Jeep, an Obama favorite, looks to shift production to China

Washington Examiner ^ | Oct 25, 2012 | Paul Bedard

[baddog 219]

[ClayinVA]

almost all of that is for Chinese and Asian market consumption, they are not shipping any of those over there. The US plants are running wide open right now.

[stickywillie]

if the UAW owns GM, why are they allowinag the move to chiner?

[DaveTesla]

Best to do some more investigating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvl5Gan69Wo&feature

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2949077/posts

American taxpayers should prepare themselves for another slap in the face, courtesy of the much-ballyhooed Obama auto bailouts. After spending about $85 billion to bail out Chrysler, General Motors and Ally Financial (formerly known as GMAC), taxpayers are being rewarded by Chrysler’s parent company, Fiat, announcing that it is preparing to build its Jeep brand vehicles in China. In addition, according to a Bloomberg report, Fiat may end up building all of its vehicles in China , threatening the loss of more manufacturing jobs should the decision be carried out to move Chrysler manufacturing out of America.

Italian automaker, Fiat, was gifted an ownership interest in Chrysler during the Obama-orchestrated bankruptcy process. Fiat paid nothing for the ownership stake, other than agreeing to transfer some of its technology. The Italian company later purchased an additional stake, giving it majority ownership and officially making Chrysler a foreign-owned company. It now seems that American jobs will be lost as a result as Fiat appears to be trying to maximize profits by transferring Chrysler’s manufacturing operations to China.

[ApplegateRanch]

Save your breath. I’ve discovered long since that Cnservatives can’t read with any better understanding than Libs, if a hot-button is involved.

I’ve read that the Chinese tariff on US made Jeeps is in the range of $50,000; of course they can’t build them here & ship them to China; they have to build Chinese market Jeeps in China; and U.S. market Jeeps in the U.S.

I would also bet that Chinese built Jeeps won’t be safety-equipped anything like the way ours are, and will use low grade, “good-good Chinese steel” instead of high durability parts. If they are built anything like the “good-good Chinese” farm equipment (”some assembly required!”) I’ve read about on tractor forums, they’ll make Yugos look reliable.

[trebb]

I understand that we Americans are going to be spending about 10 billion dollars next weekend on Halloween, and do so every year. I can’t believe we spend so little on presidential campaigns every four years.

Maybe it's the only way they can get out from under the unions that Zero insisted be bolstered above all else....

[hattend]

Who would buy a chinese Jeep? raise your hand.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks DaveTesla.

[redgolum]

Not YET.

Listen, I have heard this song and dance before. Production will leave the US once the plants in China get up to speed.

[tanknetter]

Yes, that may happen for some US name plate cars ( already has, for some time. I had a friend in college (not an exceptionally bright one) in college who paid a premium markup on a Geo Tracker over an identical Suzuki Sidekick because his “buy American” philosophy.

Jeep is near and dear to my heart. I have a 1996 Cherokee that don’t ever plan to get rid of. I’ll either be buried in it or pass it along to one of my kids. I’m also saving up to buy a restored WWII Jeep ( would prefer a Willys but will probably settle for a Ford).

No CEO of Jeep ( or it’s parent companies ) is going to be dumb enough to actually shut down production here in favor of moving off shore. Ever hear of “New Coke”? THAT fiasco still reverberates ( and will continue to do so long after you, me and everyone else on FR is dead and gone) as a case study in not doing stupid things with iconic American brands.

[bert]

-—— I thought Chrysler owned the Jeep name.-——

Chrysler does own the Jeep name. But...... as part of the grand bargain, Fiat owns Chrysler

[tanknetter]

I would, actually. As would a lot of Cherokee/XJ owners.

Cash4Clunkers decimated, unnecessarily, the Cherokee/XJ population. The Cherokee was discontinued prematurely and in favor of an inferior replacement (the Liberty). Cherokee/XJ afficionados (Americans living in the PRC) who have experience with the ChiCom manufactured ones only have issues with the engines, which is a pretty easy fix - just yank and replace with an alternative (like the 4.0 litre straight six that was the types mainstay engine from 87 through the end of production.

I’m not sayng I’d use it as a daily or distance driver ( I don’t use the one I have for that anyway). But as a solid hackaroundand trail vehicle i’d have no problem with owning and operating one.

[Red Badger]

Such a move would crash the economy in towns like Toledo, Ohio, where Jeeps are made and supplied, and rob the community of the economic security they thought Obama's auto bailout assured them.

How can anyone in Ohio vote for this fraud? He hates this country and everything it stands for. He despises business and feigns love for the 'little guy'. If Ohio goes for this puerile BS artist again they deserve what they get....................

[DaveTesla]

“Who would buy a chinese Jeep? raise your hand.”

Same people that would buy an Ipod made by Chinese slaves.

[DaveTesla]

Your right.

Go out and try your best to purchase something NOT made in china.

[DaveTesla]

Your welcome.