Many hopes are pinned on the success of the new Cadillac ATS. It could become a bit more successful when it is built in China. Chinese production will start in late 2013, writes Carnewschina.
The car will be produced by GM’s joint venture with SAIC. Until production ramps up, the ATS will be imported to China. It is expected to debut at the Guangzhou Auto Show in November. Carnewschina does not have high hopes for volume sales of the imported ATS:
“It will be expensive compared to locally made competition such as the Audi A4L, the BMW 3Li and the Mercedes-Benz C-class. The real battle then, will only begin in early 2014.”
The L in the models by the competition does not stand for Luxury. It stands for Long. If you are somebody in China, you don’t drive, you are driven, and you want leg room in the aft compartment.
Imagine how America’s economy would be if we build Chrysler 300 and Cadillacs inside America. We’d never be able to keep up with the demand, so maybe, after we’d employed as many Americans as possible, maybe then we’d outsource remaining factory jobs and services. Take car of our people first. I’m just saying.
Maybe we could do it just like GERMANY and JAPAN. Ya know – instead of running trade deficits for over 30 years and cutting the pensioned workforce from over 85% to under 40%.
401K’s were NEVER meant to be our main retirement revenue.
What?
The Cadillac ATS is built in Lansing, Michigan. Last I checked, that still counts as “inside America”.
As for pensions… that ship sailed a long, long time ago.
Mexico builds some versions of them.
Where did you hear that “some versions” of the ATS are assembled in Mexico? Just curious; everywhere I’ve looked, Lansing Grand River is the only plant where the ATS is built.
It’s worth mentioning that Cadillac’s best-selling model (the SRX) IS built in Ramos Azripe, Mexico. But the Lansing-built CTS range’s sales are rarely far behind the SRX.
Not the ATS… I meant some Cadillacs are built in Mexico. Don’t be so quick on the trigger whilst I’m on my iPhone – it’s hard to edit.
There is an interesting interview on youtube with Sir James Goldsmith circa 1994 which sheds some light on what has happened to manufacturing in the United States and why.
Uhh, you do know that BMW, Mercedes and Audi build the 3 Series, C Class and A4 in China, as well as many other models aside from the flagship sedans and other higher end/low volume models.
If GM didn’t build the ATS in China for the Chinese market, there is no way it would be able to compete against the Germans since China has a hefty 25% auto import tariff.
It’s the same reason why new CTS will also be built in China for the Chinese market (since the 5 Series, E Class and A6 are built in China).
The thing is, right now, Ford has no plans to build Lincolns in China and are going to take a “wait and see approach” and see if sales are high enough to warrant building Lincolns in China.
That is a major mistake – b/c Chinese buyers will just opt for the Germans and Cadillac.
I want to know why we don’t get the “L” versions of these cars.
A lot of people shy away from the 3 series/ A4 /C class becuase of rear leg room. And it’s not becuase they prefer to be driven, it’s because rear facing child seats don’t freaking fit without putting someone’s knees into the dash or putting the child seat between the front seats, which is awkward. I’ve often assumed that part of the runaway success of the new VW Jetta comes from it’s ability to comfortably hold a child seat in teh back.
Because CTS.
We did get that one Caddy with the L in the name. Wasn’t much backseat in the XLR though.
My first thought when I read the headline was.
“Oh, that didn’t take China that long to come up with it’s version of a clone. It should retail for about $15K”
The ATS is itself a near clone of an E46 BMW, ah the irony if/when the Red Chinese clone it.
“It could become a bit more successful when it is built in China.”
That implies (to me anyway) the US-built ATS is NOT successful. The ATS _JUST_ went on sale. It is far to early to gauge its success anywhere.
But yeah, even if it’s built in China to bring down the cost, if it doesn’t have a long wheelbase and ample rear legroom like the Germans, it probably won’t be that big of a hit.
You misunderstand this.
The ATS will be for sale in China. Sounds like it will be imported to China before production starts there. China has heavy tariffs on imports. It will be better priced when built in China.