China IS COMING and Why Detroit Should Be Worried

If turnabout is fair play, the Motor City players pouring billions into the booming Chinese market should get set for metal from the Middle Kingdom.

In an auto show press event more akin to diplomatic ceremony than industry unveiling, more a geopolitical statement than one of business strategy, China's Changfeng Group took the wraps off a few not-so-special SUVs Monday and issued a clear statement -- it wants to enter the U.S. market, preferably with an American partner.

Yes, be it a $25,000 Liebao CS6 SUV or a Feibao CT5 pickup from Changfeng, a $10,000 sedan from Geely or a tiny car from Chrysler made by Chery, the Chinese are coming.

The challenge they pose is a new low-cost standard they could set, provided their cars, SUVs and pickups meet the quality expectations of American consumers awash in world-class choices -- from Detroit, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom.


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07mcs - 1/9/2007 4:49:22 PM

+1 Boost

Korean auto makers should worry, not the american automakers. their cars will attract buyers from Hyundai, Daewoo

kart1 - 1/9/2007 9:32:37 PM

+1 Boost

I sure don't want to go over 150+ in a 15k car.

Lexus - 1/9/2007 6:40:03 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah definitely, it mimic Lexus "L" logo for sure, it look really like Lexus logo from afar.

Lexus

silverarrow2 - 1/9/2007 7:47:49 PM

+1 Boost

True!

no1listensanyway - 1/9/2007 7:53:41 PM

+1 Boost

The American manufacturers are not losing any sleep over the chinese. They have a long way to go.

cohwang - 1/10/2007 2:53:34 AM

+1 Boost

Remember we had the same debate back to 1980s and 1990s when Japanese and Korean cars came to the land. I don't believe American doesn't learn a lesson from there and is still thinking there is a long way for the Chinese to go. Although Japanese took 20 years to invade the market and the Korean took 10 years to settle down, Chinese only needs 5 years to kick you out. The key thing are they legally borrowing or buying main technologies from the German and "illegally" copying stuff from Japanese. This way could rapidly increase their quality and lower the cost.

Detroit big 3, wake up! There is no more Amercian dream!

Designer1 - 1/9/2007 8:00:25 PM

0 Boost

Actually the American manufacturers are losing sleep over everyone, even Korean, so yet China is another future nightmare to them. Since China will base its technology on the Korean, no matter how bad they make it will still be better than the big 3. Actually we shouldn't call them big 3 anymore? I prosume, junk 3.

kart1 - 1/9/2007 9:34:20 PM

+2 Boost

Doesnt the Liebao CS6 SUV look like a 4 runner from the front. If the Chinese manufacturers want respect they need to stop making knock offs.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/9/2007 11:32:04 PM

+1 Boost

I think the logo looks like someone took a large bite out of a chunk of Swiss cheese, and it ended up in an "L" shape.

JUGNU - 1/10/2007 3:55:16 AM

+1 Boost

Chineese are not even forgiving the logo of the other cars.They r copying that too.

But i am waiting,how far will they go with that.

JUGNU

Yonder7 - 1/10/2007 12:19:02 PM

+1 Boost

JA ja ja ...That is Globalization: Big Manufacturers Moving the company to china and then no body will have money to buy cars because all of you are unemployee. LOL. We have to stop this now. Or get ready for the next war. Chinese people needs to stop copying and If they want to do do something, should be legaly. Open Market is a good Idea but only the Rich people will take advantage of that but this will bring to the world a colapse. A lot of Cheap products but no budy will have money to buy those but China. What You think that is going to happen? We have to rule China, or suspend all kind of business with them if they are not willing to respect the pattents of anywhere.

SteveL - 1/10/2007 12:51:26 PM

+1 Boost

If any body buys a care that is made in China then that just shows there an idiot! So if a lot of people start buying made in China cars then that will show how many stupid people there are and America will need to worry about that!

XYZZ - 1/11/2007 3:48:44 AM

+1 Boost

well, go to your local walmart, and scope out the HUNDREDS, if not THOUSANDS of your fellow americans who are "idiots" by your definition.

Yonder7 - 1/10/2007 1:48:20 PM

+1 Boost

I am worry already.....do I have to explain why? some body said the same thing about Korean cars few years ago..so there is a good reason to be worry right now. Amaerica will not be able to compite with manufacturers that 150.00$ monthly to each worker inother country. And that means that Japanese, Gemans, Italians, French and English should also be worried.

philippz - 1/11/2007 2:55:41 PM

+1 Boost

I was in Hong Kong recently and amazingly there aren't any mainland Chinese cars for sale there and you don't see any on the road! So if they can't even get into Hong Kong yet it will be quite a while until they come into the US.