E-mail I sent to Alan Mulally

[2o6]

I just read that Brilliance co-manufactures the BMW 3 Series in China.

And the 5-series.



From what I hear, the quality is just as good.

[the Teuton]

And the 5-series.



From what I hear, the quality is just as good.

So they have $1,300 iDrive failures, too?

Glad to see some things don't change when translated into Mandarin.

[MX793]

I just read that Brilliance co-manufactures the BMW 3 Series in China.

Not likely by BMW's choice.  I vaguely recall reading that the Chinese government requires that foreign (non-Chinese) car manufacturers subcontract or "co-manufacture" their cars with existing Chinese manufacturers if they want to sell cars in China.

[dazzleman]

LOL
You guys are delusional.  Aren't some Hondas made in China already?  For fucks sake, isn't around half of all the shit you guys buy in WALMART made in China?

Who gives a shit who owns Volvo.  Does anybody know who really owns Aston Martin?  Does anybody really care who owns anything as long as the products are of good quality?

Madman, Alan Mulally has been lauded by several publications as businessman of the year 2009.  I think we can trust his judgement to sell Volvo to a bunch of evil communists who will take over the world by hiding in the rear footwells of new XC-90s.

I tend to agree.  Why worry about Volvo when we've voluntarily made ourselves dependent on the Chinese on a much broader spectrum.

[ifcar]

LOL
You guys are delusional.  Aren't some Hondas made in China already?  For fucks sake, isn't around half of all the shit you guys buy in WALMART made in China?

Pretty sure it's more than half.

I don't think there are any US Hondas made in China, however.

[Raza]

I don't shop at Walmart. 

And nothing I buy that my life depends on is made in China.  Nothing I buy that my life depends on is made by a corporation in a totalitarian regime, either.

[2o6]

Not likely by BMW's choice.  I vaguely recall reading that the Chinese government requires that foreign (non-Chinese) car manufacturers subcontract or "co-manufacture" their cars with existing Chinese manufacturers if they want to sell cars in China.

Correct. It also is an inlet and a way for quick cash for the Established automaker. One automaker gains knowledge, and the other automaker gains entry into a huge market.

[MX793]

Correct. It also is an inlet and a way for quick cash for the Established automaker. One automaker gains knowledge, and the other automaker gains entry into a huge market.

And the automaker that gains entry into the market risks losing sensitive/proprietary technical information in a country that apparently thinks patents, trademarks and copyrights aren't even worth using as toilet paper.

[2o6]

And the automaker that gains entry into the market risks losing sensitive/proprietary technical information in a country that apparently thinks patents, trademarks and copyrights aren't even worth using as toilet paper.

It seemingly is getting better.



The Chinese populace is getting turned off by the poor quality knock-offs that their domestic automakers are producing. Buick is still number one there, and VW and Ford/Madza are also strong sellers. As the imports continue to get cheaper, the domestic cars are becoming less and less of a bargain........thus the Chinese automakers are forced to make better cars.

[ifcar]

And the automaker that gains entry into the market risks losing sensitive/proprietary technical information in a country that apparently thinks patents, trademarks and copyrights aren't even worth using as toilet paper.

I guess that never occurred to BMW and they should hire you right away to set their thinking straight.

[2o6]

I guess that never occurred to BMW and they should hire you right away to set their thinking straight.

Exactly. BMW has been there for a minute. If anything was stolen, it'd be on the market by now.

[MX793]

Exactly. BMW has been there for a minute. If anything was stolen, it'd be on the market by now.

Who's to say it isn't?  They can steal technology without copying an entire car.  Perhaps lifting suspension geometry or suspension tuning information.  Or occupant safety technology.  Or emissions control technology (a must if Chinese manufacturers want to sell to America or Europe).

[2o6]

Who's to say it isn't?  They can steal technology without copying an entire car.  Perhaps lifting suspension geometry or suspension tuning information.  Or occupant safety technology.  Or emissions control technology (a must if Chinese manufacturers want to sell to America or Europe).

If so, it hasn't made it to market. The current crop of Chinese cars, while better, is nowhere near the standards of the rest of the world.

[Madman]

Looks like I'm not the only one with serious worries about Volvo falling into Chinese hands!

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/12/14/report-former-volvo-directors-and-politicians-fear-sale-to-baic/


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[2o6]

Ok. You're upset. We get it.

[AltinD]

. Buick is still number one there, and VW and Ford/Madza are also strong sellers. ...

Buick has NEVER been No. 1, VW was.

[2o6]

Buick has NEVER been No. 1, VW was.

Buick/GM was number one for awhile.

[565]

Awesome, I was hoping this Volvo Geely deal would go through.  Apparently Ford bought Volvo for 6.45 billion in 1999 and selling to Geely for 1.8 billion 10 years later.  So basically, epic fail on Ford?s part.

Come 2010 I might actually buy a Volvo or something.  It?s probably going to be the first ?Chinese? car on the American market.  I never really was interested in Volvo?s before now, as they are boring as hell, but as they are now owned by the motherland, I?m definitely more interested.

Communism, fuck yeah!



And Mao Ze Dong, mother fuckers!!!




Also for good measure, I'll be sure to be singing this while I take that Chinese volvo for a test drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wvyITD2stg&feature=related

[Tave]

I'm sure that typo in the first sentence will really get his attention.