Made in China - Replica documentary tank
Washington Post Editor Wednesday, July 4, 2007.
Chery Automobile, a feisty newcomer to global carmaking, is about to become the first Chinese company to break into the automotive market U S.
Yesterday, DaimlerChrysler said it has finalized an agreement with Chery and the Chinese government to export small cars made by Chery to the US and Western Europe The transaction, part of a broad strategic cooperation was signed today at a ceremony in Beijing Chery cars will be sold under the Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge and should be sold in the coming years.
Essentially a state enterprise with the strong support of local and central government, Chery was created in 1997 to help the economy of Wuhu, a city about 150 miles west of Shanghai The company is considered a rebel in China's auto industry Chery built its first assembly line in secret, in violation of its greatest competitive advantage Chinese law is that it excels at manufacturing small fuel-efficient vehicles at low cost.
Chery sold just over 300,000 cars last year - roughly the output of a large US assembly plant But like other Chinese automakers, Chery has long dreamed of a big presence in the US the largest and most lucrative auto market in the world.
At the same time, the Chinese government has supported the aggressive expansion of its builders Its goal is for Chinese cars represent 10 percent of the global auto trade in the next decade.
Chery efforts to break the US proved troublesome it two years ago, he announced that he had teamed up with Malcolm Bricklin, a veteran auto entrepreneur, selling 250,000 cars here this year by the deal fell share.
The move to break into the US market Chery follows the successful efforts of a number of Japanese and South Korean automakers over the past three decades, after years of selling export cars to the United States, these pioneers built auto plants across the country from this basis, sales in the US greatly expanded.
Chery still manufacture its cars in China, but by binding to a partner with thousands of outlets in the US, it could take a shortcut.
There are lessons to be learned here for Chery, said Michael Robinet, CSM to industry analyst Worldwide Instead of going it alone, they partner with thousands of dealers which would allow them to sell small vehicles very quickly .
Robinet said the partnership with Chrysler give Chery a deeper understanding of the North American manufacturing, American suppliers with experience and understanding of technologies that improve fuel efficiency on the road, because it draws a growth strategy Chery could launch its own brands or even buy Chrysler manufacturing assets.
But how China exported cars with fussy rate American car buyers.
There was a time when Japan was synonymous with junk, said Maryanne Keller, analyst longtime industry Although art no longer the case, it took 30 years for Japanese companies to become established as quality brands, she says Hyundai cars, arriving in the 1980s from South Korea, has also struggled to gain traction because of quality problems.
Made in China Driven USA, Actually, porcelain.