MotorAuthority

Five Chinese carmakers headed for Detroit show

Posted Fri Oct 5 2007 11:11 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

It’s only a matter of time until China’s ambitious carmakers penetrate the U.S. market and, despite there being no immediate export plans, next year’s Detroit Auto Show will have the strongest showing of Chinese carmakers yet. There will be five Chinese labels displaying vehicles at the January show, two of which will be making a return visit to America’s most prominent auto show.

Changfeng Motor Group and Geely International Corporation will be making their second appearance at next year’s show, reports Automotive News, while BYD Auto Co., China America Cooperative Automotive, Li Shi Guang Ming Auto will be there for the first time. Surprisingly, there’s no sign of Chery making an appearance despite its ongoing partnership with Chrysler.

We wonder if there will be any backlash directed towards the Chinese carmakers who present cloned vehicles of existing models from other makes. You may recall there was some controversy surrounding China’s Shanguan displaying its CEO SUV and Noble minicar at last month’s Frankfurt show because the cars were clones of BMW’s X5 and the Mercedes-Smart ForTwo.

Story Tags:

• Industry

Reader Comments

• Fri Oct 5 2007 11:18 AM

  chris says

  There wont be any backlash because china and korea dont copy american cars,.. not since kia copied the windstar and focus.

• Fri Oct 5 2007 11:43 AM

  Tiaan Nel says

  That’s not a Chinese car….it’s a old C-Class Merc !!?? Amazing!

• Fri Oct 5 2007 1:23 PM

  Gus says

  I don't know, people don't mind buying Chinese made goods if they are small, cheap and electronic, but cars?
  A car is just such a big investment, I don't know if people will risk the cheap knock-off reputation on their hard earned money. I know I wouldn't, even to save a few (thousand) dollars...

• Fri Oct 5 2007 1:27 PM

  niessing says

  å

• Fri Oct 5 2007 6:03 PM

  SuperSkyline89 says

  That's definitely a Chinese car, I mean it looks like a Mercedes so it passes the copy someone else's car test. By the way, niessing, you realize no one knows what you said right?

• Sat Oct 6 2007 1:24 AM

  Stirling says

  It will be interesting when these same Chinese manufacturers start selling American designed and engineered, Chinese built small cars in the U.S. for Ford, Chevy, and Chrysler. I think that is how the Chinese manufacturers will get the American consumers attention.

• Sat Oct 6 2007 8:34 PM

  anthony says

  They should be ashame of themselves it's a C-class AMG rip off!
  What a joke!

• Mon Oct 8 2007 4:59 AM

  Leo Borella says

  How do the Chinese get away with copying the European designs??? It's shocking and surely must be embarrassing that they can't come up with their own original desings. Chinese X 5, C-Class, Smart, the list goes on and on...