Thirty years ago, there was a standard refrain in Detroit: If Japanese automakers want to sell here, they ought to build here.
(http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060217/SUB/60217010/1003/newsletter06&refsect=newsletter06)

That was back in the days when Japanese automakers were beginning to bite off larger chunks of the market. It was an opportune time for them as Americans, following the first OPEC oil embargo, were craving just the kind of fuel-efficient vehicles the Japanese were offering.

Big 3 execs assumed the UAW would organize the import brands, eliminating any cost advantage. (It didn't.) They also figured that Japanese carmakers couldn't quickly ramp up the quality of their products. (They did.)

Now Nissan has six plants in North America, Honda has seven and Toyota is about ready to open its eighth. That's not even counting Hyundai, Volkswagen or Mitsubishi, each of which has one.

General Motors and Ford Motor Co. execs have learned the hard way to be careful what they wish for.

So the only real questions I have is: When will the first Chinese factory be built in the United States, and which state will win the sweepstakes?

DTS will no longer stand for DeVille Touring Sedan, but rather Ding Ting Soon -vs- Lincoln Twan Car
and the rebirth of the Chrysler Entry, The Imperial Dynasty !

DTS will no longer stand for DeVille Touring Sedan, but rather Ding Ting Soon -vs- Lincoln Twan Car
and the rebirth of the Chrysler Entry, The Imperial Dynasty !

:histeric: :rofl:

But the main question that arises from the article:

When did Volkwagen move to Japan? o.O


:p

When did Volkwagen move to Japan?

A few years before Hyundai!

The real question is, when did Volkswagen build another US factory to replace the one they closed in the '80's? Mercedes and BMW yes, but VW?? Only in Mexico...

Oh and he didn't count Subaru (which was a joint venture with Izusu) and Mazda (j/v with Ford).

General Motors that was a part owner of Subaru, just sold their share to Toyota, putting Toyota in posistion to become the #1 car producer in the world, for 2007. Toyota owns a controlling percent of Subaru 51%. Mazda is owned by Ford. Isuzu is General Motors. No Isuzu badged cars are now coming from Japan. All are made by GM here in the USA and are rebadged other GM vehicles, with double the warrantee and usually $3,000 less monry. They are GREAT buys! The Ascender is a Buick Rainer/GMC Envoy/Chevy Trailblazer priced $4,000 less than the Buick and $3,000 less than the Envoy/Trailblazer and whereas the others have a 3 year coverage, the Isuzu has a 5 year warrantee. Also 2 GMC/Chevy Pickups (Colorado) are now sold at Isuzu with extended coverage and cost way less.......

General Motors that was a part owner of Subaru, just sold their share to Toyota, putting Toyota in posistion to become the #1 car producer in the world, for 2007. Toyota owns a controlling percent of Subaru 51%. Mazda is owned by Ford. Isuzu is General Motors. No Isuzu badged cars are now coming from Japan. All are made by GM here in the USA and are rebadged other GM vehicles, with double the warrantee and usually $3,000 less monry. They are GREAT buys! The Ascender is a Buick Rainer/GMC Envoy/Chevy Trailblazer priced $4,000 less than the Buick and $3,000 less than the Envoy/Trailblazer and whereas the others have a 3 year coverage, the Isuzu has a 5 year warrantee. Also 2 GMC/Chevy Pickups (Colorado) are now sold at Isuzu with extended coverage and cost way less.......

But will they be as reliable as the old Isuzus? That would be my worry, although the warrenty does echo this, they must have confidence in their product. I'm not sure new Isuzus will be as robust or as reliable as the ones from the generation ours is from.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c249/mccombie_5/Stuff/editcars006plate.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c249/mccombie_5/Stuff/editcars008.jpg

Ours has mileage that i cannot recall, I believe it is in the 275,000 region, but that might be entirely wrong (I'll check if I remember next week) and it still runs sweet as a nut, driven accross a field four times a day. Can GM cars match this?

Mazda is owned by Ford.

Ford only owns 33.5% of Mazda. But in Japan, I guess that's enough to gain control.

My statement though was about manufacturing plants and Subarus was a j/v Izusu, and Mazdas is a j/v with Ford.

It had nothing to do with who was responsible for Izusus poor market performance and Mazda miraculous turn around.

But maybe that's the key to this whole anti-globalization movement. Let's help GM purchase a controlling interest in Toyota, and in no time fast Toyota will be on the verge of death!! :bouncy:

Hyundai shouldnt be concerned about its stateside competition... They need to be watching their backs for the Chinese!