A Chevy With an Engine From China

[Mugu]

By IAN AUSTEN

OSHAWA, Ontario — General Motors car engines were once the stuff of American legend. The Beach Boys sang, “nothing can touch my 409,” about a powerful Chevy V-8. Oldsmobile owners in 1981 were so angered that their cars had been fitted with Chevrolet engines instead of Oldsmobile “Rockets,” the subject of another hit song, that they successfully sued G.M. over the swap.

The company has since eliminated brand distinctions between engines, saddling them with names unlikely to inspire songwriters, like Ecotec, Vortec and Northstar. But some owners of the Chevrolet Equinox, a “compact” sport utility vehicle built in North America, might be surprised to learn the origin of the engine under their hoods — it’s made in China.

Last year, China exported more than $12 billion in auto parts, up from less than $2 billion in 2002 — the majority to North America. The increase in exports has added to the problems plaguing North American suppliers. Most famously, Delphi, which is seeking to emerge from bankruptcy, has closed dozens of plants and moved some production overseas to become more competitive, including to China.

Soon China will be exporting whole vehicles to North America. Last year, Chrysler signed a deal with China’s largest car company, Chery Automobile, to supply a Dodge subcompact.


Complete article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/business/worldbusiness/26chevy.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=CHINESE+ENGINE&st=nyt&oref=slogin

[rockymountaindem]

1. Good God

At this rate we might as well just completely sell out and get it overwith. Is anybody going to stand up to this trend?

[dysfunctional press]

11. apparently not the consumers...and if they don't, why should manufacturers?

the people have always had the power of the pocketbook to stop it- instead, they've we've chosen as a society to embrace it.

and now we wonder why our economy is headed down the shitter.

[WCGreen]

2. Well, at least we still have brand names...

That's good for something...

Isn't it...

[catnhatnh]

3. The truly sad part if you read the article...

...is that the GM designed engine is a piece of shit described by Consumer Reports as being underpowered for it's size and having poor fuel mileage. It would be different if they were importing a top notch fuel saving gem, but instead it's more of the same old, same old-a crappy car and now with new and improved higher foreign involvement.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. And they wonder why they struggle.

This is the sort of thing that happens when accountants run the company and get involved in automotive design. The products could not suck more when they are done with them.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. The end of tariffs was the end

of murika as we know it.

[CRF450]

6. Arent right many of GM's engines built here in the US and Canada?

The 5.7 LS1 v8 in my Pontiac Trans Am was built in Michigan as far as I know.

[Muttocracy]

7. weren't Jaguar and another one (Land Rover?) just sold to Tata (in India)? nt

[Tesha]

12. Yes. Jaguar and Land Rover. (NT)

[Rosemary2205]

8. So Toyota is the most American car maker now??

Oiy.

[Muttocracy]

13. I wonder - I think my last few Honda Accords were made in Ohio? nt

[Speck Tater]

9. Support Communism. Buy Chinese. NT

[wuushew]

10. kick

:kick:

[HEyHEY]

14. After seeing the polution from China when I was in Korea last week

I am going hardcore when it comes to not buying china made stuff. I was in Seoul and it was disgusting. Then I found out most of it blows in from China. Across the west sea! And it was still that bad. I'm not supporting that shit.

[Blue_Tires]

15. sadly, GM doesn't want to pay domestic parts suppliers

when they can have parts shipped in from China at a fraction of the cost...I've been saying for years this was the ultimate plan for the big 3 since the start: ditch american/canadian workers, and gradually but slowly move the bulk of manufacturing/assembly operations to china....