burlapp car

Chinese made VW GTI

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For the Chinese market only.
It will be similar to the Euro model and will go on sale over there next March.

VW, and others, have been making cars in China for decades. So far, for the local market only.

But really… How long will it take for these manufacturers to realize they can actually sell us these cars, in Europe and the US?
Will they become like Mattel, who is making all their toys in China, making everything in China?

How long will it be until every car we buy comes from China?

What do you think???

Conversation 10 comments

  1. The Chinese market has such growth potential, it could be decades before automakers can increase capacity to the point where they export the cars.

    Another thing to consider is the huge backlash that would result if high paying auto jobs ended up in China.

    Also, given all the intellectual property concerns and the communist government's ability to just kick out the Western companies at the drop of a hat, the automakers are probably being cautious about investing more than needed to supply the local market.

  5. i believe car manufacturers have tariffs against them and if they built cars in that country then they wont have tarriffs

  6. They wont be making it all there. I read that for a typical car about$2500 or so of the manufacturing costs are labor related. Robots do a lot of work these days, so if out of a 25-30k purchase maybe 10% is for labor, and say the Chinese advantage (after shipping) is half of that, you have a 5% advantage which most countries would make up in a small tariff if need be. Where China really has an advantage is the government there does not hyper-burden businesses with all sorts of BS like we do in Europe and North America, so businesses are way more flexible in their operations. You can argue the good or bad of that, but for business it is a pain in the butt.

  7. Audi and VW have been manufacturing in China since late 80's along with Beijing Jeep Chrysler. Back in the early 90s I traveled through China and all you saw were mostly bicycles and a few cars that were VW Santana's a Jetta like car and Audi 5000's. I think they should have quality assembly perfected there now.
    The one common theme I saw at that time was a tremendous building of infrastructure of roads, bridges, power plants and gas stations where there were no cars.So now they have traffic jams ;D
    The real shocker is how far they have come and how much they have built in 15 years.
    Shame on USA for lack of new bridges and highways. Much US roads and bridged have fallen to deterioration in spite of hundreds billions in road taxes and tolls.
    New york city has not added any new bridges, Tunnels since the 1930s and most were built pre 1920 and designed for horse and carriages. Furthermore the roads are some of the worse in the world and unworthy of modern autos.

  8. Anonymous said…
    Audi and VW have been manufacturing in China since late 80's along with Beijing Jeep Chrysler. Back in the early 90s I traveled through China and all you saw were mostly bicycles and a few cars that were VW Santana's a Jetta like car and Audi 5000's. I think they should have quality assembly perfected there now.
    The one common theme I saw at that time was a tremendous building of infrastructure of roads, bridges, power plants and gas stations where there were no cars.So now they have traffic jams ;D
    The real shocker is how far they have come and how much they have built in 15 years.
    Shame on USA for lack of new bridges and highways. Much US roads and bridged have fallen to deterioration in spite of hundreds billions in road taxes and tolls.
    New york city has not added any new bridges, Tunnels since the 1930s and most were built pre 1920 and designed for horse and carriages. Furthermore the roads are some of the worse in the world and unworthy of modern autos.

    October 15, 2009 5:00 AM
    ================================
    If you like China so much then go and live there, what are you doing here in states?
    Run your flight is missing.

  9. I would never buy a car that's built in China. Cheap party favors or a $200 iPod, fine. A car, no way. I don't even trust the content in Chinese food.

  10. I remember "made in Japan" in the 50s and 60s meant the same as Made in China. You may be driving a car with many Chinese components now. Better make peace with yourself about Chinese product….they are going to be BIG competition and your house is already full of product from there.

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