China's Geely trips up on U.S. safety, emissions standards
More news is coming to light on Geely International's reasons for delaying its plans to introduce the Chinese automaker to the U.S. market. It seems that the company hit a speed bump when its CK sedan - the planned lead vehicle for the U.S. launch of the brand - failed to meet safety and emissions standards. The "7151 CK" sedan shown at right is the model Geely displayed to the media at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, and a dozen of the low-priced sedans were later sent to the U.S. for testing.The CK's failure to meet U.S. federal requirements apparently led the company to delay Geely's U.S. debut by a year until 2009, when the company will launch a newly-developed, mid-sized sedan.
[Source: BrandWeek via AIDA.org]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Doc Lucas 5:34PM (8/14/2006)
Geely, perhaps you are also unfamiliar with our crash test where the car has to reasonably survive a 50 foot drop. I have a special talent for performing this test. Please send me a dozen of your finest cars, and I can help you in your quest to produce a safe automobile.
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AnonymousInsights 5:35PM (8/14/2006)
.....Ya think? It's news that a car from China, the emissions and polluting Kingpins of the world, would meet a US emissions and safety standard?
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Erik 5:40PM (8/14/2006)
Wow - shocker!
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Finished.Law.School 6:02PM (8/14/2006)
"The CK's failure to meet U.S. federal requirements apparently led the company to delay Geely's U.S. debut by a year until 2009, when the company will launch a newly-developed, mid-sized sedan" which will aslo fail emission standards and crash safety requirements.
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Art 6:14PM (8/14/2006)
tell me that car isn't an old S-class front fascia with a lacross grill and I will mail you my thumb.
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ger3sf 6:15PM (8/14/2006)
This car would do well in aisle 47 of your local Wal-Mart.
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Ken 6:25PM (8/14/2006)
That is one hideous car.
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James 6:26PM (8/14/2006)
I have never seen a Chinese car that didn't look strikingly similar to an already existing model on sale somewhere else in the world.
Geely definitely had a good look at the current Benz C-Class, but evidently forgot to actually make a real car.
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Storm9 6:36PM (8/14/2006)
You know people in China dont even prefer driving chinese cars, why the hell do they want to sell them in the USA?
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Richard Warren 6:37PM (8/14/2006)
Go ahead and laugh, make your jokes, the same was said of the Japanese and the Koreans.
And the person who's quotes these are:
"Surprises and reverses can serve as an incentive for great accomplishment. There are no rules here, we're just trying to accomplish something."
"If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward.... "
Thomas Edison
And what are the Chinese doing? Instaed of try to bend the rules---New Car and only 1 year additional out.
Think about it
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Stoneman 6:49PM (8/14/2006)
I would be more than happy to help Geely road-test any of their cars. I gaurantee whatever they throw at me will be worn out and limping on the return.
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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dave 7:09PM (8/14/2006)
no thanks, no commy car for me.
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MikeW 7:58PM (8/14/2006)
And the current US trade deficit is 700 billion a year. so ~2 billion a day, isn't China's share 1.5 billion a day (cough Walmart cough)
This is a good thinkg, like we need anymore reasons to support unfair trade.
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Miyoshi 8:05PM (8/14/2006)
Wait, this isn't Dr. Z's Sebring?
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Nate Wesley 8:41PM (8/14/2006)
Richard Warren is right--it isn't a matter of IF Chinese automakers get a roadworthy model to sell in the U.S.--but WHEN. If Korea can get it right, there's no doubt in my mind that China can.
And don't ever doubt buyers looking for a cheap deal on a new car--look at how Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Kia started out--and how they are now. Geely is undoubtedly going to compete using its price as its main hook. They don't have to build a car that meets or beats Toyota or Honda. For these buyers, they only have to outclass the buyer's last vehicle.
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far jr 8:53PM (8/14/2006)
Geely, when they finally do arrive, will undercut the competition in price, will have a long warranty, and will grab hold of some market share and attention quite quickly (price alone still sells abunch of cars). Just a guess...wait and see!
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AladdinSane 10:04PM (8/14/2006)
A Toyota Corolla S looks absolutely sporty next to Geely's 7151 CK sedan (pictured), and that ain't sayin'
much. What a boring looking machine! Oy!
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Mark 10:24PM (8/14/2006)
That car should be rejected on its design alone.
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Mike from Scarborough 10:49PM (8/14/2006)
Who would actualy drive a POS car like this?Don't we have enough POS 12K cars to choose from already?
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Kenneth Lind 11:51PM (8/14/2006)
So, because China/Geely MAY one day build a car that doesn't make me want to gouge my eyes out and and scream in agony at the sight of it we should not comment on how offensively ugly this car that make today is?
And what is with their naming convention? The only thing worse that the design of this car is its name.
Are they even trying? Or are they really just seeing how cheap a car they can make by cutting corners everywhere including the naming by using a random number generator for that job.
When they do get around to making a real car with a real name I'll be glad to acknowledge them. Until then, I'm relieved I won't have to see this monstrosity on the roads here.
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