Chinese auto-makers face several hurdles as they set their sights on the American market.
They must build cars that comply with our regulations and satisfy our expectations for quality, reliability, and safety. They also need to overcome the “made in China” label’s stigma and establish a reputation in our market. A recent survey suggests they still have a long way to go.
Autolist polled 1,565 American motorists to get insight on the perception of Chinese cars in the United States. 35 percent of respondents said they wouldn’t consider buying a Chinese car regardless of how much it costs, what it looks like, or what it can do. 38 percent said they weren’t sure, and 27 percent replied they’d consider buying one under certain conditions.
34 percent of motorists who currently own a Japanese or a South Korean car are open to the idea of buying a Chinese car. And, unsurprisingly, 42 percent of those who drive an American car were against the idea of buying from China. 37 percent of European car owners said no.
The study revealed buyers remain concerned about safety and reliability. 23 percent of the participants who said they wouldn’t buy a Chinese car chalked up their decision to perceived reliability issues. 21 percent cited safety concerns, and 15 percent noted the lack of an established, coast-to-coast dealer network.
40 percent of participants told Autolist they’d buy a Chinese car if it’s priced right, meaning cheaper than a comparable model from a Japanese, American, or German brand. And, finally, 77 percent said they had never heard of major Chinese auto-makers like GAC, Geely, BYD, Chery, and SAIC. This suggests most motorists wouldn’t know a Chinese car if they saw one.
There are already a handful of Chinese-made cars sold in the United States. Buick makes the Envision in China, Cadillac sources the plug-in hybrid variant of the CT6 from the Shanghai area, and Volvo’s S90 comes from across the Pacific. The XC60 did, too, until Volvo began sourcing America-bound models from Sweden in response to tariffs imposed by the United States government.
That list will grow in the coming years. Volvo and BMW both announced plans to source electric cars from China around the turn of the decade. The 2019 Focus Active Ford will sell next year will come from China. Polestar will make the 1 on the outskirts of Shanghai, and state-owned GAC wants to establish an American dealer network before the end of the decade. The brand regularly attends the Detroit auto show and advertises at the Detroit airport.
Chinese auto-makers face several hurdles as they set their sights on the American market.
They must build cars that comply with our regulations and satisfy our expectations for quality, reliability, and safety. They also need to overcome the "made in China" label's stigma and establish a reputation in our market. A recent survey suggests they still have a long way to go.
Autolist polled 1,565 American motorists to get insight on the perception of Chinese cars in the United States. 35 percent of respondents said they wouldn't consider buying a Chinese car regardless of how much it costs, what it looks like, or what it can do. 38 percent said they weren't sure, and 27 percent replied they'd consider buying one under certain conditions.
34 percent of motorists who currently own a Japanese or a South Korean car are open to the idea of buying a Chinese car. And, unsurprisingly, 42 percent of those who drive an American car were against the idea of buying from China. 37 percent of European car owners said no.
The study revealed buyers remain concerned about safety and reliability. 23 percent of the participants who said they wouldn't buy a Chinese car chalked up their decision to perceived reliability issues. 21 percent cited safety concerns, and 15 percent noted the lack of an established, coast-to-coast dealer network.
40 percent of participants told Autolist they'd buy a Chinese car if it's priced right, meaning cheaper than a comparable model from a Japanese, American, or German brand. And, finally, 77 percent said they had never heard of major Chinese auto-makers like GAC, Geely, BYD, Chery, and SAIC. This suggests most motorists wouldn't know a Chinese car if they saw one.
There are already a handful of Chinese-made cars sold in the United States. Buick makes the Envision in China, Cadillac sources the plug-in hybrid variant of the CT6 from the Shanghai area, and Volvo's S90 comes from across the Pacific. The XC60 did, too, until Volvo began sourcing America-bound models from Sweden in response to tariffs imposed by the United States government.
That list will grow in the coming years. Volvo and BMW both announced plans to source electric cars from China around the turn of the decade. The 2019 Focus Active Ford will sell next year will come from China. Polestar will make the 1 on the outskirts of Shanghai, and state-owned GAC wants to establish an American dealer network before the end of the decade. The brand regularly attends the Detroit auto show and advertises at the Detroit airport.
