What's Wrong With This Picture: With Partners Like These Edition

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: December 30th, 2010

what s wrong with this picture with partners like these edition

Does this new BAIC BC301Z remind you of anything? How about the Mercedes-Benz B-Class (with perhaps a touch of Opel Meriva in the headlights)? Sure, it’s about a foot shorter than the B-Class, and it uses old Mitsu motors, but the resemblance is tough to deny. Still, whether you see the connection or not, Daimler probably does. After all, BAIC is supposed to be Daimler’s Chinese-market partner. But with partners like BAIC, who needs competitors? [via AutoBild]

#3WTP #China #Design

Edward Niedermeyer

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2 of 4 comments

MrWhopee on Dec 30, 2010

I don't understand why manufacturers blatantly copy other vehicles' styling like this. What's the point, really? Do they really think people will mistakenly buy their car while actually shopping for the donor vehicle? Average people might spot it on the road and mistakenly identify it as the donor vehicle ("Ooh, look, a Mercedes!), and the owner will get a slight boost of prestige from this, but as soon as they found out it's a cheap imitation they'll suffer a serious reputation drop ("wannabe but can't afford the real thing!") And what does it say to the manufacturers? The word unimaginative, uncreative, shameless, no morals, untrustworthy, etc. comes into mind. I wouldn't buy a toothpick from such a company, never mind a car. Even weirder is that the car isn't even a copy of the B-class underneath, but a different class of car altogether. I think it makes much more sense to copy the B-car's underpinnings (presumably would be better engineered than they could do on their own) and give it an original styling, than vice versa.

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Tosh on Dec 30, 2010

Before we are outraged on Daimler's behalf, why don't we hear what Daimler has to say about the matter?

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