I definitely won't own one again unless they really clean up their act.

On Chryslers:

Their main product line is badged "Dodge"--doesn't that say enough about them? :lol:

[Dr_LHA 3]

This will be a much longer road for the Chinese, than it was for the South Koreans.

What about when the Chinese car comes labelled "Buick". The latest Buicks are being designed and built in China. Its only a matter of time before they start selling Chinese built/designed ones in the USA IMHO.

[eric&gen 0]

Chinese cars do have a future they will run great out last American cars and will never leak oil. lol Hopefully be cheaper on insurance.