China to flood U.S with cheap SUVs

[Poverty]

Id be suing too. This could be very bad news for GM if it picks up yet I doubt american buyers will fall for this.

George Soros, the billionaire who bankrolled Moveon.org, and Maurice Strong, a major backer of the United Nations and environmentalist causes, are considering pouring hundreds of millions into a Chinese state automaker with plans to begin dumping cheap exports on the U.S. market next year, WND has learned.

The "Chery" is a knockoff of the South Korean Spark, sold in the U.S. in partnership with General Motors. GM filed a lawsuit against Chery Automobile Co. for piracy of the car developed by its South Korean affiliate Daewoo.

The lawsuit, launched in the name of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. Ltd, contends Chery's QQ copied the design of Daewoo's Matiz, while Chery claims it developed the QQ on its own. GM's investigation results showed the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components."

Meanwhile, the Chery QQ sells in China for $3,600.Chery sold about 50,000 of these last year in China and is planning to begin exporting cars to the end of 2007. Some auto industry analysts suggest the low price on the Chery is the partly the result of the "borrowed" technology and design.

Until now, Chery has focused on exports to 10 other countries, including Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Cuba, Syria and Malaysia. But now, with the help of at least two prominent mega-investors – Soros and Strong – China is making big plans for a major push into the North American market.

The marketing genius behind the push is Malcolm Bricklin, best known for the failed 1980s effort to promote the Yugo in America. The list price on the Chery is expected to be around $20,000 in the U.S.

The plan is to sell 250,000 Cherys in the U.S. in the first year through 250 dealerships, with a target of 1 million by 2010.

Most Americans are familiar with the name Soros because of his involvement in U.S. presidential politics in 2004. Less familiar to them is Canadian Maurice Strong.

He served as secretary-general of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit conference. He also served as special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general on reform years before the oil-for-food scandal.

Strong made his fortune in oil and utilities, but is a self-described socialist. he once said that for humanity to survive, it may be necessary "for industrial civilization to collapse."

Strong has close connections with numerous influential leaders in business and government around the world – including the United States – and is considered a possibility to fill the post of secretary general of the U.N. when the position again becomes open. In his U.N. role, Strong has floated the idea of eliminating single-family houses, air conditioning and convenience foods as a way to conserve energy and save the environment.

He may be best known for his promotion of the Earth Charter, along with Mikhail Gorbachev. The document has been described as an effort to create a new "16 Commandments" to serve as the foundation for a new global religion.

Both Soros and Strong are known as major proponents of global government and rabid environmentalists – ironic, perhaps, given Cherys' plans to export into the U.S. and elsewhere gas-guzzling SUVs among other smaller vehicles.

Soros spent $23 million in a failed attempt to prevent President Bush's re-election. During the presidential race, Soros told reporters if Bush were to be re-elected, he planned to go away to "some kind of monastery to reflect on what is wrong with us."

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Seems like a rip-off for $20,000. This Soros guy sounds messed up, too.

I hope GM can get their money.

 

[Duke]

So lets get this straight - a 'rabid environmentalist' is bankrollling a plan to export a Chinese SUV to America? With China's industrial facilities historically being the largest polluters on the face of the planet, by a very large factor? And low-tech SUVs historically being polluters and gas guzzlers as well?

Yeah. Makes sense to me.

 

[Jim Prower]

Oh, god, it's the Yugo all over again.

 

[Raghavan]

I hope his stealerships get burned down by angry people.

 

[Captain-insane]

And low-tech SUVs historically being polluters and gas guzzlers as well?

That's because they ARE low-tech, gas guzzling and polluting, especialy if they're made by general motors.

 

[YSSMAN]

Has anyone realised that nobody in their right mind is going to actually consider a Chinese-made car, no matter how cheap the price?

 

[Poverty]

Everything chinese that ive brought, other than my nike products has fallen apart.

 

[Onikaze]

Well, I might consider one on one condition.

If they manage to rip off a nice solid, but light RWD platform, and sell it for well under $20,000.

Even if I wouldn't buy one, it might just make the other manufacturers wake up and stop pumping out this "Youth Oriented" Wrong Wheel Drive crap.

 

[z-reserve]

Has anyone realised that nobody in their right mind is going to actually consider a Chinese-made car, no matter how cheap the price?

What if it comes with the BEST GUARANTEE IN THE COUNTRY??

 

[Poverty]

isnt 20k expensive for a car of this type and standard? What do its rivals sell for and to help me put things in perspective how much does a entry level A4 start at?

 

[Onikaze]

Entry level A4 2.0T is $28,400 to start.

A good full size Pickup is $18,000-$21,000 to start.

A Mustang GT is $23,000 or so.

A Corvette is $45,000-$65,000.

I don't know the prices on SUV's, but I know they range from full size pickup entry prices, up to Corvette entry prices.

I'd still like to see them bring some cheap RWD platforms in, so they can get a sudden surge of sales from kids, and the other makers wake up and bring back entry level RWD models.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

isnt 20k expensive for a car of this type and standard? What do its rivals sell for and to help me put things in perspective how much does a entry level A4 start at?

I think about $11,000 to $18,000 would be a good range, depending on the options.

 

[Onikaze]

Yeah it would.

There is NOTHING in the American market below $20k besides the Yaris, Fit, the most absolute basic Civic, and the most basic Scions...the first maker to launch a semi-sporty RWD car in this price range is going to have a huge hit, I guarantee it.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Yeah it would.

There is NOTHING in the American market below $20k besides the Yaris, Fit, the most absolute basic Civic, and the most basic Scions...the first maker to launch a semi-sporty RWD car in this price range is going to have a huge hit, I guarantee it.

What about the Kias and Hyundais? Those seem like the main rivals.

 

[McLaren]

Until everyone starts getting hurt. It won't last. It'll probably do the Ford Explorer deal, and rollover.

They'll probably end up like Rodeo's. Still around, but not a whole lot. And to let a youth drive one of these?!
A lot of kids are extremely dangerous behind a RWD car. Given the safety of these Chinese cars, their deaths in them will rise. They'll try to race them, and crash. And unlike the Daddy's safe BMW, they'll be more than likely getting serious injuries.

 

[Onikaze]

The Kia's and Hyundais too, I kind of forget they exist (or maybe it's a mental block) hard to say.

All I know is, Cheap SUV's=Cheap RWD platform=Cheap to put a car body on it=Cheap fun for dumb kids.

You didn't hear horror stories about how every kid in a RWD car instantly flew off the road and burst into flames when you could get Musclecars for cheap back in the 70's, in the 80's when the japanese RWD cars were new and could be bought cheaply, I didn't hear "OMG! RWD CARS ARE BAD FOR KIDS!", in the 90's, as the last few RWD cars trickled out and died off, I still didn't hear any "RWD=DEATH" stories anywhere.

Why would that change now.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Chery cars are complete rip-offs of existing designs, these aren't ground up, clean-sheet, cheaply designed cars, and if they get sold in the U.S. they will have to meet certain satefy standards.

 

[McLaren]

The Kia's and Hyundais too, I kind of forget they exist (or maybe it's a mental block) hard to say.

All I know is, Cheap SUV's=Cheap RWD platform=Cheap to put a car body on it=Cheap fun for dumb kids.

You didn't hear horror stories about how every kid in a RWD car instantly flew off the road and burst into flames when you could get Musclecars for cheap back in the 70's, in the 80's when the japanese RWD cars were new and could be bought cheaply, I didn't hear "OMG! RWD CARS ARE BAD FOR KIDS!", in the 90's, as the last few RWD cars trickled out and died off, I still didn't hear any "RWD=DEATH" stories anywhere.

Why would that change now.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Chery cars are complete rip-offs of existing designs, these aren't ground up, clean-sheet, cheaply designed cars, and if they get sold in the U.S. they will have to meet certain satefy standards.

I didn't say all kids. I said a lot are. Hell, they can be dangerous in any car. My point is that would you rather them street racing a safe RWD car like a BMW, or a RWD car from China?

 

[Poverty]

I bet the chinese cars will have uber low torque engines that blow up easily, unless they buy the rights to use another manufacturers block, like MG-Rovers.

 

[Jim Prower]

So, Lemme get this straight. these are cheap ripoffs of established designs. they have low quality, and you'll likely have to perform a major overhaul of the engine annualy to keep it running.

sounds like the old Yugo to me.

so, who wants to play "win Maclom Bricklin's Money"?

in court?

 

[NSX-R]

You guys are taking this way too seriously.

No, China is not famous for its quality, and no, China should not jump into such technological industry with cheap clones.

But China has to start SOMEWHERE, just like the Koreans.

De javu... All I'm hearing from this crowd is EXACTLY what I heard when the Koreans came along, and is reminiscent of what others thought of the Japanese in the 80's

Why don't you just give them a chance? Being stereotypical and prejudicial is not making the world a better place. Besides, the ultimate choice is in the hands of the consumers, namely yours. If you believe the products are inferior, then don't buy it, and persuade your loved ones to do the same.

PLEASE! Have some confidence in the American system, and I am sure the ministrations will check the imported vehicles for safety, pollution, etc.

 

[red70mach1]

Bricklin-I'm familiar with his SV-1, and introducing us to Subaru

Soros-I might be a minority then, but he seems to be an 'idiot' when it comes to politics.

I surely don't recall on Maurice Strong.

This Chery I would like to see its quality ratings.

 

[Tornado]

So, Lemme get this straight. these are cheap ripoffs of established designs. they have low quality, and you'll likely have to perform a major overhaul of the engine annualy to keep it running.
sounds like the old Yugo to me.
so, who wants to play "win Maclom Bricklin's Money"?
in court?

Let's play "overused and tired cliche that isn't even true." Seriously, before I die I will convince the whole world that there never was anything wrong with the Yugo.
Anyways, as long as they are safe, I could care less whether they are sold here. There is one difference between Chinese cars and Korean/Japanese cars: The cars they sell here will 8/10 times be forced to be different, because most of the cars sold in China are just unsafe, cheaper versions of cars sold by other manafacturers, and until the Chinese car companies completely get rid of their copycat designs they will never have that much of an impact in America. Lobbyists will make sure of that.

 

[JCE]

So lets get this straight - a 'rabid environmentalist' is bankrollling a plan to export a Chinese SUV to America? With China's industrial facilities historically being the largest polluters on the face of the planet, by a very large factor? And low-tech SUVs historically being polluters and gas guzzlers as well?

Yeah. Makes sense to me.

Perfect post. Soros is so far beyond idiocy that it sickens me that he is still here. He and his kind are the biggest hypocrits on the planet. But, these SUVs will sell...just not very many.

 

[Danny]

Everything chinese that ive brought, other than my nike products has fallen apart.

My Foo Yung broke

 

[Raghavan]

The only thing that Bricklin has brought to us worthwhile is Subaru.

 

[harrytuttle]

Perfect post. Soros is so far beyond idiocy that it sickens me that he is still here. He and his kind are the biggest hypocrits on the planet. But, these SUVs will sell...just not very many.

I agree: 250,000 is extremely optimistic. While it took Japanese manufacturers a few decades to become respected, I think it's going to take much more for Chinese cars to be accepted, let alone respected. There's a lot more than geographic differences. Japan's strong electronics work paved the way for the perception of their automotive reliability.

With China, things are much different. They current state of reliability is questionable at best, the designs are neither original or attractive, and the engineering is practically stolen. Add to all this the fact they are entering a very difficult market. Kia, Daewoo, and Hyundai (not to mention Scion) are doing quite well in the "dirt-cheap" segment, and Hyundai's reliability is starting to rival Honda.

However, I welcome Chery with open arms. But having seen the wonder that is the Ssanyong Rodius, I won't be holding my breath.

 

[Pupik]

So lets get this straight - a 'rabid environmentalist' is bankrollling a plan to export a Chinese SUV to America? With China's industrial facilities historically being the largest polluters on the face of the planet, by a very large factor?

Yeah. Makes sense to me.

Duke, you took the words right out of my post.

But if it's good enough, and safe enough, then I see no problem with another player in the world's toughest auto market. But there's a lot of world-wide brands that try to to crack the US market, but never quite get off the starting blocks.

Laforza, anyone?

 

[Slicks]

I will confess, I can't see myself buying a new Korean car any time in the future, let alone a Chinese one. Especially when you take a look at the build quality of other Chinese products (I know this is not to be used as a definitive guage, but I think it will tell you how cold the water is).
Combine that with the blatant copies of car designs (Which I don't remember the Koreans doing), and you've got a recipie for failure and a lawsuit in the short term at the very least.

 

[NSX-R]

Especially when you take a look at the build quality of other Chinese products (I know this is not to be used as a definitive guage, but I think it will tell you how cold the water is).
.

You get what you paid for.