New Trend In China: Chinese Cars

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

You’d think that joint ventures with Chinese car makers would be hell-bent on underscoring their foreignness. That’s what sets them apart from Chinese cars. The Chinese customer is no fool and exactly knows whether a 3-series is made by Brilliance in China or by BMW in Bavaria. But push comes to shove, a car with a foreign nameplate has more cachet in China than homegrown produce. Which makes this new trend even more wondrous: More and more joint ventures turn out their own through-and-through Chinese cars.

Even more curiously, the trend is led by an American joint venture: SAIC-GM-Wuling. GM’s el cheapo mini commercial vehicle joint venture with SAIC and Wuling will bring out its first self-developed sedan, the Baojun. It will be launched November 18. More Baojun cars are soon to show up.

The Baojun is followed by Dongfen Nissan’s Qichen, expected to hit the Chinese showrooms by the end of the (Western) year.

Guangzhou Honda may come out with a self-developed Linian car early next year.

Whereas the Intellectual Property for JV cars is usually licensed to the JV, the designs of self developed cars belong to the joint venture. I know you will get suspicious now, and your suspicions are well founded: Deep in the Baojun lurks a Buick Excelle, says Gasgoo.

There you have it: Faux Chinese cars. Chinese on the outside, foreign on the inside.

And in case you want to know, Chinaautoweb tells us that “ ‘Baojun’ contains two Chinese characters: ‘Bao’ means ‘treasured,’ ‘precious;’ ‘Jun” means ‘fine horse’ or ‘steed.’ ” Well, “bao-bao” is what you call your Chinese “honey.” Honey horsey? Precious pony? Moneyed Mustang?

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Wallstreet Wallstreet on Oct 19, 2010

    I believe bao-bao is what you address to a cute baby or cute infant. Herr Schmitt, you might score every now and then if you address your mistress "bao-babe".

  • Kristjan Ambroz Kristjan Ambroz on Oct 20, 2010

    I think Bertel is right here - had several Chinese co-workers, all of them addressing their wives / girlfriends with bao bao. None of them had children, and none of the significant others were infants, either ;)

    • Bertel Schmitt Bertel Schmitt on Oct 20, 2010

      Welcome to China, the land of intentional ambiguity. When I came to China (and before I chose to marry Japanese) a Chinese babe had her eyes on me. She insisted on being a "bao-bao." (Sometimes she wanted to be called "xiao tu zi", that's a little white rabbit that has a thing with a big bad wolf - the Chinese version of Little Red Riding Hood.)

      A little later, she started calling me "lao gong" and wanted to be addressed as "lao po." Now it gets complicated. If you look up "lao gong," you'll find "old grandfather", and "lao po" is an old lady. Don't be offended. Further digging will tell you that "lao gong" is synonymous with "husband" and "lao po" with "wife." However, in certain parts of China, you call your BF a "lao gong" and your GF a "lao po" to signify that it's not a one night stand. It's the cool thing to do. Just in case you ever meet a China Doll, like Jack did in Canada ....

  • FreedMike Off topic, but folks, this site is not working well for me from a technical standpoint, and it doesn't matter if I'm using my phone, or my computer (on two different browsers). It locks up and makes it impossible to type anything in after a certain point. Anyone else having these issues?
  • Syke Kinda liked the '57, hated the '58. Then again, I hated the entire '58 GM line except for the Chevrolet. Which I liked better than the '57's. Still remember dad's '58 Impala hardtop, in the silver blue that was used as the main advertising color.
  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
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