Is America Ready for Cheap Chinese Cars?

[GaryC 7]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

Because that is what people want. I'd rather have a bigger car that I don't have to crawl into and take the lower gas mileage. It's my choice and the car companies are catering to it.

A lot of it is regional, too. I see a lot more larger vehicles out in the countryside and the cars get more compact the more denser the population gets. Just my personal observation, don't know if it can be backed up with data.

Anyone ever try parallel parking a pickup? I have. And failed.

I used to have a F150 Ford with the extended cab and a 8' bed. I could parallel park it as well as a compact car.

Your right though, out in the country people tend to have trucks and SUV's. I had one because I lived on a farm and used it to haul things. In the city there really isn't a need for larger vehicles. There is more traffic and they can be a pain in a traffic jam. That is why I got rid of the truck in favor of a mid-sized car.

[Ban Hammer 13,356]

Anyone ever try parallel parking a pickup? I have. And failed.

so that's why you don't like texans....they can do that

[Saddle Bronc 124]

and the thing is, US cars have decent models.... outside the US... American cars sold in Europe have excellent gas mileage, although they're smaller, but they are decent.. why not sell those here instead of making useless Yukons or Escalades..

Because that is what people want. I'd rather have a bigger car that I don't have to crawl into and take the lower gas mileage. It's my choice and the car companies are catering to it.

A lot of it is regional, too. I see a lot more larger vehicles out in the countryside and the cars get more compact the more denser the population gets. Just my personal observation, don't know if it can be backed up with data.

Anyone ever try parallel parking a pickup? I have. And failed.

The driver-training school I attended in Calgary used a 1977 Ford LTD, and did ask for hill- and parallel-parking. That car is easily as large as most pickups. Also practiced with my dad's 1976 Fury, which was more likely to cause failure (by stalling)--only a little shorter than a pickup.

[buckeye6976 0]

BMW says mainland China vehicle sales 38 pct 1 hour, 36 minutes ago

BMW (BMWG.DE), the world's largest premium car maker, said on Tuesday it sold 38 percent more cars in mainland China in the first half of 2007, as the country's growing ranks of nouveau riche snapped up the latest models.

Total sales swelled to 23,667 units from 17,168 units a year earlier, it said in a statement.

Sales of BMW brands rose 36 percent to 22,891 units, with Minis up 131 percent at 776 units.

In the Greater China area, including Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong, BMW moved 28,327 vehicles in the period, up 31 percent, it added.

Many other foreign automakers have also reported strong first-half sales in the world's second-largest auto market, as they rolled out new models.

Toyota Motor (7203.T), a relative latecomer to China, sold 212,000 vehicles in the period, up 77 percent from a year earlier, powered by brisk demand for its Camry sedans, the best-selling car in the United States in eight of the past nine years.

Sales of its premium model, Lexus, came to 12,000 units in the first six months, nearly matching the 13,000 models sold in all of 2006 and well on track to meet its full-year 2007 target of 22,000.

BMW has teamed up with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. (1114.HK)(NYSE:CBA - news) to make BMW 3 Series and 5 Series in a venture in the northern city of Shenyang, with an annual capacity of 30,000 units.

Local media have said the venture, operating at full capacity, is building a second plant capable of making 20,000 cars per year. A BMW spokesman in China said late last month details of the expansion plans had yet to be finalized.

Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

It seems that BMW don't anticipate having the problems with the quality of the Chinese manufacturing

[Saddle Bronc 124]

BMW says mainland China vehicle sales 38 pct 1 hour, 36 minutes ago

BMW (BMWG.DE), the world's largest premium car maker, said on Tuesday it sold 38 percent more cars in mainland China in the first half of 2007, as the country's growing ranks of nouveau riche snapped up the latest models.

Total sales swelled to 23,667 units from 17,168 units a year earlier, it said in a statement.

Sales of BMW brands rose 36 percent to 22,891 units, with Minis up 131 percent at 776 units.

In the Greater China area, including Macau, Taiwan and Hong Kong, BMW moved 28,327 vehicles in the period, up 31 percent, it added.

Many other foreign automakers have also reported strong first-half sales in the world's second-largest auto market, as they rolled out new models.

Toyota Motor (7203.T), a relative latecomer to China, sold 212,000 vehicles in the period, up 77 percent from a year earlier, powered by brisk demand for its Camry sedans, the best-selling car in the United States in eight of the past nine years.

Sales of its premium model, Lexus, came to 12,000 units in the first six months, nearly matching the 13,000 models sold in all of 2006 and well on track to meet its full-year 2007 target of 22,000.

BMW has teamed up with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. (1114.HK)(NYSE:CBA - news) to make BMW 3 Series and 5 Series in a venture in the northern city of Shenyang, with an annual capacity of 30,000 units.

Local media have said the venture, operating at full capacity, is building a second plant capable of making 20,000 cars per year. A BMW spokesman in China said late last month details of the expansion plans had yet to be finalized.

Copyright © 2007 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

It seems that BMW don't anticipate having the problems with the quality of the Chinese manufacturing

Missing the obvious that for sale in China, meeting Chinese standards (lacking as they are) is fine. The standards that Chinese-built vehicles failed miserably were those of Europe and UK (US has different safety, and more stringent pollution, standards than Europe/UK--but Chinese vehicles which fail UK standards aren't going to pass US ones any more easily).

[Caladan 19]

Americans just like big cars that waste gas. We really need to get over that. Most people in SUVs aren't trekking o'er hill and dale or hauling manly amounts of stuff around, just one or two kids or themselves to work.

[chri'stina 190]

I don't know about all American cars, but I have had bad experiences with two crappy Mercury Sables (curse them! ) and so far only good experiences with foreign cars. I love my little 96 Honda hatchback, which is still running strong. And very good on gas mileage.

[buckeye6976 0]

OK Cherry, Yup you got me there. As did the fact that the luxury car makers reputation is probably on the line.

The fastest growing market for BMW and their 7 series is China. 20% of Rolls-Royce and Bentley production is sold in China. 10% of all Ferrari's are sold in China. Mercedes have started a production line in China, as have Audi and Volvo. All these are being sold to these "undiscerning Chinese". The MG's are going to be built in the UK and the USA and are owned by a Chinese company. They also will have the use of a large research facility in Birmingham to develop luxury cars and engine development.

I can remember a time when some people were saying similar things about the Japanese production and being "built on a bowl of rice a day". Their quality changed quite rapidly and is now among I think the best in the world. I wouldn't underestimate the ability of the Chinese to respond to the market. They, like most countries, build to the local market demands and that market is changing.

My experience is perhaps much different, but in Beijing for example I saw more luxury cars in an hour than I have in any other city, anywhere in a one hour period.

Edited July 10, 2007 by buckeye6976

[mawilson 2,133]

The fastest growing market for BMW and their 7 series is China. 20% of Rolls-Royce and Bentley production is sold in China. 10% of all Ferrari's are sold in China. Mercedes have started a production line in China, as have Audi and Volvo.

I'd like to see a reputable source on this, although I fail to see how these numbers

(which suggest that the Chinese buy a lot of foreign-made luxury cars) change the

fact that their own quality standards aren't up to scratch.