 |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
||
 |
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
|
Walk into any dimsum restaurant, and you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. Whether it’s a first-class dig or a hole-in-the-wall joint, eating Chinese has become a Filipino way of life. Everyone knows asado siopao and shrimp siomai as well as lechon and kare-kare. Unfortunately, this familiarity is limited mainly to the edible variety. When it comes to any other product, a “Made in China” trademark is often a mark of uncertainty. Or is it? Flip your glossy Apple i-Pod (it doesn’t matter whether it’s a Shuffle, Nano or Video), and look where it’s made. The same goes for your Sony PlayStation 3 or even your Nokia N-whatchamacolit; chances are what ever it is, it’s made in China. And since you don’t head over to the Nokia repair center every month, chances are, and you agree, that these Chinese actually know how to make things—assuming of course they have the right technical know-how and training. Now, if that’s the case with complex consumer electronics, why can’t it be the same with cars? Well, the Philippines will soon find out. Landing on Philippine shores is China’s largest independent car maker: Chery. And before you dismiss them as another formaldehyde-laden conscienceless company, you’d actually be surprised on what Chery can do. Chery Automotive (actually pronounced as “Qirui”) was established in 1997 by the local government of Wuhu—a region of Chinese where there was little industrial development. To prop up industrialization, the government bought factory machines and engine technology from Ford Europe and soon began assembling car parts, most notably the Seat Toledo chassis. In 2001, with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) buying a 20 percent stake, Chery soon built and sold complete cars, exporting to countries like Syria. This partnership initially saw annual sales of 28,000 units but grew to 86,000 before SAIC pulled out because of pressure from both General Motors and Volkswagens, both of which were partners with SAIC in other ventures. Chery’s independence paved the way for a much more aggressive line-up. 2006 was a banner year with 305,000 units sold—a tenfold growth in just five years. |
|
||||
|
|
|||||
