Chinese Automobiles Are Not Coming Soon

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Chinese Automobiles Are Not Coming Soon

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    Nowadays, Chinese factories churn out waves of exports that flood markets in the U.S. and Europe: DVD’s, microwave ovens, furniture, washing machines, shoes and more. So it is no surprise that western automakers and their workers have begun to worry seriously that an invasion of Chinese cars will begin soon. Some experts even think the Chinese automakers would follow in the footsteps of Japanese peers, who first sent chintzy cars that were roundly criticized, only to set new standards for the industry in later years. These predictions seem to be impossible, however, because they have pushed off their plans of selling their own brands in the United States as soon as 2007.

     The main reason is that Chinese automakers have not yet brought their styling, safety, emissions and performance standards up to snuff, let alone skill at marketing home-grown nameplates around the globe. A German automobile club test, for instance, came up with a result that the Landwind New Vision, a Chinese automobile brand, got the worst crash rating the club had ever awarded in 20 years. This event, I think, was rather humiliated the Chinese officials who oversee the state-owned car industry. In addition, Chinese subcompact cars from manufactures like Geely and Lifan fall short of Western tastes in design. Their exteriors look starkly utilitarian by Western standards for their simple curves and straight lines. Also, people in western countries are unfamiliar with names like Geely.

     In conclusion, Chinese automobiles have several disadvantages which restrict them to compete in the global market. Obviously, they are not coming soon. Nevertheless, I believe that Chinese cars will play an important role in world auto market in 10 years. The reason is simple: Chinese cars are inexpensive and approaching Western levels of reliability.


----Summarized from: Keith Bradsher. “Not Coming Soon to a Lot Near You” The New York Times (Oct. 18, 2006): Page C1.



中国车即将到来



     而今，中国产品已在美国和欧洲市场大起波澜：DVD、微波炉、家具、洗衣机、鞋等等。因此，西方的汽车制造商和工人对中国车的进军深感不安就不难理解了。一些学者预测中国车将效仿前辈同行日本车的脚踪，即先输出廉价而广受批评的产品，只为在往后的几年打造新的业界标准。然而，这些预测似乎不可能实现，因为他们已经取消了一到2007年便在美国市场销售他们的品牌车的计划。

     对此，主要原因在于中国汽车制造商还没建立起他们的产品风格，提高其安全指标，营销能力和国际市场竞争力。举例来说，德国的某汽车俱乐部测试显示，一个名为Landwind New Vision（谁知道这款车的中文名？）的中国品牌车，夺得了20年来最糟糕的抗破损指标。我想，这一事件，足以让中国监管国产车的部门官员汗颜。此外，中国大量生产的Geely和Lifan车难以满足西方人对汽车造型的口味。这些车的外观大都是简单的曲线和直线，看起来简直就是僵硬的功利主义产品。另外，西方国家的人们对Geely这些名字也不熟。

     总而言之，中国汽车的一些缺陷限制了它们在国际市场上的竞争。显然，他们不会马上到来。然而，我相信中国车将在未来10年在国际市场上占有很大份额。理由很简单：中国车很便宜，而且已经在接近西方的实用标准了。

――总结摘要自：《纽约时报》2006年10月18日，C1版。