I am tired of waiting, they are available in European countries such as Germany and Italy, but somehow the primitive auto unions and government here in the USA and Canada are somehow keeping them from arriving here ! :confused:

I hope with the downfall of GM, Ford and Chrysler they enter into North American market sooner.

The two perspective North American importers such as Chamco and Visionary Autos are in trouble and I don't see them as major players here anymore.

So is there anyone here in North America with a Chinese car ?

As a the and expanding industry, Chinese automakers has a long way to walk, next year or longer? we are looking forward...

They'll get there. It's only a matter of time.

Especially if they're appearing in Auto shows. It'll be sooner rather than later.

OK........chinese cars coming to North America...........been discussed here many times. I'll try to keep this as short as possible.

First, ANY chinese car company that wants to sell in "North America" (we're really talking about the USA/Canada) needs to take two BIG steps to prepare their cars for sales in the USA/Canada - crash test standards and pollution emissions from engines. Brilliance is probably the farthest along regarding these issues, because they already sell cars in Europe and the standards there are similar to the USA/Canada. Chery, Geely and BYD are also moving quickly regarding these issues.........the Chery A3 just received a FIVE star rating with China's crash test standards (similar to Europe's). More and more chinese cars now have engines that meet Euro 4 and/or 5 standards, which is more stringent than most of North America. Quality control was a BIG issue a few years ago, but that has changed a lot too...........buy a new Brilliance or even Chery and you can be reasonably assured that your car will spend more time on the road than in the shop!

OK, assuming that some chinese cars pass the crash test and emissions standards............what next? Lots of things......development and implementation of dealer networks, marketing and advertising campaigns, public relations strategies - LOTS of things. Selling a chinese car in the USA/Canada (especially the USA) is going to be a challenge, at least at the beginning........because of the PUBLIC PERCEPTION of chinese products. Many people (at least in the USA) think of chinese products as cheap toys, electronics, knockoff or pirated products, etc. - it's going to take some savvy marketing to convince consumers that a chinese car is a durable and quality product. Honda faced the same challenges in the early 1970's, same with Hyundai in the 1980's. Honda (and the other japanese car companies) got lucky with the two fuel embargos (1974 and 1978) that the USA had to deal with.......Hyundai had to deal with a decade of poor public perception because of the Excel's spotty reputation. The chinese companies CAN take advantage of the public's new-found desire for gas friendly products, AND they are now capable of selling a car that is of decent enough quality that it won't fall apart after 1-2 years. Can they convince the North American consumer to trust a chinese car? THAT is the big question. In some ways, the answer is political - I think the Obama administration will be more friendly to China than the Bush administration was, and that right there can be a major factor. Even with that, it's STILL going to be a tough market - the japanese/korean/american car companies are not going to just sit around and do nothing. Both Toyota and Nissan now have products that start at under $10,000 USD - the (Toyota) Yaris and (Nissan) Versa (the Versa is the Tiida in China), same with Hyundai. Detroit won't just give up either...........

OK, this got longer that I wanted it to be. My point? I firmly DO believe that chinese cars will reach North American shores fairly soon - 1 to 2 years I think. However, it's going to be a challenge, and the chinese companies that DO make it to North America have got to be prepared to take a few years to build their market and be patient with sales growth - it's NOT going to be instant success for them. Don't worry, EdT - you WILL see chinese cars soon, and in the mean time - if you can't wait, why not come to China and see them NOW????:D

The first brand that I think that will enter to the US market...Is Brilliance, as jmsteiny says...Brilliance are selling their cars in the EU which standars are similar to EU standars...So, Go Brilliance! =)

It will be very difficult to change the public perception of Chinese products.

Initially it will be very tough and a 10 year apprenticeship, much like th japanese cars, is more likely than not.

jmsteiny summed it up very well. Until they meet NA emission & crash standards, they can't be sold in NA.

Plus with the global downturn in car sales, that kind of investment might not be the right choice.....

Talk about incentive to get 'er done, though, eh? I mean, with the U.S. domestics struggling and needing bailout cash, this is a great time to introduce new rigs from China. They've got to be low priced and yes, they must hold up in crashes. That will increase the cost to make them for the Chinese manufacturer's for the U.S., however, that is also true.

And bring new all-electrically-propelled rigs of all shapes and sizes! The time is ripe for them in NA.

Its not just the domestics though. Toyota sales were down 35% last month. Prius was down something like 55+%.
Its not that Americans aren't buying American cars, giving China an opening; we aren't buying any cars from anyone. Especially from an "unknown" newcomer to NA.
Bad time to invest in NA in my opinion....

Its not just the domestics though. Toyota sales were down 35% last month. Prius was down something like 55+%.
Its not that Americans aren't buying American cars, giving China an opening; we aren't buying any cars from anyone. Especially from an "unknown" newcomer to NA.
Bad time to invest in NA in my opinion....


A very interesting and valid point. However, we all know that the "economic downturn" won't be here forever, and there WILL be a slow but steady upturn in a year or so. If the chinese companies really want to sell cars in the USA, they need to prepare NOW - and once the economy is in better shape they will be in place and ready to serve the needs of consumers that are ready for economical, gas friendly cars - or even hybrid/electric cars. People are waking up to the reality of the 21st century - gasoline is a FINITE item and a major contributor of pollution, and you no longer really need gasoline to propel cars down the road anymore. China's development of hybrid/electric technology (BYD comes to mind) could be HUGELY successful in the USA in a few years.....but they need to prepare NOW to be ready for the future.

But for sure you guys have heard the arguments against making all-electric cars. The carbon footprint is bigger, they say, because of the coal-fired electrical plants that produce the electricity for the all-electric cars to use. Also, how China fires up so many new coal-fired electrical plants every month.

I have heard this argument and I agree that we need to be thinking about new ways-hydroelectric, wind energy, solar, etc., to produce electricity.

Even with those arguments against making all-electrics that have to be plugged in, I still think that is where we need to move...globally. I don't like the idea of hybrid cars, to me they are a temporary fix. Move it all to electrical power and figure out more conservation-friendly methods to produce the electricity to power them all as the car technology improves for all-electrics. I think all of this is being done as I type this out.

But just falling back to the ICE cars is not going to get the futuristic job done.

Electric cars are the way to go.

We already have greener electricity options available. As time goes by they need to be developed to a much larger scale.

.....but they need to prepare NOW to be ready for the future.

True, they must absolutely prepare now. However, by prepare I'm thinking design studies, research, scouting dealerships & locations, etc. I think spending tons of cash on advertising, setup and such to get their name out in North America isn't the best idea in a shrinking market. I bet 2009 will be worse than last year. 2011 would be a better scenario for entering NA.
I say that is a better time, because with better economic times comes more free spirited spending. People are more willing to buy the "unkown" Chinese car vs the known quality Japanese car. Running NA operations deeply in the red for a year or more doesn't make people confident in your company.
I just see it as: get ready as much as possible to jump in when people are ready to spend.

:)

2 years is a minimum. I think they'll review it then. With this year epected to be a tougher year than '08', if 2010 is another tough year I don't see them boing in '11'.

Good discussion here. I am hoping that at least ONE of the chinese car companies can be ready around 2010 - why? That is the year (presumably) that Chevy will start selling the Volt, and I think that it would nice to offer the consumer a valid alternative (namely BYD with the F3DM/E6) that will be AFFORDABLE. Sure, the Volt is a great idea (and a VERY nice looking car), but will likely be in the $40,000 price range by the time it is released for sale. I would NOT call that affordable, at least for the average consumer - and the AVERAGE consumer is what needs to be targeted to make hybrid/electric technology TRULY successful. Right now, chinese companies are better prepared to get this technology to the consumer in a affordable manner than any other companies in the world......and if we're going to win the challenges facing us regarding global warming, we have to DO IT as a world.

Also, Italy's Pininfarina-Bollore are going to export to the States in 2010 their B0 all-electric(pronounced B-Zero), for no carbon monoxide emissions produced.

http://www.pininfarina.com/index/storiaModelli/B0/headerImage/001b%20copia.jpg

This car will qualify consumers for the $7,500 Barack Obama purchase rebate amount, because it's a "green" car.

The price of the B0 is not yet released, but, the LeBlue car that was used a a test-mule for the Bollore Co.'s Lithium Polymer battery system was going to sell for around $23,000USD. So, the B0 should be priced somewhere in there, too, one would think. Minus the $7,500 "green car" rebate.

Some B0's will be exported to three U.S. test markets in 2009 to see how the public reacts to them, then the main export to the U.S. market will be in September of 2010. The car will go 80 mph(and be electronically limited to that) and has a range of 153 miles. The batteries are said to be very strong, stable, crashworthy and reliable, and the test mule battery packs have gone 120,000km's with no maintenance and no problems. So this car might find a very receptive audience in the States. The mood is ripe for change, and this kind of car is the kind that people are ready to switch to.

Also, Mitsubishi is exporting their i-MiEV to the States in 2010. The entry of several all-electrics is drawing much nearer to the U.S. China must speed up their entry to be there when these others are going to be available, to make their presence known. They must pass crash tests, however, or it's all for naught.

Things are going to start getting interesting for choices, finally.

^That B0 looks pretty good. They should probably badge it as "B-Zero" though.

As for the Volt looking good, I thought the concept lookd great. However the production model looks like a Prius with a Chevy badge. :(

Yeah, Chevy's production Volt has that "is this a real car" look to it, too much like the Prius.

What, is this a competition or something?

maybe they have to deal with the taxes and the other charges. it's not easy to import a car from the other countries.

Chinese cars coming to North America has been discussed here many times. I think it's very difficult to change the public perception of Chinese products.

Hyundai was seen as junk car at first.. now has good reputation. Make the car good, people will come and buy.. imo..

:)

I would think that the only way they could be sold in the US within five years is if they were introduced via Wallmart and that would not be a smart way of going about it from the manufacturers viewpoint.

I am hearing a lot about this chinese car brilliance,and as i read in this forum it has been sold in european market,though i haven't heard any thing about it in europe.It will be quite some times before they strike gold in europe.USA is still very far.

But still brilliance and other chinese cars are at nascent stage since they all seems to be copies of famous european , american and korean cars.To build a brand they will have to come up with orignal designs and new revolutionary technology at reasonable rates just selling a fake BMW wont take them too far.

The only thing admirable about chinese cars is that they are experimenting a lot with alternate fuel to run the car.

i think it's inevitable that the cars will come to the US, UK, Western Europe and Oceania.

What is holding things back is two things in particular... the perception of Chinese cars and the unwillingness of private importer to invest in a time of global financial and credit crisis.

Every country has its DMV and MoT that they have to comply with. And even if the car passes all regulations there's an uphill battle establishing a brand as badly damaged as the "Chinese car". And are people willing to buy them?

In my country people don't even like Korean cars that much let alone Chinese...

Korean cars are boss. Period. Just kidding. I drive a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS but I respect Hyundai and Kia Motors very much. I have bought two new Kia's before, a 1999 Kia Sephia and a 2001 Kia Sportage 4X4. Both were solid vehicles.

Both automakers have come a long ways and their Warranty's rock the house big-time. Mitsubishi also offers a 10 year and 100,000 mile Warranty. So there's a lot to be said for a strong Warranty.

The Chinese cars and trucks will sell in the U.S. Actually the global economic crisis will eventually help Chinese automakers start to get established in the U.S. I can just "feel" them coming here to the U.S.

I have my eyes on something like a 2011 BYD e6. I have concerns about the electrical re-charging infrastructure not being there for us U.S. consumers, but it's starting to come around. Better give it about 5-10 years to implement, though.

I think long warranties are a side effect of a loss of market confidence

mitsubishi is one of those companies that's in stages of decline but since they are such a large conglomerate they aren't really going anywhere

only hyundai, kia and mitsubishi are doing the long warranties

i think the chinese need to offer these as well but also some data to show that they also have a 4-5 star ncap as required

i agree that perhaps the Chinese need to hit minibuses, 4wds and trucks where final quality is not 100% critical

generally i find the design of most chinese sedans to be too 1990s style to really impact so i think they may need one more model age to mature a bit at least

Another thing to keep in mind is that Mitsubishi's parent company just writes off losses by their automaking enterprise. So you're right, they're not going to leave the automotive production scene. Unless their parent company decides they want out of the carmaking business.

I read where Mitsu plans to produce 5 new hybrid/electric combo's in the next 4 years. Obviously they intend to stay.

Also, they source out their motors to some Chinese automakers, who have done their homework. Mitsubishi makes fine engines and I happen to believe they make fine motorcars as well.

They have been around since 1917 building cars and have a great racing history, of which they learn from and impliment things to improve future production models. I have a lot of respect for Mitsubishi Motors of Japan.

I couldn't agree more with this post. If the Big 3 car companies in North America had more business sense, they would have been competing directly with smaller, green cars and wouldn't be in the mess they are in now. Serves them all right. What the hell were they thinking putting out a vehicle like a Hummer?

Man... I am shocked how time goes by and no clear future for this topic is found. My last visit in this forum was "...last visited: 08-16-2007 at 03:53 PM..". After 14 years of automotive industry I smelled the downsize of the market and shift gears to construction machinery... more promissory and since Aug/2007 I have not entered in this forum. What I find? Well, I see that still there is no change in this topic of Chinese in US market. Back in Aug/2007 there was a member I_JUST_HATE_CHINA or something like that who had clear vision and said... "Chinese cars in US only, if all right, only by 2012...". Why? Because its is cultural: Chinese is SALES oriented yet. No commitments about process, and AFTER sales. For sales they do whatever has to be done from fake to bribe. It is cultural. I am not chinese but I have been dealing with China since 2006 and believe many experiences.

By the way, this I_JUST_HATE_CHINA member was a kind that always brought pepper to the forever-no-evolution-Chinese-cars-in-US-discussion-tasteless soup.

CHAMCO and Visionary Cars.... what a fake. These companies came up because Chinese people gave hope to some "visionary people" ...its is cultural. They promised everything at light speed to happen but all based on loosen arguments just to not lose what? SALES SALES SALES.

Unfortunately small markets worldwide that already have Chinese cars are subsidizing R&D for some Chinese brands to do what must be done to enter serious market like US and Europe.

We talk in 2 more years......

Last summer when I went to the Bahamas I saw some Chery QQs in Nassau, which is like 90 miles east of Miami, so technically, Chinese cars are already in N America.

I agree with axeray that it will be very difficult to change the public perception for Chinese products

Last summer when I went to the Bahamas I saw some Chery QQs in Nassau, which is like 90 miles east of Miami, so technically, Chinese cars are already in N America.

When are they going to start selling them in the US?

I read an article with chinese cars launched in different countries.I can't remember if america is one of those but i see a growing business of chinese cars all over the world.

More UAW/CAW protectionism !

I am so pissed I can't get good affordable cars here in North America !

I will wait till my current cars rusts away before I spend a penny on overpriced low quality cars that are produce here by the Big errr Small 3 !

no i think so,
we can import it from china.
otherwise wait for some years

I've been waiting and waiting for more Chinese cars to become available so my company can purchase the cars we desperately need.

Can someone message me a list of cars that are available in the US?

Devin Mei
Silicon Valley - We Rule.

Sure I can help you out:

*Generic NEV's
*Three Wheel cars.


...Thats it really. IF you dont like it, tough. China cars will never really be able to get into the USA market just like French, Russian, and Austrailians cars wont. They will at best be relegated to the novelty cars I mentioned above.

The only thing to do is to purchase a chinese made car from somewhere near the usa, and fit it with the nessecary parts to get it into the usa. This is purely a labor of love though: Maybe with Roewe or Honqing it wont require too much, but with some disposable joint like Dadi or Xiali your gonna find the extra costs will take away the extra savings and give you a price compared to buying a new car.

If you really want it on the cheap, go buy a chinese smart ripoff or some piece of shia Miles Automotive messanger. Thats the best your gonna get.

...of course if your in Bolivia like me, at least we gets JMC :) (I hear that they sell Hafei cars in the capital La Paz, but I never went there so I couldnt tell you other than the JMC, Dongfeng Yuan, and JAC trailer trucks I have seen)

China cars will never really be able to get into the USA market just like French, Russian, and Australian cars wont. They will at best be relegated to the novelty cars I mentioned above.

The only thing to do is to purchase a Chinese made car from somewhere near the USA, and fit it with the nessecary parts to get it into the USA. This is purely a labor of love though.

Mmmm, "motor vehicle design rules" play a part as well as trade issues; US market is somewhat different to the rest of the world team.

In 'lighting' for example, the US should adopt as mandatory, sourced European regulations like UNECE-38 (rear fog lamp) - (SAE J1319 is the US recommended practice, this is harmonized in performance with the UNECE counterpart), A change to FMVSS-108 is required to mandate the worthwhile safety function. This function to UNECE 38 is standard in ROC (along with safety vests).

I'll take Euro/UN motor vehicle lighting regulations (UNECE) any day, over USA's FMVSS-108 backward requirement that holds such gems as; No fender side-repeater flasher lamp (to combat freeway 'blind-spot' lane changers), no mandatory rear fog for lousy weather (duh), glary headlights (yuk), permissible red tail/flasher/hazard/stop/with optional rear fog - insane and 'dumb' (a sea of red).

Amber front parkers/sidelights position - with amber flasher optional = nuts! White-optic front parkers only ladies, *not* amber, - amber is best left for flasher & hazards *only*.

Front fog lamps wired to only operate on low and high-beam, very dumb; as front fog lamps are best used under severe weather conditions, with JUST the park-lights (sidelights position) on, this reduces 'glare' caused even by low-beam headlamps, and often allows the front indicators to stand out more clearly to traffic ahead.

The US is working to harmonize its vehicle lighting regulations with the world body of experts, its just painfully slow - too hard. Let alone the myriad of other vehicle construction regulation, some of which IS worlds best practice, AND adopted by the world community at UNECE level.

See here: ***.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm



Its DOT 'warning triangle' specification is poor, not even mandatory unlike EU Continent/ROC markets, probably just as well, the sand filled joys blow out of alignment and have poor reflectors.

It's only a matter of time to see Chinese cars in US, obviously