Wild-Ass Rumor Of The Day: Brilliance Buying Dealers, Saturn Brand For US Launch?

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

The long-rumored Chinese invasion may be coming sooner than we expected. Automotive World reports that Chinese automaker Brilliance has signed letters of intent with 36 US dealers in preparation for a US market launch. According to the report, Brilliance intends to launch products in the US as soon as it acquires 100 dealers. Apparently Brilliance’s US distributor is targeting former Saturn dealers, Roger Penske’s US network, Hummer dealers and the Galpin group. Rumors are even swirling that Brilliance could buy the Saturn name to re-brand its US-market products.



Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

More by Edward Niedermeyer

Comments
Join the conversation
2 of 14 comments
  • Seschub Seschub on Nov 21, 2009

    I think the most interesting aspect of this would be the Chinese dealings with potential U.S. unions. They're really not accustomed to strikes and threats and might not react well.

  • Mr Carpenter Mr Carpenter on Nov 23, 2009

    I don't think they'll be building the cars in the USA with or without union labor, seschub. The only time any union guys might see these cars is at the docks. But Brilliance could be smarter than the average bear, and simply import them through low-wage Mexico, put up a cheap "factory" and add mud flaps, and a few do-dads in Mexico, then ship them across the border as "assembled in Mexico" through NAFTA. In fact, one of Brilliance's competitors, FAW, had plans to do JUST that (but were initially going to sell cars built in Mexico in Mexico and South/Central America, first). GM has no reason to sell the Saturn brand and set a competitor up, which is why I suspect they were relieved when the Penske deal fell apart.

  • ToolGuy Honda was robbed.
  • ToolGuy "Honey, someone is trying to cross the moat again"
  • Rochester "better than Vinfast" is a pretty low bar.
  • TheMrFreeze That new Ferrari looks nice but other than that, nothing.And VW having to put an air-cooled Beetle in its display to try and make the ID.Buzz look cool makes this classic VW owner sad 😢
  • Wolfwagen Is it me or have auto shows just turned to meh? To me, there isn't much excitement anymore. it's like we have hit a second malaise era. Every new vehicle is some cookie-cutter CUV. No cutting-edge designs. No talk of any great powertrains, or technological achievements. It's sort of expected with the push to EVs but there is no news on that front either. No new battery tech, no new charging tech. Nothing.
Next