Is this going to be the first Chery-built Dodge?
Now that Chrysler has firmed up a deal with Chery Motors for the Chinese manufacturer to build small cars for them to sell in North America and Europe, the question comes about car they will actually build. China Car Times is reporting that the first model may be the Chery A1. The A1, it turns out is actually the Chery QQ with a different front clip, to allow Chery to sell the car outside of China.
The QQ is the car that Chery was accused of copying from the Daewoo Matiz, and the parts were apparently interchangeable. For Chrysler's sake, I hope the cars they sell from Chery are significantly improved relative to the original QQ. I've been exposed to the QQ up close, and Michigan roads would tear this thing up pretty quickly. If Chrysler doesn't significantly improve the car, any savings they get from bringing in Chinese built cars will quickly evaporate in more lost sales.
Related:
[Source: China Car Times]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
starlightmica 2:16PM (3/07/2007)
Ouch.
http://paultan.org/archives/2006/02/18/chery-qq-crash-test/
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Tem Kuechle 3:14PM (3/09/2007)
I find it disturbing that China will be building even more of america's products, however that is the cost of our current and short sited international free trade situation. We might see a balancing some day, where it costs nearly the same to design and build overseas as it does domestically.
Also, Michigan is not a good example of typical road conditions across America, and its needs are significantly different from most of the world outside of Michigan. I am concerned that automobile execs are stuck in a little make-believe coccoon, and as a consequence the US automobile industry is paying a big price for this state of affairs. Cars need to be designed and manufactured much faster and bigger risks need to be taken. I know that the issue is very complex, with unions, safety testing, and so forth, but I see them reinventing the wheel, a wheel that is undesireable compared to other offereings in the market. Wish us luck.
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JonnySako 5:34PM (3/09/2007)
Not only Michigan but any midwestern state. Here in Illinois we have holes big enough to bend wheels and break struts. I doubt the QQ or A1 would fit Dodges styling.
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mike 3:42AM (3/10/2007)
I guess they need some time to gain capital and work on their home-technologies to meet US standards, and yes they are growing fast and making strategic business development especially on their car parts like Dodge rancho shocks - http://www.speedyperformanceparts.com/speedy/dodge_10.html - to gain international exposure.
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