So what do you do if you're a Chinese automaker, and you want to export your product, but are finding that North America and the rest of the so-called civilized world's auto markets too tough to enter? Heck, you go after developing countries, where tough safety, economy and environmental regulations are virtually nonexistent. And that's exactly what China is up to. They're taking a stab at the African market, where any form of new motorized transportation is welcome as compared to what they now have...
"The performance-price ratio of our products is high so African people like our brand," says Zheng Guoqing, who handles Africa sales for Great Wall. "The emissions standard is not particularly high there. The requirement for safety is also not high."
Full story here at The Wall Street Journal.
Image: John W. Miller
Full story here at The Wall Street Journal.
Image: John W. Miller
firstwagon says:
08:21 AM, 08/29/07
Ever notice that every article you read on Chinese automakers goes out of it's way to find the negative? Every country has it's good and bad points. Why only dwell on the negative?
rsholland says:
08:47 AM, 08/29/07
Maybe because it's so hard to ignore. While it's true the Chinese are doing some good things, the vast bulk of automotive-related news has been negative.
Journalists don't "go out of their way" to find this negative news. It's just there right in front of them screaming to be reported. Not reporting it would be the equivalent of sweeping it under the rug—which is not going to happen.
ateixeira says:
11:04 AM, 08/29/07
Go to YouTube and search for Chinese-car crash tests. It *IS* all negative.
desmolicious says:
01:33 PM, 08/29/07
Zheng Guoqing, who handles Africa sales for Great Wall:
"The requirement for safety is also not high."
So in essence, stick it to the poor Africans. What a bunch o bull. The Chinese auto mfgs have gone full circle from claiming the European tests were flawed to admitting their cars are unsafe so they'll just sell them to third world people. Where's the outrage?
estreka says:
05:57 PM, 08/29/07
I can't believe a spokesman would openly denounce the safety of their products.