A week ago, Bengt Halvorson mentioned the federal government's plan to impose a 35% tariff on tires imported from China. In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, China has now begun laying the groundwork for retaliation: according to the AP, the Chinese government "is carrying out a probe...Read More»
If you're anxious already about the growing influence of China in America, brace yourselves for the next decade of cars. The Wall Street Journal points out this afternoon how China's role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of cars is deeper and wider than ever. According to the paper...Read More»
![Chinese children salute cars [Du Bin for The New York Times]](https://static.hgmsites.net/images/cache/chinese-children-salute-cars-du-bin-for-the-new-york-times_100231737_151x113.jpg "Kids Salute Cars In China To Reduce Accidents, Learn Manners")
China may not be as isolated as it once was, but there are still cultural differences that set the country apart. To minimize traffic accidents near schools, for example, America created a system of school zones and built a few speed bumps. China, on the other hand, has ordered children to salute...Read More»
A couple of weeks ago, we reported that Crown -- a consortium of American investors led by former auto industry executives -- is making a play for Volvo. The group's bid for the brand is substantially lower than that of current front-runner Geely, but we pointed out that the Americans do have some...Read More»
The government of China may be angling hard to unseat the U.S. as the world's dominant economic power (case in point: itsstrong support of a plan to end oil trading in U.S. dollar formats), but China's homegrown companies don't have quite as much weight to throw around. As an example, look no...Read More»
Despite the general unpleasantness that's plagued the auto industry for over a year, Ford is doing comparatively well these days. In fact, given the gradually rebounding global economy and Ford's new strategic alliances in Asia, CEO Alan Mulally feels fairly optimistic about the next two years...Read More»
Interesting news from HUMMER today: spokesman Nick Richards says that the company's potential new owners in China plan to keep HUMMER's headquarters in the U.S. -- specifically, near Detroit. Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Corporation had also been considering sites in South Carolina...Read More»
Sadly, this hasn't been HUMMER's year. The brand was already known as the poster child for gas guzzlers; now it's being bought by a company in China (with final details expected this week), and sales on the lots have tanked. So what's a HUMMER dealer to do? Expand operations, of course. Branch out...Read More»
It's been widely reported that Chinese automaker Geely is putting the finishing touches on an offer to purchase Volvo -- and frankly, when we saw yesterday's release about Chinese astronauts' love for the Volvo S80L, we thought the deal was done. However rumors have surfaced that a group of Swedish...Read More»
In The Graduate, the future was all about plastics. From Warren Buffett's perspective, however, the future may be all about China: everyone's favorite eccentric investor recently made a $230 million investment in Chinese automaker BYD, and now, just ten months later, BYD's stock price has soared...Read More»
According to a (very brief) article in China Car Times, Chinese automaker Geely is finally prepared to submit a bid to Ford Motor Company for Volvo. Geely's alleged offer: $293 million. A couple of weeks ago, sources were circulating a similar rumor, but with a figure of $2 billion attached. And...Read More»
More signs that the world of today is very different from the one our parents and grandparents knew: according to stat-hounds AutoPacific, 15% of car buyers would consider purchasing a Chinese-brand vehicle, and 11% would mull the possibility of purchasing one from India. Those statistics may not...Read More»
Although it certainly pales in comparison to the recent unrest in Xinjiang, China's approval of Mercedes-Benz and BMW vehicles for its government fleet is causing outrage among citizens. Technically, no vehicles from those automakers have been bought just yet, and those that are must be...Read More»
It's good news/bad news day for T. Boone Pickens. On the one hand, his push for natural gas vehicles seems to be gaining traction in D.C. On the other, his new V-Vehicle Company in Monroe, Louisiana is about to get a little competition from two doors down. Chinese exile Yang Rong--former head of...Read More»
Here in America, General Motors is facing tough times: bankruptcy hearings, tricky brand sell-offs, and a thoroughly unpleasant sales slump. Across the Pacific, however, the General is faring much better. In fact, GM's go-to guy in China, Kevin Wale, predicts the company will see a 20% growth in...Read More»
Take this for what it's worth: Autocar is reporting that GM's sale of HUMMER to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery is a no-go. The news comes by way of China National Radio, which says that the deal will be 86ed "by the ruling Communist party, as it goes against the country’s attempts...Read More»
We've talked a good bit about plug-in hybrids, fully electric vehicles, and the hurdles they'll have to jump before being fully embraced by consumers. Among the biggest of those obstacles is the necessary infrastructure for quickly charging the batteries in those vehicles--no matter where drivers...Read More»
The American marketplace may be sluggish right now, but manufacturers and investors are betting big on China. Not only is there a fair amount of money floating around that country--the new home of Hummer and Volvo--but China is also set to become the world's biggest auto market in the very near...Read More»
It's a done deal now. Yesterday evening, the US Senate passed a $106 billion war spending bill that includes $1 billion in funds for roughly three and a half months' worth of "Cash for Clunkers" tax credits. The goal is to assist automakers by boosting US car sales, at the same time encouraging...Read More»
