You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Economy
China Threatens to Break Into U.S. Auto Industry This Year
2010-05-12
Hope you weren't counting on unemployment going down. Via InstaPundit.com
Chinese automakers are finally making their move on the U.S. auto scene. Geely Automotive in March finalized a deal to buy Swedish automaker Volvo from Ford. And BYD, the fastest growing Chinese automaker, has opened an office in Los Angeles and hopes to deliver its first vehicles to California consumers by the end of 2010.
Posted by:ed

#27  No, I would not buy a vehicle from the Chinese. But thanks anyway.
Posted by: Jefferson   2010-05-12 23:10  

#26  Sure we can. We only have to work for $150-200/month. But lunch and a barracks cot is free.

At almost 20% unemployment, allow families to move in with the worker and you may have something.
Posted by: gorb   2010-05-12 22:03  

#25  We (the department) were shopping for boots the other week. One boot was made in China, another boot, same company brand but had proudly union made usa on side, was twice the price. Basically, same boot different stitching.

However, every shoe I have bought which has said made in china has de-laminated on its own (little real wear tear) within a year...looking at you adidas and raichle...hope that doesn't happen while in-gear.

Perhaps, made in the USA at only 1.5 times china cost would have made the cut. Its not like there's a bunch of cobblers sitting out in Wisconsin, sewing needles and hand-molding materials, putting boots together - its mechinized.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2010-05-12 21:45  

#24   Procopius2k, I'm thinking the crash tests show that population control is still a concept in practice in China.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-05-12 19:01  

#23  Sure we can. We only have to work for $150-200/month. But lunch and a barracks cot is free. I think I will bring up the proposal at the next Gm board meeting.

Good luck ed. I don't think the union is going to buy the proposal.

In the end, the screwing we get ain't worth the screwing we get.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-05-12 18:57  

#22  The ensuing clash between the People's Liberation Army and the plaintiffs' bar could be epic.
Posted by: Matt   2010-05-12 16:39  

#21  If they meet our air and fuel quality standards then perhaps they'll use the same standards/assembly lines to create cars for the INdian and Chinese markets and the world will be a bit better off.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2010-05-12 14:03  

#20  I can't believe that we can't produce the stuff here at a better quality and still be competitive.

Sure we can. We only have to work for $150-200/month. But lunch and a barracks cot is free. I think I will bring up the proposal at the next Gm board meeting.
Posted by: ed   2010-05-12 13:30  

#19  Here's a better picture of it:

http://content.usatoday.com/_common/_scripts/big_picture.aspx?width=490&height=338&storyURL=//www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-06-14-death-van_x.htm&imageURL=/news/_photos/2006/06/15/van-large.jpg
Posted by: Javins3089   2010-05-12 13:20  

#18  "Yes absolutely. I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlords ... at least they're capitalists."

AzCat,

Donate your organs here...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1165416/Chinas-hi-tech-death-van-criminals-executed-organs-sold-black-market.html
Posted by: Javins3089   2010-05-12 13:18  

#17  I believe China makes Buicks for Chinese consumption. The Chinese like them. So much of the consumer stuff that comes from China is just cheap crap. We handicap American business with regulation but we have little control over what China sends us. The CPSC doesn't appear to do much to control the flow of crap. I can't believe that we can't produce the stuff here at a better quality and still be competitive.
Posted by: JohnQC   2010-05-12 09:56  

#16  One of the quotes on that youtube clip , Procopius2k , made my day :

"At least the airbag will knock you out before you get squeezed to death. Could be worse!"

Painfully true - I'll stick with my Range rover thanks
Posted by: Oscar   2010-05-12 09:40  

#15  Sad to know the answer to the question: Which country taxes the creation of wealth by capital, and which does not?
Posted by: No I am the other Beldar   2010-05-12 09:22  

#14  Here's a link.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-05-12 08:46  

#13  China aint communist and America sadly isn't capitalist.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2010-05-12 08:25  

#12  Why not? Everything else is made in bloody Communist China.
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-05-12 07:50  

#11  And sell them for O-dollars?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2010-05-12 07:49  

#10  I have a Mahindra tractor. I'd buy their truck if its the same quality/price. China would have to prove their quality way before I'd consider buying one.
Posted by: BrerRabbit   2010-05-12 06:45  

#9  Indian vehicles are coming too. Mahindra sells a no frills pickup in Australia, which is a couple of $ thousand cheaper than the China offering (Great Wall).
Posted by: phil_b   2010-05-12 04:43  

#8  These guys can't even make kids' jewelry or drywall. Or kids' toys that are safe.

Fortunately, cars are tested here, so they'll have to get this one right.
Posted by: gorb   2010-05-12 04:41  

#7  Would *you* buy a Made in China car?

Yes absolutely. I, for one, welcome our new Chinese overlords ... at least they're capitalists.
Posted by: AzCat   2010-05-12 04:01  

#6  ION DAILY MAIL.UK > "HE DID IT": THE THREE MEN POINTING FINGERS AT EACH OTHER AS BP TRIES TO SHIFT BLAME FOR OIL SPILL.

HMMMM, HMMMM, wehell America = Amerika, OWG Mighty USSA = OWG Weak USRoA, IFF YOU WANNA KNOW WHY FOR DETROIT'S WOES + WHY COMET APOPHIS 2029-2036 MAY SLAM INTO THE MOON IN 2030 INSTEAD OF SAFELY PASSING TERRA FIRMA + LUNA BY, WONDER NO MORE!
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-05-12 01:53  

#5  1990's MAHA-RUSHIAN LIMBAUGH > D *** NG IT, AMERICA, THE YUGO WAS CLEARLY SAVING EARTH FROM BEING HIT BY A GIANT ASTEROID!
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-05-12 01:46  

#4  We poked fun at JAPAN'S products in the 1950's + '60's didn't we, + the YUGO + GEO + NEO???

MOUD + IRAN, KIMMIE, + even HUGO? are undoubtedly waiting for their turn.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-05-12 01:44  

#3  Would *you* buy a Made in China car, computer, electronics, electrics, appliances, furniture, gadgets, tires, clothes, shoes, toys, food, medicine? Screw this, how about a much shorter list of stuff you wouldn't buy from China.
Posted by: ed   2010-05-12 01:37  

#2  if it boiled down to GM(govt motors) and a Chinese car, i think i might go Chinese on principal.

of course, if that were the only 2 options, i think i might buy a moped.
Posted by: abu do you love   2010-05-12 01:00  

#1  Would *you* buy a Made in China car?

Don't have a link at the moment, but there was an article floating around the interwebs on Chinese business practices. The basic idea is make a deal then skimp, cut corners, under perform or otherwise screw your business partner. If they have enough invested, they will put up with being cheated because backing out entirely would be a bigger loss. Utterly charming, but not surprising for a people raised in a totalitarian environment.
Posted by: SteveS   2010-05-12 00:55  

00:00