Naias Welcomes Chinese Car Makers


by Matthew C. Keegan - Date: 2008-11-12 - Word Count: 494 Share This!

The Detroit Auto Show, formerly known as the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), is considered by many as the premier show of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Ever since being elevated to international credential status twenty years ago, the Detroit show has served as the primary avenue by which car makers showcase their wares including upcoming models and concepts.



This January, two guests from the People's Republic of China will make their appearance at the show, guests which are known as automakers BYD and Brilliance Auto respectively. BYD (or Build Your Dreams) is making its second consecutive appearance while Brilliance Auto will be making its North American debut at the show.



Showcasing cars at Detroit doesn't mean that these same cars will be available for sale in the US or Canada anytime soon. Changfeng Motors was the first Chinese manufacturer to make an appearance in Detroit, putting their cars on display in 2007. Along with BYD in 2008, Geely Motors showcased several models. None of the three companies has formalized plans to sell cars in North America as of yet.



Brilliance Auto, which is currently selling cars in Europe, plans to change that equation by offering several of its models for sale beginning in 2009. The Brilliance BS6 sedan has been a news maker, but not for the right reasons. When it was put through an important European crash test in June 2007, it failed, receiving the lowest rating possible which was one-star. A few months later a reworked version of the sedan was put through the same test, receiving a three-star crash rating. That rating is still below the industry average meaning that whatever Brilliance models are sold in the US must meet acceptable crash worthiness standards.



One other Chinese automaker, Chery, has yet to follow through with its planned American introduction. Back in 2005, the automotive world was abuzz when Chery announced that they had forged a business partnership with an American distributor to bring at least one of its models to the states. That model, which was called the Chery QQ, was expected to retail for about $6600, an amount that is thousands of dollars less than the cheapest car now sold in America, the $9990 Nissan Versa 1.6.



But, as business relationships sometimes do, they don't make it beyond the planning stage and the Chery project was canceled. Chery and Chrysler signed an export deal in July 2007 for the American automaker to bring one model to the North American market, but that deal has yet to materialize.



If Brilliance Auto is able to bring one or more models to North America it could be a game changer for the struggling automobile industry. Depending on how well these cars are made and how low they are priced will determine much. However, quality vehicles that undercut General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler in the price department is one more source of pressure that the beleaguered automakers do not need.



Related Tags: china, cars, autos, detroit, naias, north american international auto show, brilliance auto, byd, build your dreams, chery automotive, geely automotive


Matthew C. Keegan is a freelance writer who resides in Cary, North Carolina. Matt is a contributing writer for Andy's Auto Sport an aftermarket supplier of quality parts including custom Cadillac Deville intakes and Cadillac Deville lambo doors.

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