Chrysler may turn to China for small car

Yahoo!Finance (reuters) ^ | 9/25/2006 | Kevin Krolicki

[eraser2005]

If this turns out to be true, this is NOT a good thing...

[DocH]

They already build CRAP, so why the hell not?

[HEY4QDEMS]

Why don't they call it the Wal-Cart?

[Glenn]

If this turns out to be true

The other 'Big' two should be in negotiations for the same thing, if they are not.

[JRios1968]

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group (XETRA:DCXGN.DE - News; NYSE:DCX - News) could link up with a Chinese automaker to launch a new small car as Chrysler works to conclude a review of potential partners in the coming weeks, Chief Executive Tom LaSorda said on Monday.

Whoa, he IS talented!

[OpusatFR]

"If this turns out to be true, this is NOT a good thing..."

Of course it is. After all, those overfed, overpaid American autoworkers deserve every bread line they get along with every ancillary manufacturing worker in auto parts, tires, fabrics, machinetools, and robotics. Along with the communities that the plants are located in that provide shopping, banking, clothes, shoes, retail and fastfood and housing..

Good for them. /sarc

[JamesP81]

Shouldn't Chrysler being trying to up their quality? The Mitsubishi Eclipse was a potentially great car that was ruined by too many crappy Chrysler parts.

[Paul Ross]

They already build CRAP, so why the hell not?

Like what?

[HEY4QDEMS]

The other 'Big' two should be in negotiations for the same thing, if they are not.

I think that inevitable, Chery Autos (China's largest export manufacturer of cars) will be available in the US by 2007, they are already giving the European car builders fits because of there popularity among middle class auto buyers.

They are cheaper than a Hyundai and are supposedly better built.

If American auto makers want to be competitive with the Chinese, they may have to turn to the Chinese.

[eraser2005]

Really? And in which countries in Europe are Cherys actually available for sale, other than Russia?

From JD Power's last IQS of the Chinese market (2004), Chery had 374 defects per 100 vehicles. Average in the US is 124/100. 374 is nearly twice as many defects as the worst performing vehicle line available in the US, Land Rover (204/100). Of course, that is with the new 2006 measures. Go back to 2004 for a comparable set of measures, and the US average was 119 and Hummer was worst, at 173/100.

In other words, Chery had more than twice the number of defects of the worst brand available for sale in the US.

[OpusatFR]

"They are cheaper than a Hyundai and are supposedly better built."

Really?

"The pictures show the Chery QQ, China's copycat Chevrolet Matiz, being put through its European crash test paces. And, as these chilling images illustrate, the impact on UK drivers could be fatal if the city car was imported here.

The vehicle looks as if it's managed a low or no-point score as it was independently tested for front and side impact using crash dummies. The pictures clearly reveal that the engine bay crumple zone has completely collapsed and the front wheel has been forced back into the footwell. As a result, the model's legs have been crushed."

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/202239/copycat_cars_crash_test_shock.html

[RockinRight]

Why do we have such trouble building small cars ourselves?

[HEY4QDEMS]

The Chery Geely Rovers are sold all over Europe.

[RockinRight]

Tom LaSorda

[green iguana]

Chery and Geely are two seperate Chinese auto manufacturers. There is no such car as a Chery Geely Rover.

[July 4th]

I think there is a video of that vehicle in its European crash tests that's been floating around the net. The car completely crumbles around the driver - I wouldn't get anywhere near one of those things.

[1rudeboy]

You don't get it, do you? Out-of-work auto workers don't stand in breadlines. They get full pay. That's part of the problem.

[HEY4QDEMS]

The vehicle looks as if it's managed a low or no-point score as it was independently tested for front and side impact using crash dummies. The pictures clearly reveal that the engine bay crumple zone has completely collapsed and the front wheel has been forced back into the footwell. As a result, the model's legs have been crushed."

I'd never buy a small rice burner anyway. I'm a Truck man, I had a Tacoma once and although it was very dependable, it was two dam small (I'm 6'4"). My last two trucks have been super duties and I'm hooked. My wife has an Expedition.

[OpusatFR]

"Out-of-work auto workers don't stand in breadlines."

I think I know the auto industry quite well. I won't tell you why, but I really do. Those buyouts last for a year. Gen is until 9/2007, next contract.

The loss of manufacturing is forever.

[HEY4QDEMS]

I think you are right, I don't know why I thought they were the same.

That's OK, egg washes off.