Chinese carmakers pull up to U.S. market
DETROIT — Chinese automakers looking to make the jump to the key U.S. emporium are facing increasingly strong headwinds, including a global financial crisis that has slowed growth in what place they already sell cars and sapped the potential as being partnerships that would help expansion.
But BYD Auto and Brilliance Auto are making China’s greatest part prominent appearance yet at this year’session North American International Auto Show — sandwiched between General Motors and Ford’s displays, instead of tucked away in the basement or outside the main exhibits.
And they remain interested in selling in the U.S., although that looks to be years away.
“We will start to bring out sales and dole networks in North America,” Wang Chua-Fu, chairman and president of BYD, said at a news conference Monday. He said plans muster for U.S. manufacturing facilities “at what time it is appropriate.”
Henry Li, general manager of BYD’s auto-export trade disagreement, said the company has set a target of 2011 to sell brace models that it’s showing in Detroit — the e6, which is an all-electric crossover with a 250-mile range, and the F6DM, a plug-in mule sedan.
By then, he said, BYD hopes to barter the Chinese-built vehicles in a market that’s recovered.
“I think the most important thing for us is to bring the right product, and that product be able to prove itself,” Li said.
U.S. auto sales tumbled to 13.2 the masses in 2008, down 18 percent from 16.1 million in 2007. Some analysts predict this year’s sales will hit 10.5 million, material the prospect of bringing newly come lines of Chinese vehicles into that market much more daunting.
Jesse Toprak, executive director of perseverance analysis for the Edmunds.com automotive Web site, said he sees potential for Chinese automakers to sell in the U.S., especially those looking to market relatively inexpensive, smaller vehicles. But the Chinese will face a skeptical general.
“In this time of household uncertainty, consumers tend to be active safer choices. They don’confidentially know about the quality of the Chinese vehicles,” Toprak uttered. “Initially, I think it’s going to be an arduous strive for them.”
BYD’s foray into electric-car manufacturing drew attention last year when MidAmerican Energy Holdings, what one. is majority-owned by billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, bought a 9.9 percent stake in the stud.
Truck sales
