China to flood US with cheap SUVs

[Blind_Io]

With the backing of two US Billionairs, China plans to start dumping cheap SUVs into the US. This, of course by the man who introduced the US to the Yugo - What could go wrong?

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=50619

George Soros, the billionaire who bankrolled Moveon.org, and Maurice Strong, a major backer of the United Nations and environmentalist causes, are considering pouring hundreds of millions into a Chinese state automaker with plans to begin dumping cheap exports on the U.S. market next year, WND has learned.

The "Chery" is a knockoff of the South Korean Spark, sold in the U.S. in partnership with General Motors. GM filed a lawsuit against Chery Automobile Co. for piracy of the car developed by its South Korean affiliate Daewoo.

The lawsuit, launched in the name of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. Ltd, contends Chery's QQ copied the design of Daewoo's Matiz, while Chery claims it developed the QQ on its own. GM's investigation results showed the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components."

Meanwhile, the Chery QQ sells in China for $3,600.Chery sold about 50,000 of these last year in China and is planning to begin exporting cars to the end of 2007. Some auto industry analysts suggest the low price on the Chery is the partly the result of the "borrowed" technology and design.

Until now, Chery has focused on exports to 10 other countries, including Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Cuba, Syria and Malaysia. But now, with the help of at least two prominent mega-investors – Soros and Strong – China is making big plans for a major push into the North American market.

The marketing genius behind the push is Malcolm Bricklin, best known for the failed 1980s effort to promote the Yugo in America. The list price on the Chery is expected to be around $20,000 in the U.S.

The plan is to sell 250,000 Cherys in the U.S. in the first year through 250 dealerships, with a target of 1 million by 2010.

Most Americans are familiar with the name Soros because of his involvement in U.S. presidential politics in 2004. Less familiar to them is Canadian Maurice Strong.

He served as secretary-general of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit conference. He also served as special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general on reform years before the oil-for-food scandal.

Strong made his fortune in oil and utilities, but is a self-described socialist. he once said that for humanity to survive, it may be necessary "for industrial civilization to collapse."

Strong has close connections with numerous influential leaders in business and government around the world – including the United States – and is considered a possibility to fill the post of secretary general of the U.N. when the position again becomes open. In his U.N. role, Strong has floated the idea of eliminating single-family houses, air conditioning and convenience foods as a way to conserve energy and save the environment.

He may be best known for his promotion of the Earth Charter, along with Mikhail Gorbachev. The document has been described as an effort to create a new "16 Commandments" to serve as the foundation for a new global religion.

Both Soros and Strong are known as major proponents of global government and rabid environmentalists – ironic, perhaps, given Cherys' plans to export into the U.S. and elsewhere gas-guzzling SUVs among other smaller vehicles.

Soros spent $23 million in a failed attempt to prevent President Bush's re-election. During the presidential race, Soros told reporters if Bush were to be re-elected, he planned to go away to "some kind of monastery to reflect on what is wrong with us."

The vehicle in question, and alleged knockoff from a Daewoo/GM vehicle made in Korea.

[Leonidae]

not going to happen. Chinese tried to bring their SUV into europe as well, but they were turned down after EURO-NCAP's tests. lowest scores ever, if i recall right.

[Kip_6666]

They sold more than they could import here in Holland.

[Ultra_Kool_Dude]

$20k for a knockoff Korean SUV?

Billionaire socialist.

[vRS]

"with a target of 1 million by 2010"

Hmm optimistic(change 2010 to 2100 maybe), I read somewhere these are supossed to be really crapy made, and unsafe(which is why we were spared them)

[bartboy9891]

i really doubt it'll happen. Its true that the majority will spring for the cheaper cars if they can, but you dont see the Kia Rio taking over the roads

[Blind_Io]

The other thing is that since it's a Chinese knock off of a Korean made GM design (wow, talk about a votex of suck) GM may petition to have imports of it blocked.

[teeb]

Originally Posted by Leonidae

not going to happen. Chinese tried to bring their SUV into europe as well, but they were turned down after EURO-NCAP's tests. lowest scores ever, if i recall right.

I think it's lowest scores in recent memory.

The Rover 100 / Metro did particularly badly back in 1998, which I think is the worst on record.

[Blind_Io]

The engine literally enters the passenger compartment and the steering wheel split the test dummy in half at the torso even with the air bag deployed. They said it was the single most dangerous car they've ever tested.

http://paultan.org/archives/2006/02/...qq-crash-test/

Here are some highlights:

[mmap]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

i really doubt it'll happen. Its true that the majority will spring for the cheaper cars if they can, but you dont see the Kia Rio taking over the roads

Well... Kia and Hyundai are the fastest growing brands in Europe (by sales figures)...

[andyhui01]

^^wow... the entire car is out of shaped, look at the roof!, I bet the chassis is completely twisted

[BlaRo]

Hmm, a cheap Chinese car from a rabidly liberal billionaire environmentalist? Bill O'Reilly's head is going to explode.

I really hope this doesn't happen. Malcom Bricklin is past his prime, and I doubt there's gonna be anybody who's going to shell out all that money for a cheap Chinese car, just because it's new, when they could just go used and get anything. They're going to be a laughingstock here, from the name Chery (Chevy, cherry) to the goofy looks to the people backing it to the fact that it's made in the same country as your Happy Meal.

And just for the record, there ARE some decent Chinese cars out there, like the Brilliance Zhonghua (or is it the other way?):

I've seen them in person, and for a country that hasn't had a steady auto industry and thrives off Buicks and 20-year old Volkswagen Santanas, it's pretty good. 8)

[Ultra_Kool_Dude]

In 10 or 15 years I can see China replacing the Pacific Rim's market segment and the Pac. Rim replacing Japan's segment.

[FATMOUSE]

Where then would Japan go?

After ze germans?

[zenkidori]

Originally Posted by FATMOUSE

Where then would Japan go?

After ze germans?

that's been happening for a while.

[SL65]

Bloody hell! Why is there damage in the rear of the car if the impact was on the front Daaamn! I ain't going anywhere near a Chinese car

[zenkidori]

to pass US crash tests it would need to be SERIOUSLY improved, but if it did, I could see it selling.

They need to bring over a dirt cheap RWD coupe. I would buy it.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

... but you dont see the Kia Rio taking over the roads

Your right, it's Hyundai's that I do. Shitloads of them in fact. Them or the cheap American cars, or the biggest trucks/suv's sold by Ford/Chevy

[bartboy9891]

Originally Posted by thedguy

Your right, it's Hyundai's that I do. Shitloads of them in fact. Them or the cheap American cars, or the biggest trucks/suv's sold by Ford/Chevy

yea mmap is correct too. Hyundai's sales have been exploding recently. BUT, its not because they are the ultra cheap. Its because they are actually good cars

[fbc]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

The engine literally enters the passenger compartment and the steering wheel split the test dummy in half at the torso even with the air bag deployed. They said it was the single most dangerous car they've ever tested.

And those pics -