It will be interesting how the Chinese auto industry is shaping up when Geely Automobile Co. becomes the first Chinese automaker to have a display at the 2006 North American International Auto Show.
So what can we expect to see? Well looking at their current product line up it’s difficult to see Geely making our jaws drop. We imagine this visit is just to let us know that they are out there and watching what we are doing. And like the Koreans and the Japanese before them, the Chinese will take note and catch on quickly.
Geely (pronounced JEE-lee) plans a limited appearance, said John Harmer, vice president of Geely-USA Inc. It will show only one car – a five-passenger sedan called the 7151 CK – in the lobby of Cobo Center, where the North American International Auto Show is held. Geely’s display will be up Jan. 8-11, during the show’s media preview, but will be gone when the show opens to the public Jan. 14.
“Our presence in Detroit at this show is not to market the automobile. We are coming only to introduce ourselves to the American media,” Harmer said.
90′s design looking products like the delightfully named Merrie 5dr hatchback (pictured) which looks like a cross between an old Mercedes (from the front) and a Hyundai Pony, is hardly going to get GM & Ford running back to their drawing boards. But if you take the Hyundai Pony for example and remember that this car was discountinued less than 10 years ago, then that should send a warning to the rest because just look at Hyundai now.
If ever there was an example of how a car maker can turn things around and fast, then Hyundai and its Kia stablemate are proof that it can be done. And these two leviathans have GM & Ford very worried indeed.
The last word from Harmer was “”We’re not trying to barnstorm the American market. We’re going to protect the product and the credibility of our name.” Maybe for now!