Chinese government bans importation of Hyundais from S. Korea
According to a report by Reuters, the Chinese government has suspended the importation of Hyundai and Kia products from South Korea. The importation ban allegedly stems from complaints filed by dealers that the automaker violated anti-trust laws in China by throwing more support behind its own dealers and thus limiting the support offered to independent retailers.
A Hyundai spokesperson confirmed that the automaker has not received import permits since mid-September, but that the Chinese government and Hyundai are working to resolve the matter.
While any ban imposed on Hyundai would temporarily hurt the company in China, only about 50,000 units are imported from South Korea each year, with the majority of Hyundai and Kia's combined 520,000 annual sales in China coming from vehicles produced locally in a joint venture between the automaker and Chinese companies.
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ichime 4:15PM (10/16/2008)
Translation: The concept of a V8 powered Hyundai is too much for the Chinese Gov't to fathom.
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blogged to death 4:23PM (10/16/2008)
What this means is that b/c Hyundai is giving its own dealers better treatment it makes it take longer for the eventual numerous Chinese companies to copy and rip off Hyundai's design as quickly. It's not like China ever atones for its frequent IP infringement violations.
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:54AM (10/17/2008)
What a weird way to use China in a sentence. Would you use Canada in the same way?
China isn't one entity. It's a country with a lot of people in it, a lot of companies and a government.
Rocketboy 9:25AM (10/17/2008)
Canada enjoys beer and hockey. And Canada drinks better beer than the US, generally speaking.
(There, I just did it twice to Canada.)
tekd 8:18PM (10/17/2008)
lol, China trying to discourage anti-trust activity is a bad thing now? Keep hitting that senseless China-bashing bong.
The worst part is that you're calling out China on copying when talking about HYUNDAIs. I don't know if you've noticed, but no shady Chinese companies steal Hyundai designs because Hyundai steals half their own designs to begin with.
Why would you steal Hyundai designs if you could just steal it from the people who actually invented them?
jsjs 9:35PM (10/20/2008)
tekd obviously doesn't know what he is talking about.
There's a big difference btwn styling cues and a direct copy (where body panels could be switched).
Chinese automakers have copied a no. of Hyundai/Kia models, including the current Santa Fe.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/24/keepin-it-real-fake-part-xxxvii-china-car-makers-strike-again/
tankd0g 4:25PM (10/16/2008)
My irony detector has exploded.
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Torrent 4:33PM (10/16/2008)
+1
Mark 5:11PM (10/16/2008)
Mine too! *turns over* "Made in China" Ohhh....
jsjs 4:51PM (10/16/2008)
The PRC had previously done this w/ Lexus and other higher-end autos which have to be imported into China.
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Conor 5:59PM (10/16/2008)
It's going to be raining pigs here in a moment...
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ken_aisin 7:36PM (10/16/2008)
I'm sure there will be some under the table cash transactions before the dust settles.
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Cardude 2:26AM (10/17/2008)
Lol@China! Chickens!
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