How Do You Say "The Indians Are Coming" in French?
Yesterday the Indian auto parts maker Argentum Motors said it intends to gain a majority interest in the sickly French auto body maker Heuliez. They're in discussions to release Heuliez from the French equivalent of Chapter 11. In operation since 1920, Heuliez has built some respectable cars including the current Opel Tigra, the Peugeot 206CC, the Citroen XM station wagon, and the Peugeot 407 Macarena and Dacia Logan Edelweiss concepts. Argentum's acquisition illustrates the contrasting strategies between Indian and Chinese automotive companies. The Chinese prefer organic growth, and would rather develop/steal their own car-making knowledge. Indians companies, staffed as they are with cosmopolitan managers, seem to be more intent on expansion through buying foreign companies.
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Dans le temps, c'était les russes...
I would say gare à tes fesses voila les indiens !! for information no one has ever seen a 407 macarena in the street, neither as a Dacia Edelweiss, they are concepts. Heuliez mostly work as an equipment manufacturer for Renault or PSA
After years of buyng stuff from the 3rd world, they finally accumulated enuf cash to buy stuff we ran to the ground either mismanaged or Onion problems. These off shore ownership will slowly supply material from their own sources. Look at a whole car, the Union may not want all the jobs disappear. But little items they can make to the spec and ship them here. Mind you they had been doing it for a little while. IE a lot of small GM parts were made in China, they slowly replaced the manufacturer normally made here. Over time they can have most things built overseas & shipped here. Next thing is only major assembly done here or Europe. We will be left with high tech jobs here, we hope we'll be able to have enuf high tech jobs here or else we'll be the ones riding bicycles again.
Or the Indians are driving the wagons now, in the driver seat.