Agent009
Agent009
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
View My AgentSpace

Print this Page | Digg It | del.icio.us

Will Americans Choose Cheap Chinese Cars Over Safe Ones?
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. "We can't turn the clock back on importing goods from China, but if the negative headlines persist, it will make it tough for every Chinese brand, and that especially goes for cars," says independent marketing consultant Dennis Keene.

Read Article
Will Americans Choose Cheap Chinese Cars Over Safe Ones?



Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]
bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 7/9/2007 11:01:09 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
unless these chinese cars are extremely cheap i seriously doubt it, now adays there is alot of choices in economy cars from many companies, that are alot more than just cheap

reply to this comment
Agent009Agent009 - 7/9/2007 11:02:04 AMView My AgentSpace
+3 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I agree, Toyota has proven that excellent crash worthiness is not a prerequisite to selling cars in droves. While Toyota is not unsafe by any measure, they seldom rank at the top of the safety ladder.

It seems American are more afraid of a potential break down rather, than a potential crash outcome.


reply to this comment
BMW995BMW995 - 7/9/2007 11:16:16 AM
+4 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I saw the "results" of the crash test of the Chinese Brilliance sedan. There is no way I would ride in this car much less buy one. The car actually disintegrated upon impact. No survivors were likely. China is throwing some real junk on to the Western nations, and I don't mean just autos. As long as they can get away with it they'll continue to do so just to save money (poisonous toothpaste, dog food, etc). Eventually market forces will compel the Chinese to change their ways, but until then I'll gladly wait until I put myself or a family member in one of their death traps.
By the way, check out the number of annual auto related fatalities in China. Unbelievable. I guess when your population is a couple of billion, what's a few hundred thousand auto fatalities per year.

reply to this comment
jon21jon21 - 7/9/2007 11:33:07 AM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
gsh23gsh23 - 7/9/2007 11:52:36 AM
-2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
ive been living around the world for almost a year now, and have

gotten a pretty good feeling about the culture in each major

continent. i feel like i can hop on a plane to asia or europe and feel

just as comfortable as i do in sunny california. its the little things

that you dont read about that truely makes you integrated into

society.

i admit, having a pot belly german half your size drink you under the

table on a consistent basis has opened my eyes beyond the lawyers and

hoes parties in college where suddenly hurling your stale pizza dinner

onto the neighbors balcony is a fashionable event. it wasnt so much

the 6 liters he drank of dunkel weiss and subsequent shots of european

hard liqueor in one sitting, but rather the price that the bavarian

paid for his E60 530i wagon. "60 grand," he said. "U.S."

meanwhile, on the other side of the world in china, a sighting of the

famous half X5-half RX SUV is cause for whipping out the digital

camera, proclaiming the idiocy of the chinese people. but the freak

show doesnt stop there. amusement is followed by astonishment that

there are a shitload of buicks here. nevermind that. there was one

continental gt. "strange, im so used to seeing old white doctors and

wanna-be rock star armenians in bentleys," i thought to myself. so its

true.

brand names sell, even in a country where 5 iphone knockoffs came to

market before the real one did. a $7,000 chinese car might find itself

on college lots, rejected urban neighborhoods, and berkeley, but even

an american with a net negative cash flow (and what would be 43% of

you) would pass on a car with the name chery.



reply to this comment
gsh23gsh23 - 7/9/2007 8:24:51 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
it was satire my good man


IamEvilHomerIamEvilHomer - 7/9/2007 1:03:42 PM
-2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
racest headline

reply to this comment
toolatetoracetoolatetorace - 7/9/2007 5:47:53 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
,,,,Which would be our favorite toaster testers

reply to this comment
AUTO_UNIONAUTO_UNION - 7/9/2007 1:59:36 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I hope not. Thousands of people die each year because of unsafe cars! Safety should be very important in everyones heads!

reply to this comment
ctsangctsang - 7/9/2007 3:11:12 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
how do we know they are not safe by the time those cars get here?

reply to this comment
chuck717chuck717 - 7/9/2007 4:32:02 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Poor China, they already have three strikes before coming to the plate>>>
Chrysler Corp is involved strike one?
Strike two,the Chrysler sales person opens his mouth?
Strike three, is trying to get good service at a Chrysler dealer?

reply to this comment
EnnNorakEnnNorak - 7/9/2007 9:16:22 PM
0 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
I am one of these people who believes that safety is solely in my driving hands. I hate spending money on safety when I drive carefully to avoid accidents. I also don't like the government acting like a big brother in safety matters. Politicians hardly ever have any real achievements to boast about so they sell you on intangibles like safety and appoint safety nazis to make the auto industry miserable.

reply to this comment
audirevolutionaudirevolution - 7/9/2007 9:58:43 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
It all depends on the price point.

reply to this comment
CzelinskiCzelinski - 7/10/2007 9:19:04 AM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
The Americans will choose which ever brand has the best advertising.

reply to this comment
motomoto - 7/10/2007 7:45:08 PM
+1 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
Look at how many people buy cheap disposable junk at Walmart, thinking that they are saving money. In the long run, they don't.

Thank goodness most countries have environmental and safety regulations that prevent automotive trash from being sold. If only consumer products also had better regulation.



reply to this comment
To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).

Most Recent Stories
BREAKING PORSCHE NEWS: The Panamera Breaks Cover, Not At the LA Auto Show - But Here At AutoSpies.comRenault-Nissan Alliance unveils brand-new V6 dCi Diesel engineVw Scirocco is the official 2009 TUNE IT! SAFE! campaign vehicle2010 Lincoln MKZ revealed in LALA Auto Show: Hyundai HED-5 i-Mode ConceptLast Lamborghini Reventon reaches its buyerVw Rabbit and GTI making U.S. debut in Sempember 20092009 Mercedes-Benz GLK U.S. pricing announcedA Day At The Los Angeles Auto Show - Agent 00J Asks the Questions He Thinks You Want Answered In His Search For the Truth!Honda And Acura Top Redisdual Value RankingsThe Most BRILLIANT Idea Yet On The Bailout! Should The Oil Companies Foot The Loans To Help The Auto Industry?Diamond-crusted Lamborghini key fob by Amosu Luxury2008 LA Auto Show: Honda Insight Concept introduces Ecological Drive Assist SystemHas BMW Found The Diesel Solution With The 335d?Are We Being Fair? US Automaker Bailout Raises WTO Legality ConcernsWEB RAGE FRIDAY RETURNS! Be Loud And Proud And Vent Your Gripes Now!House Speaker Takes The Bankruptcy Option Off The Table For The Detroit 3GM Returns 2 or 7 Corporate Jets After Whipping Shed Moment In WashingtonCar Driver Names Its Top 10 But Is Your Favorite On The List?Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Wins 2009 Green Car of the YearLaw Makers Approve Short Term Bailout With ConditionsJaguar XF Cabrio to debut at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show in JanuaryLA 2008 Live: 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon is here even though its delayedLA AUTO SHOW: More Goodies For The Eyes From The Show Floor In The City Of AngelsOfficial: 2009 Porsche Cayenne Diesel unveiled and priced at €47,250Volkswagen Touareg TDI Trophy Truck unveiled in LALast Ditch Deal With Automakers May Get Approval- But Can They Be Trusted?GMAC Files For Banking Status In Effort To Access $700 Billion Bailout PackageVw Touareg V6 TDI priced at $42,800Saab 9-6x patent photosLA AUTO SHOW: The All New RX, The Bread And Butter Crossover/SUV Makes Its Grand Entrance Audi Sees Dual Clutch Transmissions Making Into 90% Of Lineup In Near FutureMitt Romney Makes An Open Call To Let Detroit Go Bankrupt LA AUTO SHOW: Infiniti's G37 Convertible Officially Hits The RoadCongress Takes The Detroit 3 To The Whipping Shed And They STILL Have No Clue Why!Jaguar XF coupe and convertible receive the greenlightLA AUTO SHOW: 2009 Bentley Azure TunveiledLA AUTO SHOW: 2009 BMW 750 Li gets iDrive powered owner’s manualLA AUTO SHOW: 2009 Nissan 370Z pricing announced2010 Nissan GT-R No Longer with Launch ControlLA AUTO SHOW: First Day Recap Highlights From The Show Floor-Some Sweet Stuff!LA 2008: Honda surprises with FC Sport fuel cell sports car conceptLA AUTO SHOW: Toyota's New CNG Powered Hybrid Camry Is A GasLA AUTO SHOW: Mazda 3 Compact Sedan Gets A Re-do And Will Be The Future Underpinnings For The Next Ford Focus. THANK GOD!LA AUTO SHOW: Nissan's Iconic 370z Gets Edgy With This Redo Audi's Q7 and A5 Both Take KBB Top Resale Value Honors How About The Full Scoop On BMW's New 7 Series Hybrid!German Company Offers GM $1.3 Billion To Buy Opel And Turn It GreenFord of Europe to remain profitable in 2009, says CEODetroit Three Beg For Money From Congress After Arriving In Corporate Jets