Chinese Official Disputes GM Claim

Grand Forks Herald ^ | Sep. 06, 2004 | Associated Press

[hedgetrimmer]

Chinese Official Disputes GM Claim

BEIJING - A top Chinese commerce official said Monday that General Motors Corp. hasn't provided enough evidence to prove that a local company copied one of its car models.

GM China says it is investigating what it sees as similarities between its Spark minicar and Chery Automobile Corp.'s QQ model.

Deputy Commerce Minister Zhang Zhigang, speaking at a news briefing to launch a one-year crackdown on rampant violations of intellectual property rights in China, said there was not enough evidence to pursue a case against the Chinese manufacturer.

"Unless GM provides further evidence to prove that Chery acquired such technology and designs through certain means ... just simple similarity in terms of exterior design isn't sufficient enough to prove that the Chinese company is guilty," Zhang said.

He said GM can still use other, less formal, means to resolve its complaint against Chery. He didn't elaborate.

Zhang's comments surprised GM, which said Monday that discussions with both the Ministry of Commerce and Chery to resolve the dispute were ongoing.

[hedgetrimmer]

Now, how will GM get restitution? Their property rights aren't protected by the Chinese Constitution.

[hedgetrimmer]

FYI, the way free trade works with China.

[BurbankKarl]

well, if it is an exact copy, it will break at 36,001 miles

[ETERNAL WARMING]

A perfect retribution for the Traitors who move our jobs there. Let the games begin.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #2

They copied a car design? Should be a snap because they copied U.S. missile design, too.

[ikka]

If you have seen the picture of the two vehicles side by side, read their specs, you would know that they are based on the same design.

When you consider that the company making the infringing ChinaCar is also a joint venture partner with GM... it is a no-brainer.

[NationSoConceived]

I see these a lot around here. Tiny little cars. They are about 3/4 the size of an old geo metro. They are actually banned from using the local highways because thier engines just can't get them up to speed fast enough. Lots of women drive them. (BTW, I live in Shanghai.)

[NationSoConceived]

I understand from a friend that the QiRui (Chery) QQ is actually a copy of the Matiz from Daewoo(Think Hyundai, folks.) GM and Daewoo partnered to sell it under the Buick brand name that is so popular here in Shanghai (A Buick Regal is a status symbol here roughly equivalent to a BMW 5 Series stateside.) I also think that they are manufacturing it here at The Shanghai GM facility, but don't quote me on it.

On a side note, I definitely think that the copycats at QiRui made a better design statement.

[cruiserman]

He said GM can still use other, less formal, means to resolve its complaint against Chery. He didn't elaborate.

A well-placed bomb perhaps.

[TXBSAFH]

I love watching karma in motion.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

I don't get it. "Free traders" rail against government interference and here they are whining to government against their main Chinese partner, the Shanghai Automotive Industrial Corp. (SAIC).

Thanks to to SAIC GM is getting into the lucrative Iran domestic market as SAIC starts making Chery in Iran. SAIC plans to market the Chery worldwide at half the price that their partner, GM, can market their model.

Seems to me that makes GM and SAIC extremely competitive. THAT'S WHY GM IS IN CHINA! To be competitive. You cannot be competitive being an American company unless you move everything to China, right?

Sheeezish! Damn "free traders" are worse than liberals.

Here's what Hoovers.com has to say about SAIC. "The government-owned company is one of China's largest automotive firms, with about 50 plants in the Shanghai area. Through its divisions, SAIC makes passenger cars, tractors, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and automotive parts. The company's joint venture with General Motors, Shanghai General Motors Corp., makes Buicks for the Chinese market. Through Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Company, a joint venture with Volkswagen, SAIC also makes the Santana. The company's other operations include car leasing, auto parts wholesale and retail, and financing."

Government owned! No worries about those pesky unions and employee protection regs. Money, money, money! Profits, profits, profits! Where's the beef?

BTW, where are the "free traders?" It's always so lonely in these threads when the posts don't praise the heroic peace-loving people's Democratic Republic of China?

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Come on, "free traders." SAIC (like most "partners" of U.S. corps.) is a state owned enterprise. The Chinese Commuist Party sits atop the state. Couldn't this be settled among business partners and without government interference if the Party's Central Committee just got the two parties together?