Posted on 01/11/2006 11:43:22 AM PST by JZelle
The workers make $3.50 an hour, or so I heard on TV last night.
No wonder they can afford to sell them for 8 grand. Especially since a party boss is standing beside the assembly line, armed with a Makarov, in case they slow down production.
I'd sooner buy a French car than one of those..
Everyone said the same thing about Korean cars when Hyundai first came out, and yes, for many years, they were horrible POS and a joke.
But look at where they are now.
That was a Trabant! I saw some in the former E Germany after the wall came down. They could retail for about $200 and still make a profit!
In an accident with a Chevy Suburban on the interstate, then you might have a point. But this kind of small, nimble Chinese car would be ideal in major cities such as New York City. It would probably be similiar to this Smart car commonly found throughout Europe.
I don't think they can get in the US without passing minimum smog & saftey tests.
That thing wouldn't survive a half-charged golf cart.
Can you imagine getting T-boned in that thing by a Civic?
Sure. Visicalc. Oh wait a minute you mean Malcolm not Dan.
No joke -- I've been wondering when Wal-Mart is going to get into selling cars. If GM were smart, they'd check into making an exclusive deal with the folks from Bentonville (a very big "if," I realize).
If China makes a good car that meets all requirements: buy it! The Japanese and Koreans won't roll over and die: they'll roll up their sleeves and compete. There won't be a monopoly, and our cars will get cheaper and better. And China will shuck off its totalitarian government the moment it stops them from competing.
Some Indian automobile companies, such as TATA, are starting to enter the international market, if not the US market.
I bet these things would sell well in the middle east or anywhere that car bombs are popular. they are probably held together with duct tape and super glue and so should turn into marvelous shrapnel. Plus they are cheap and the chicoms would probably give a good discount for bulk buying.
We talk quite a bit around here about patriotism. Time for some economic patriotism, DO NOT BUY communist cars!
Nice thought, but it'll never happen. People shop price and not politics. That's why China is now our second largest creditor (right behind Japan). All those dollars we send over there? What they don't invest in inafrastructure and education, they send right back and buy our debt.
Good one, thanks for adding some levity to the thread!
For the most part, American car companies have put very little into the small car market. Two reasons--lack of expertice and low profits.
So we stand in 2006 where GM and Ford have perhaps too many apples in the truck/SUV basket.
Toyota, Honda, Lexus have hybrids. GM has none, and Ford has one.*
GM is showing a Camaro that they may introduce in 2009. Sloooooooooooow, tooooooooo cautious GM.
* GM puts an electric motor on some trucks and calls it hybrid power, but it is NOT involved when the vehicle is moving.
So more power to Koreans and Chinese, if they want to exploit market segments which were abandoned and poorly served by American companies.
If decent quality (likely) and priced a chunk cheaper, the Chinese cars will kick GM/Ford butt.
Just as people buy massive amounts of Chinese products (try buying a USA-made PC that is all made in the USA), so too the cars.
Considering the high USA tax rates, stagnant wages for many working class folks, there is a ready market in budget autos.
In 1976, I bought a Honda Civic (luxury model) for $3,500. Now, basic model cars are SO less affordable.
A, say $5k, decent quality, budget car from China would sell like hotcakes.
I'd buy one....as (a) I look at my Calif & Fed govt leaders and can't find enough about them to inspire patriotism; (b) I get my VCR, radios, clothes, wife, etc from China.
$3.50US/hr? Man! That is SUPER pay in China!!!
Was in south China (wife's got rel's there & Hong Kong) and hrly av. pay more like 45 cents.
Might I suggest "the Chery Corrette?"
Wait until Russia unveails it's car here.
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