World Bank:China to take over many industries including the Japanese auto industry.

[Ted Striker]

bah

You can't predict things like this.

Every country has to find a niche

I didn't even know China HAD an auto industry

And secondly, where are they going to put all those cars if a Chinese dometic market became a reality.

[Dis]

just to reiterate in case no one heard me

chinese products are of inferior quality. So they will find a niche market. Japan will be in the middle. They will be the balance of quality and low price. Korea is slightly lower on that scale, and then you will have china.

[Q Classic]

dissident, people usually buy on the basis of price.

[Dis]

no, I buy american cars. They aren't as cheap. I usually stick with Dodge, but I may get a Ford for my next vehicle.

[Q Classic]

big ticket items are often bought on quality. other items are often bought on the basis of price.

electronics have gotten so cheap that people by them by price more often than not, these days, while cares are still as expensive as ever, so often they're bought on quality or appearance.

i myself would probably buy a used asian car, simply because i don't plan on driving much at all, and don't want to shell out a lot for insurance, gas, or price.

[Kidlicious]

In the auto industry you get huge economies of scale so volume is important. China will surely attempt to lower their costs by producing in volume. Then quality surely won't matter, because everyone elses cars will be too expensive.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Kidicious
Then quality surely won't matter,

Only to idiots that don't care how they spend thier money.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by mindseye
Chinese auto exports will be nothing compared to the Chinese domestic market. The amount of change I've seen on the streets of Shanghai in 2.5 years is startling (latest to appear: Citroen Picassos, very cool!).

No! Cars will ruin China! Mark my words! The traffic is bad enough!

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Cheaper is starting to mean lower employment.

That is what happens when you can't compete. As long as Japanese companies can stay competitive they won't lose much.

It is what we in the US had to go through with cheap Japanese imports... kinda ironic .

I remember the ripples of fear that went through American auto manufacturers when Mexico began making cars. Later, the same thing happened with the introduction of the Yugo. China will have to prove that it can build quality products before most people will by their "cheaper" cars.

[mindseye]

What about the next 5-10 years? 15 years is a long time.

As Oerdin pointed out, the best cars built in China today are all foreign marks (Citroen, Renault, Buick, Ford, Jeep, Audi, BMW, MBZ, VW, Toyota, Lexus, etc). I think it will take a few years for domestic Chinese cars to catch up. In the meantime, I think Chinese trucks (at least in some categories) are already pretty good. Some buses as well.

This cycle has ocurred in other industries where the middle class has already created a huge demand: refrigerators, heater/air conditioners, washing machines, PCs, microwave ovens, large televisions (I don't think you can buy a new B&W set here). In these areas, the quality of domestic Chinese products is often quite good.

I didn't even know China HAD an auto industry

The number of brands is surprisingly high (I don't recall the exact number), but they tend to be smaller, regional brands. China is much more regionalized than most westerners realize. People in different parts of the country speak different languages, eat different foods, have different customs, have somewhat different styles of architecture, and ... drive different cars. It depends on what brands are built in your area.

For instance, in Shanghai you will see droves of Volkswagons and Buicks. In Wenzhou, in the next province to the south, the majority of cars are Renaults and Citroens.

[mindseye]

No! Cars will ruin China! Mark my words! The traffic is bad enough!

I was interviewed on television recently, the topic was what foreigners thought of Shanghai's transportation system. I urged the city leaders to take measures to discourage the use of private cars downtown, e.g. keep expanding the excellent mass-transit sytems, more buses (especially LPG ones), not build parking lots downtown. I suggested that they learn from the mistakes made in the US (thinking of my beloved San Francisco).

[Kidlicious]

I pictured the cities already developed, but I guess they have to modernize them still, right?

[DaShi]

Originally posted by mindseye

No! Cars will ruin China! Mark my words! The traffic is bad enough!

I was interviewed on television recently, the topic was what foreigners thought of Shanghai's transportation system. I urged the city leaders to take measures to discourage the use of private cars downtown, e.g. keep expanding the excellent mass-transit sytems, more buses (especially LPG ones), not build parking lots downtown. I suggested that they learn from the mistakes made in the US (thinking of my beloved San Francisco).

One of the things I loved about living in China was not owning a car. Cars can be such a hassle, and in China, you really don't need one.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see high-quality Chinese cars on the streets of the US in fifteen years.

I can't wait . It can only make American, Japanese, German, etc. car makers better. A Chinese outlook might lead to some fun new technology in our cars! More competition will be better .

[Imran Siddiqui]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see high-quality Chinese cars on the streets of the US in fifteen years.

I can't wait . It can only make American, Japanese, German, etc. car makers better. A Chinese outlook might lead to some fun new technology in our cars! More competition will be better .