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Ford's China partner planning to sell in U.S. in 2020
Ford Motor Co.'s newest Chinese partner, Zotye Automobile, is preparing to launch at least two SUVs in the Blue Oval's backyard.
The relatively small Chinese automaker Zotye Automobile International Co. is partnering with California-based HAAH Automotive Holdings to look beyond its home market and form a new sales distribution company in the United States known as Zotye USA (pronounced ZOH-tay) — a tie-up that would sell direct competitors to some of Ford's most lucrative SUVs.
"We're facing a new reality where the Chinese domestic market is slowing for the first time in recent memory," said Michael Dunne, CEO of Hong Kong-based ZoZo Go, a firm that advises automakers on the Chinese market. "Now that things have gone soft, automakers are finding themselves in a situation where they have to export and find new markets. Zotye is possibly the first, but they won't be the last."
Also at MarketWatch and CNET.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by khallow on Thursday November 15 2018, @03:20PM (4 children)
Believe it or not, US regulations aren't secret knowledge. This business will be quite aware that it can't just drop a bunch of vehicles off a ship and expect them to be street legal.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 15 2018, @04:22PM (1 child)
> This business will be quite aware that it can't just drop a bunch of vehicles off a ship and expect them to be street legal.
Agreed. But being aware of the regs and actually meeting them are two different things. This article has some history of recent attempts by Chinese car companies to sell in USA, so far all have failed, with some retreating and pledging to return at a later date.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-china-auto-export-20180205-story.html [latimes.com]
Matches my memory of the last 10+ years of Chinese attempts in the USA car market. It ends with a funny coincidence,
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday November 16 2018, @05:35AM
Sure, but it's foolish to hype the supposed ability of US regulations to block Chinese car makers. Especially, when they're starting to work with US automakers who already have the regulations figured out.
(Score: 2) by Blymie on Thursday November 15 2018, @08:25PM (1 child)
A company you might have heard of -- called Hyundai, wanted to enter the North American market years ago. Mid-80s, and I recall my friend's Dad pondering it.
The 2-for-1 sale caught his eye. Literally, they advertised "2-for-1", and sold two Hyundai Ponies for $6k+. Crazy.
The cars weren't bad, in that you could easily fix them. But the first car rusted to uselessness in a few, yes 3+ years. Completely unready for the Canadian market, the snow, and all the salt spread on the roads for the ice.
My friend's Dad wasn't too upset, he had a brand new one in the garage. But you can bet Chinese imports will not fit without changes.
And on top of all of this, Chinese stuff? It *is* crap. It is. And quality control is NOT easy, Hyundai only managed to get their act into gear by stealing Toyota's staff + quality control processes + documents (trade secrets + copyrighted material).
But Hyundai got it right. So potentially whatever company this Chinese company is, could too...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 16 2018, @03:08AM
Chinese build to a price point. You want super cheap, you get crap (Walmart, Harbor Freight, etc. want super cheap). Remember that all Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc. are made in China / Taiwan too.
Datsun (Nissan) broke out into the international market licensing their engine designs from Mercedes. Hyundai originally came with engine designs licensed from Mazda. If this company is a Ford partner, these cars might just be re-badged Ford designs (so no worse than any other Ford).