The Chinese are coming!

China, world’s largest producer of cheap plastic toys, appears set to move past Germany as the world’s third largest
automobile producer in 2005. America and Japan, the top two automobile producing countries, produce 12.09 million and
10.29 million vehicles respectively, and will still hold a healthy lead over the 5.73 million China is expected to
produce. In the coming years, China will be a major player in the automotive industry, already producing joint venture
vehicles with GM and Volkswagen. However, China’s government controlled Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp (SAIC),
wants to produce vehicles with its badge on the hood, and they have purchased control of a Korean motor company, and
are currently working on a partnership with MG Rover to give them a manufacturing base in Europe. Of course, with the
current automotive market, where there is more production than demand for vehicles (well, certain vehicles at least),
companies are looking for new ways to win over customers. With the inroads Formula One has made into China this past
year, of course talk of a Chinese F1 team are ripe, but probably premature. So perhaps they will try to win you over
with a cheap plastic model of the car you buy from them?

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