Chinese to enter US Car Market by 2008

[Hon'ya-chan]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/03/b...008-u-s-debut/

Businessweek reports that Brilliance plans to have cars (possibly the Saibao, above) for sale in the U.S. next year for around $20,000. Phoenix, Arizona-based Autokam is behind the import plan and a Flash animation on their Web page says to expect Brilliance products this fall.

Oh, but wait: http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/22/b...-anything-but/

China's Brilliance BS6 is a recent entry into the European market, positioned as a premium-style import sedan at a budget price. Well, after seeing the videos of the car undergoing crash testing using Euro NCAP guidelines at the ADAC (Germany's AAA, essentially) test center, one thing's certain: buyers get what they pay for.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

And that is at a mere 40 mph folks.

Now imagine somebody crossing the centerline and hitting you head-on at say 55 mph. You'll end up splattered all over the interior.

Here is a crash test of a Chinese SUV. Gotta live the steering wheel just about decapitating the dummy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ts9...elated&search=

[Rapscallion]

My first thought is about who owns autoblog. It's not operated by anyone who would be threatened by a new competitor in the US market, is it?

Just curious, y'know.

Rapscallion

[Hon'ya-chan]

My first thought is about who owns autoblog. It's not operated by anyone who would be threatened by a new competitor in the US market, is it?

Just curious, y'know.

Rapscallion

AFAIK, it's a "Clearinghouse" of random Automotive Links. I just use it to keep tabs on the Nissan GT-R. Like thus:

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/11/v...r-at-goodwood/

[Boozy]

My first thought is about who owns autoblog. It's not operated by anyone who would be threatened by a new competitor in the US market, is it?

Oh, you cynical bastard you. Surely they are inspired only by protecting the safety of the public.

[FuzzyKitten99]

I sure as heck won't buy one. If that was at 40mph, that is a death trap.

I got rear-ended (while at a dead stop) by a minivan that was going at least 35 (she said) and my car had less than $1k damage, and most the cost was matching the maroon paint & blending it as it is a 2000, and the accident was just last year. The bumper didn't crack or even dent. Just really bad scratches and the pad/supports underneath needed to be replaced, then the bumper repainted.

Her minivan was pretty messed up though. She couldn't get it started after she hit me and it had to be flat-bedded off the highway.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

My first thought is about who owns autoblog. It's not operated by anyone who would be threatened by a new competitor in the US market, is it?

What difference does that make? You can't fake crash test results. I don't care if that car was made in China the U.S. or any other place; I want to have at least a reasonable chance of survival if I'm in an accident.

[Rapscallion]

I've not read the crash test results. Was the the only one at 40mph that occurred with that effect? Were there other tests with the same model with modifications that were safe and were not mentioned in the test?

Consider me cynical, and I don't have time to investigate. Anyone fancy digging?

Rapscallion

[Hon'ya-chan]

Now the Russians have discovered something very interresting.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/12/v...at-chery-deal/

Chrysler might want to take another look at its deal with China's Chery Motors to build small cars for it after another video of a European crash test has popped up on YouTube. Russian car magazine AutoRevu had a Chery Amulet sedan crash-tested in accordance with the EuroNCAP standards. After going through the frontal offset crash, the car appears to have done even worse than the Brilliance BS6, which recently earned a one-star rating. The dummy in the Amulet had to be removed in pieces, and the magazine, AvtoRevu, is now calling for the car to be pulled from the market.

When the Russians deride your car, something needs to click.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

In Soviet Union, car crash-tests you!

[jb17kx]

In Soviet Union, car crash-tests you!

Unusually apt, considering that...

The dummy in the Amulet had to be removed in pieces

I actaully saw the video of the Brilliance. The car just crumpled, the pretensioners failed, the driver's head missed the airbad completely and hit the dashboard...

Not a car I plan on driving.

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Unusually apt, considering that...


I actaully saw the video of the Brilliance. The car just crumpled, the pretensioners failed, the driver's head missed the airbad completely and hit the dashboard...

Not a car I plan on driving.

I don't plan on driving a Brilliance either. That wouldn't be brilliant, especially if I'm in an accident - I'd have a better chance of survival in a Conostoga wagon with a creaky wheel and pulled by 6 gray bay horses.

[bendertiger]

This is NO bulls**t, these 'cars' really are that dangerous!

[Caveat Emptor]

Even if these do, somehow, enter the U.S. market (I don't see how, but then again with tainted pet food, toothpaste and toys from there, you never know) I still see it going the way of the Yugo.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Trust me, it doesn't matter who's photoblog this is, or what their interests are.

The US would be nuts to fear competition from China in the automotive market. Any country that makes cars would be nuts to fear competition from China.

People over here are getting nervous about buying a pair of flip flops from China, they're gonna buy a car from there? I don't think so.

I think the idea that they are now going to be making cars is freaking hiliarious. Yeah, good luck selling those here.

I'm interested in seeing how this shakes out.

Addition: after looking at the links, I have to admit I more than once wondered if I wasnt' looking at part of a satire piece. Seriously.