#like he's the great-grandson of the founder of opel the german car brand

[christiangeistdorfer]

RIKKY VON OPEL with his very space-age helmet during the 1973 AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX

[smoothshift]

China May Have One Of The Most Interesting Car Markets Ever via /r/cars

China May Have One Of The Most Interesting Car Markets Ever

When you think about Chinese cars, you probably think cheap knockoffs of other cars that fold up like an accordion in a car accident. Not all are like that, which is why when I think about Chinese cars, I think about their modern, safer, and nicer cars such as the Trumpchi GS5, BYD Qin, or Dongfeng Aeolus AX7_AX7_II_003.jpg). But cars can get even cooler. Since they don't have Wikipedia pages, I suggest you look up GAC Aion S or Singulato iS6 (both cars are very futuristic electric cars).

Yes, most of China's new (yes I said new) cars look like this. The car I just linked you is the Jiangnan Alto, a rebadged less-advanced Suzuki Alto that looks like it has been through a lot. For all I know it could be even just only 2 years old, and if that is true, I am concerned. It is also the cheapest car in not just China, but the world. Since China is so locked up, it is hard, nearly impossible, to see their cars. For the longest time we thought that India's sad attempt at making a people's car, the Tata Nano, was cheapest. The Nano is no longer the "cheapest car" as of June 2018 it has been discontinued due to bad sales, poor safety ratings, and fire risk.

China doesn't just have fake Suzukis, but a million tons of German cars, mostly Volkswagens. VW's China-only Lavida sells quite well, and so does the Trumpchi GS4. In fact, the GS4 is so popular, it is sold at Trumpchi, Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Jeep dealerships, all of which have partnered with Guangzhou Automobile Corporation (GAC), Trumpchi's owner. That reminds me, let's talk about joint ventures.

How a joint venture works: a Chinese and a foreign brand help build affordable cars together to sell in china. But CHINA'S idea of a joint venture is: BAIC has partnered with both Jeep and Mercedes, therefore automatically giving them the right to make this.

Here are some examples:

- Does anyone remember Rover? The brand was killed in 2005, but continued on in China as Roewe (Chinese for Rover) by SAIC-MG.

- SUV maker Yema carried on the Austin Maestro, one of the first most popular cars introduced to China, as a Subaru Forester copy.jpg).

- GAC and Honda teamed up to build some interesting cars together, some of which I actually wish sold in the United States, my home country. To be exact, Honda Avancier.

- Do you remember Borgward.jpg)? Probably not, but your German grandfather or great grandfather probably does, and he is probably mad that they went from German sedans and coupes to Chinese crossovers and SUVs. Beiqi

Talking about joint ventures reminds me the China likes to revive cars or carry on discontinued models. SAIC-GM Chevrolet has brought back the Orlando, Monza, and Onix (already exists in South and Latin America, but brought to China as a completely new model). The Orlando is on sale, the Monza and Onix aren't. The Monza and Onix are both subcompact sedans, possibly to succeed the aging but well-selling Sail.

SAIC-GM also manufactures the a lot of Buicks, which makes it look like a Chinese brand. SAIC-GM builds the Envision for the US, but not the Excelle, GL6, GL8.jpg), and Verano. They also make a rebadged Opel Astra sold as the Verano GS and a EV/PHEV sub-brand called Velite, currently making the 5, a rebadged Chevrolet Volt, and the 6, an EV crossover wagon. I am expecting a rebadged Chevrolet Bolt called the 3, because, you know.

Dongfeng-Yueda-Kia makes a sharper Kia Sorento called the KX7, and an electric Spectra called the Yueda 300E. There is a revamped Rio and a differently-faced Forte and a ton of other cars. See here: dyk.com.cn

Like DYK, Beijing-Hyundai has a lot of unseen cars. The ix35#/media/File:Hyundai_ix35_II_China_03.jpg) nameplate has been carried on. I feel like it should have been named the Terracan, as it looks a somewhat like it and and China likes reviving old nameplates. I mean, to be honest, they both look boxy and somewhat truck-like. Oh yeah, and there is the Lafesta, which in my opinion, looks pretty sexy.

Do you remember Borgward.jpg)? Probably not, but your German grandfather or great grandfather probably does, and he is probably mad that they went from German sedans, vans, trucks, and coupes to Chinese crossovers and SUVs. BAIC and Christian Borgward (grandson of Carl F. W. Borgward, founder of the brand) revived the marque in 2008 and started selling their cars in 2016.

So I don't know what your opinion is on Chinese cars, but I know they are trying. They makers are trying to expand and have already made it to Australia with a new version the LDV brand (known as Maxus in China) and Great Wall made it there too, with the SteedSuper_Luxury_4WD_4-door_utility(2010-07-11)_01.jpg) (known as Wingle in China) and Haval sub brands.

BYD is in the US selling buses, forklifts, trucks, and the e6 electric taxi crossover station wagon minivan thingy. And Trumpchi is coming in 2019 (but may need a name change) to make SUVs with Zotye, maker of the famous SR9 Porsche Macan copy, to also make SUVs.

Chinese cars are also popular in Iran, Pakistan, Russia, and Chile. And if you live in southwest USA, you might have the chance to see a Senova car, driven up from Mexico.

I really think that if Chinese cars didn't have such a bad reputation, they would make the cut in other countries and sell greatly, but people are worried about the quality and safety they lack.

China has an interesting car market. What do you think?