by Anthony Ocasio

Created on: April 04, 2008   Last Updated: April 26, 2009

Chery is a young auto manufacturer that was started up in 1997 by a handful of Chinese investors. It has the distinction of being the first totally owned and operated by Chinese auto manufacturer, as all others before it were a collaboration, of one kind or the other, of Chinese and foreign companies. The company began running it's production line in December of 1999, starting with just a few models, but expanding to the present day with ten different models, ranging from sub-compacts to full-size cars.

In researching this article, the proclivity for Chinese companies to copy existing vehicles from other manufacturers was glaringly apparent, and Chery is no exception to this rule. The reason given is a lack of R&D time and funding, and from what the various websites said, the lack of quality is apparent also. This leads me to believe that the Chery line of cars, and at least one SUV that I could see, will be low level knock-offs, much like a lot of things you find at Wal-Mart.

Chery's website makes reference to being imported through Chrysler, so this might give them an air of credibility, for some people. But, if you use inferior materials, like the websites admit, and have a lack of funding for R&D, which says to me that you might not have a total understanding of the product you are building, how do you expect to put out a good product? And, if you know this about a product, how can you expect it to perform like the product that it emulates? Would you take the Chinese version of the Toyota RAV5 off-road and expect to get back? I wouldn't.

And, with all honesty, I don't believe that I would plant my bloated carcass in one of these cars, unless I was stranded somewhere. And even then I'd want the driver to go slooww! Nothing like getting into an accident in a car that might not be able to take a hit!

You read about China's growing industrial might, and their expanding economy. But with 66% of the cars they produce being copied from someone else's designs, and 80& of their SUV's being knock-offs, just how good is their economy? Seems to be that their industrial growth is like a balloon, thin and hollow. And without independent R&D it is at risk of popping at any time.

As to the reliability of the Chery autos, I don't think they'll cut the mustard, so to speak. But as long as they keep copying other manufacturers designs, you'll be able to buy parts for them, even when their dealer network shuts down and they are no longer brought here. Funny thing about it is, the replacement parts will be of a higher quality then the vehicle they get installed on.

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