Chinese-built luxury cars could make U.S. debut in '09
2007/1/9
DETROIT, AP
Chinese-built luxury vehicles that get 100 miles to the gallon with a plug-in hybrid engine could make their way into the U.S. market in 2009 under a new plan from American entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin.
Bricklin, who brought the Yugo and Subaru to this country, had plans to begin exporting vehicles from China to the U.S. as early as this year in a joint venture with Chery Automobile Co. But the deal fell apart.
Last month, DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and Chery announced they had agreed on a plan for the Chinese manufacturer to build small cars to be sold worldwide.
In an interview Sunday at the North American International Auto Show, Bricklin said his Visionary Vehicles is now pursuing other Chinese manufacturers and has met with about 15 of them to discuss partnership prospects.
He said Visionary Vehicles will design the luxury cars, which would be built at a factory modeled after Toyota Motor Corp.'s plants.
Bricklin said the Chinese-made vehicles could cost 30 percent less than competing models. And he said that like Toyota's successful gas-electric hybrid Prius, the plug-in technology could encourage other automakers to follow suit.
"They need somebody to push it and they need to see how big the market is," Bricklin said.
2007/1/9
DETROIT, AP
Chinese-built luxury vehicles that get 100 miles to the gallon with a plug-in hybrid engine could make their way into the U.S. market in 2009 under a new plan from American entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin.
Bricklin, who brought the Yugo and Subaru to this country, had plans to begin exporting vehicles from China to the U.S. as early as this year in a joint venture with Chery Automobile Co. But the deal fell apart.
Last month, DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and Chery announced they had agreed on a plan for the Chinese manufacturer to build small cars to be sold worldwide.
In an interview Sunday at the North American International Auto Show, Bricklin said his Visionary Vehicles is now pursuing other Chinese manufacturers and has met with about 15 of them to discuss partnership prospects.
He said Visionary Vehicles will design the luxury cars, which would be built at a factory modeled after Toyota Motor Corp.'s plants.
Bricklin said the Chinese-made vehicles could cost 30 percent less than competing models. And he said that like Toyota's successful gas-electric hybrid Prius, the plug-in technology could encourage other automakers to follow suit.
"They need somebody to push it and they need to see how big the market is," Bricklin said.