[Murrow]

By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer Sun Apr 20, 4:58 AM ET



BEIJING - Chrysler LLC's talks on a possible joint venture with China's Chery Automobile Co. are progressing but a China-made car being produced by the alliance is not ready for the U.S. market, Chrysler executives said Sunday.

Chery is among several potential partners Chrysler is considering as it prepares to ramp up local production with the aim of joining the ranks of China's top 10 automakers, said Phil Murtaugh, chief executive of Chrysler's Asia operations.

"We have no progress to report, but we really are satisfied with those discussions," Murtaugh told reporters at the Beijing auto show.
Chery and Chrysler made a "strategic cooperation agreement" last year to produce a low-cost vehicle to be sold under Chrysler's Dodge brand in the United States and other markets.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080420/ap_on_bi_ge/china_auto_show_chrysler

 

[skylark68]

Not a surprise after seeing the crash tests for Chinese built cars. If those tests show anything, its that most of those cheap Chinese cars will fold up badly in a collision.

 

[kenman923]

I wouldn't want a Chinese car anyway. Chrysler would do better to get subcompacts elsewhere.

 

[TexCarFan1980]

I will agree with the above post that Chrysler would be better served receiving subcompacts from other automakers. Thankfully Nissan joined forces with them and has offered to give Chrysler/Dodge a version of the Versa to those in South America (and hopefully North America as well). I would much rather purchase that over a Chinese-made car. Not to say the Chinese do not make good products-just not very safe cars.

 

[MrJamesMc]

I hate the idea of buying something that supports a communist country that gives no equal rights and freedom to their people. (But it's hard when EVERY electronic device is made there =[ )

So, I am not for this, I hope the cars aren't ever ready.

 

[CadiEldo67]

I find it interesting that the Chinese have trouble with crash test of their cars, (do they not have accidents in China, or doesn't it matter?) And I also wonder how Buick of China does as far as crash-worthiness. Does Buick promote that they had 5 stars for everything, but nobody really cares?

 

[BrickTamland]

What ever will we do?

 

[Bravada]

Anybody suspected anything else? Did you really expect Chrysler to bring Chery cars to the US? They were just looking for a cheap replacement for the rebadged Hyundais they sell as Dodge small cars in Latin America.

BTW, do you know that GM sells the terribly outdated and poorly assembled Chinese-made Chevrolet Sail in Chile?

 

[MaxLegroom]

I hate the idea of buying something that supports a communist country that gives no equal rights and freedom to their people. (But it's hard when EVERY electronic device is made there =[ )

So, I am not for this, I hope the cars aren't ever ready.

I don't understand why more people don't get this...

 

[prototype66]

IMO Chrysler needs to stick with the Nissan hook up and screw Chery! I can't think of a better way to completely destroy a companys reputation than to hook up with the sub par company that cant pass a crash test and steals all of their techonlogy.
Scraw that!~

~Side note~
I don't think China as a whole is the problem as far as the crash test thing goes, it's the substandard Chery and other china owned companies that don't try to maintain the safety codes and quality engineering.

 

[KingElvis]

I hate the idea of buying something that supports a communist country that gives no equal rights and freedom to their people. (But it's hard when EVERY electronic device is made there =[ )

So, I am not for this, I hope the cars aren't ever ready.

You've got this captive labor pool. They actually have some labor laws, but they're not enforced. They don't have any unionization rights either.

And they of course don't have a vote - and no real independent courts.

Why do we want to play with this totalitarian regime?

 

[Rocket 88]

I think it is reasonable to expect the first vehicles imported from China to be problematic at best. At worst they'll be toxic (like their toys) and maybe somewhat fatal (like their tires). If/when this happens it can only further damage Chrysler's reputation.

The Chrysler - Mitsubishi hookup worked for a while and a Chrysler - Nissan partnership has potential, but importing cars from China seems like trouble.

 

[pontiacfan]

I find it interesting that the Chinese have trouble with crash test of their cars, (do they not have accidents in China, or doesn't it matter?) And I also wonder how Buick of China does as far as crash-worthiness. Does Buick promote that they had 5 stars for everything, but nobody really cares?

Just wondering out loud here. Is this China's way to control the population? Sorry couldn't resist. Now I will go to my room.

 

[Z06ified]

China can't even properly manufacture toothpaste, pet food, or even a simple nail. There is no way I would ever trust China to properly manufacture something as complex as a car with any kind of quality. I'm really getting sick of poor Chinese product quality, that I'm now almost forced to buy as there is often nothing else available made anywhere else.

 

[SUPERBADD75]

sorry Chery, but it's alreay a bit too hard to find something in this country that's NOT made in China. i don't think we need to have junky Chinese cars over here too. i would like to see more American products on the shelves of the stores i shop at. if we could just all agree to work at reasonable rates per our jobs, and drop all the union b/s (from all unions), i think we could bring jobs back here. i'd much rather have a quality American product for $12 versus a cheap one for $8. same goes for their cars, they can keep them, i don't care what name is on the trunk.

 

[Rocket 88]

Just wondering out loud here. Is this China's way to control the population? Sorry couldn't resist. Now I will go to my room.

Hey, its not like they give you a free coffin with every car purchase.

 

[prototype66]

The way their cars fold up in a collision they give you two for one.
they HAVE to bury you in the car, you're unable get you out.
the car doubles as your coffin.

 

[GM lover]

What ever happened to Malcom Bricklin bringing over Chinese cars to the US

 

[SUPERBADD75]

What ever happened to Malcom Bricklin bringing over Chinese cars to the US

probably failed just like all other Bricklin hairball schemes.