Production on the Hornet was affirmed back in July of this year, but since then the entire world has kind of gone up in a financial funeral pyre. None of this is official yet, but we'll be placing calls to find out what's going on. If this turns out to be true, it's rough news for Chrysler's product portfolio, considering it was slated as the efficient city-car when apparently that's the only thing we're allowed to want anymore. [ChinaCarTimes]

Chery is perhaps the best-known automotive company in the west due to its continued flirtation with Chrysler and frequent attempts to enter our market. Some in the Chinese automotive world were expecting Chery to display a new version of the Eastar sedan, which is old even by PRC standards. We'll just have to hold our breath until the Beijing Motor Show.

[Source: Auto.Mop.Com via The Tycho]

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: There are some concerning aspects of the short-on-details report from China Car Times, but the statistics seem to show more of a maturation in the Chinese car-buying public than a contraction of the vehicle market. In other words, the people are developing an automotive revolutionary consciousness. Although overall sales are down and some manufacturers reported sales declines of 50% or more, the big winners showed sales increases of 50% or more. Combined with the massive distraction of the then-pending Summer Olympics and government restrictions surrounding the games, we're going to have to see a longer-term steep decline before we start predicting doom in the Far East. [China Car Times]

Industry experts are skeptical of the deal's probability due to several factors, foremost of which is that Chery's total asset value is less than the $4.4 billion it needs to raise. Additionally, there's strong concern that being bought out by a Chinese company would immediately and drastically devalue Volvo, making it a money-losing prospect for Chery. After all, American suburbanites didn't spend $40k to drive a...well, a Chery.

Add to that the fact that Volvo is in pretty bad shape itself, losing $151 million in the first quarter of 2008. The loss was chiefly due to its reliance on the tanked U.S. market for sales, combined with its lack of production facilities here. In other words, as the U.S. dollar drops, it gets more expensive for Volvo to import cars to its key market. Kirk Kerkorian, a major Ford shareholder, has publicly called for Ford to sell off Volvo, and it's rumored that CEO Alan Mulally feels the same way.

Additional complications to the deal include Ford Motor China's agreement to produce S40 sedans there and Chery's recent deal to begin manufacturing small Chryslers. [via Forbes]

Hi guys I was over at CTC and I got pics of two cars. One set of pics is currently waiting to be reviewed by BP and won't be posted until i hear from her. In the meantime since i enjoy posting here in this forum heres a shot of the front of the dodge breeze enjoy and as soon as i hear from BP i will post the other pics

1. The Lifan "Mini Cooper" 320
Usually, when one manufacturer succeeds with a car another will try and take that idea and make their version different and better, a la the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. In China, when a company comes to market with a successful car rival automakers will merely make a poor imitation of it. Thus we present the Lifan 320, a car that somehow manages to maintain the original elements of the MINI we knew and loved, and manages to make it horribly and inexcusably terrible.

2. Great Wall Kunna Electric Concept
As if the Great Wall Kunna Electric concept car wasn't cute enough, there's a stuffed Panda in the passenger's seat. Though we don't think they're indicating you should pick up Panda hitchhikers (you shouldn't — they always want to control the radio), the company has embraced the idea that small cars always look odd and it's just easier to design that into the car than out of it.

3. MG TF Police Convertible
Though American undercover cops occasionally tool about in convertibles (think Miami Vice), we can't think of too many convertible, two-seater marked police cars here in the states. Nevertheless, that didn't stop the Chinese company that now owns classic British carmaker MG from making this MG TF Police Car. Though technically next door at the Police & Equipment Show, this hot little cop coupe was a hit and could be seen picking up political dissidents any day now — only one at a time.

4. Chinese Smart Clone - Harley Davidsion Edition
There's nothing special about a Chinese Smart Car clone as there are tons of them made by Shanghuan Auto. This time, however, the company's Kamino corporate rulers have one-upped themselves with the Harley Davidson Edition. That's right, it's a Smart knockoff with the knockoff of a Harley Davidson painted on the side. Genius! It even isn't big enough to hold a Harley — just like the F-150 pickup adorned with similar accoutrements stateside.

5. Souped Up London Taxi
This, technically, isn't a knockoff. Does it look like a Chinese cab? Yes. But Chinese manufacturer Geely has a contract with London Taxi Inc. to build the Black London Taxi. Totally legit. Though most think of the vehicle as a means for someone driving you around, if you need to get there in a real hurry then this TX4 "hot rod" model is the way to go. It has everything a real London cab needs, including a picture of Big Ben in the back. Tally Ho!

6. Huanghai Faster SUV
Though some Chinese companies might be tempted to take advantage of lax intellectual property laws and outright steal the popular design of the Lexus RX series SUV, automaker Huanghai should be congratulated for resisting the urge. Instead of taking the entire car, they merely took the rear 75% of a Lexus RX and grafted on the front 25% of a Pontiac Torrent for their Huanghai Faster SUV. To make it even more interesting, it's powered by a Mitsubishi engine. For reasons that currently elude our understanding, the car is flanked by car models dressed as hot cops. Maybe they just didn't fit in the MG cop car from earlier.

7. Hafei Saibao V
Though the Hafei Saibao V isn't the most original sports sedan (there's more than a touch of Mazda3 and Lancer Ralliart), we have to give them credit for taking all of the sporty visual cues they could think of — from a gigantic spoiler to super sporty wheels — and fit them all on one car. And if that wasn't enough, they also flanked it with not one, not two, but four models dressed for the prom. That's because when you want to sell a car to sporty guys you need as many gowned models as possible.

8. The Off Road BJ
If you think the BAW B60 Jeep — or BJ — looks a lot like an actual Jeep, you'd be correct. Chrysler and BAW worked together back in the day to co-develop this Jeep for non-Civilian use. Of course that development partnership fell through more than a few years ago, but why let a silly thing like trademarks, copyrights and international intellectual property laws get in the way? That may explain why it looks like the BJ has taken on a bit of Hummer and Land Rover DNA on the front fascia — BAW hopes it'll confuse anyone into thinking the other 90% is pure unadulterated Jeep. But, much like the originals, this formerly Military vehicle is ready to find use in the home of a minimally endowed real estate agent.



9. Hafei Minyi Elephant Transporter
As much as we Americans may love the idea of the minivan, the Chinese love the idea of the mini-minivan. But just in case should you think that this Hafei Minyi isn't big enough for you and your family, the company has put a stuffed baby elephant inside the strange little van to simulate the awesome carrying potential of a minivan crossed with a b-segment econo-box. Of course, even a baby elephant is a touch too big for the Minyi, so you can see the poor animal's stuffed behind sticking out the other end in a way we think would probably be a turn off for potential buyers.

10. The Hybrid Chinese Military Jeep

Kissing cousins to the BAW B60 "BJ" Jeep above, this military Jeep has what we'll call an "interesting" camouflage pattern. As opposed to the high-detail of the pixelated multicolor look of US Military vehicles, the pixels here look to be a few inches across. Was it perhaps designed to patrol the Lego cities of the future or play in some "War Games"-like game of Tetris? Despite the questionable paint scheme, the hybrid powertrain's far superior to your average Hummer. No sense sullying the air with more pollutants than necessary in your standard scorched-earth campaign, eh?

[Source/Photos: The Tycho, China Car Times, AutoExpress.co.uk]

Zhang also mentioned the Hornet, which is a rumor we've reported on before and now seems to have a bit more support. Either way, it looks like it'll happen but we just don't know how, when or necessarily what. [FREEP]

"a Chery spokesman told Reuters on Wednesday that the newspaper had misquoted his colleague and that the earlier deal with Chrysler Group was progressing."

China's Chery say deal with Chrysler not halted [MSNBC]

Related:
No Chery-Flavor For Cerberus-Owned Chrysler? [internal]

"Zhang Li, the general manager of Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., told the German financial daily Handelsblatt the company has halted the project and wants to renegotiate its agreement on building a new compact for Chrysler...Zhang said the deal came as a "total surprise" for his company and it had not yet talked with Cerberus about the move."

Report: Chery halts Daimler deal following Chrysler sale to Cerberus [AP via Detroit News]

[Photo credit to metrix x]

Related:
It's Official Unless China Says It's Not: Chery To Make Itty-Bitty Cars For Chrysler Group; Speculation No More! Chrysler Group Sold To Cerberus Capital Management! [internal]

China's Chery motors is showing off its version of the nouveau shooting brake ideal, most recently recast by Audi in 2005 with its, ahem, Shooting Brake Concept. Chery's version, the Shooting Sport, is somewhat more of a hatchback than a traditional English breakfast shooting brake. It'll make its debut at the Shanghai auto show this week. We'll see whether it spawns a competitor among the world's three-doors. Considering Chery just inked a deal for a plant in Israel to build cars for the local market and for US and European export, that could be sooner than we think. – Mike Spinelli

[via China Car Times]

Related:
Shooting for Sport: Chery Wagon Concept Set for Shanghai Debut; Exec: Audi Won't Build Shooting Brake; Audi to Show Shooting Brake Concept in Tokyo [internal]

China's Chery motors is calling on the English shooting brake as a theme for its latest concept wagon. It's the Shooting Sport, and it's set for debut at the 2007 Shanghai Auto Show. But don't go looking around for floppy-eared dogs and dubiously armed, pasty men in jodhpurs. This Shooting Brake Sport one of three concepts and 27 other cars the company plans to spotlight at the show. It looks to be a kind of Euro-style MPV that's been stylized for your protection. Or lack thereof. Either way, it's another example of Chery's long march upward, the culmination of which well see as a cheapo Chrysler product or two. Those will include a subcompact for the US market, based on the Hornet concept, and an export subcompact for South American and Chinese markets. That last part comes via Automotive News. – Mike Spinelli

[via Autoblog]

Related:
China's Hybrid Race: Chery to Show Hybrid at Beijing Show, Others to Follow? [internal]

Chery, always mindful of the the-dictator-on-a-budget demographic, has teamed up with Uruguay-based Bognor Automotive Manufacture and Assembly based on the Chinese automaker's Eastar midsizer. Uruguay's most famous vehicle, of course, was the Hillman Avengermino, sold as the Dodge 1500 pickup, which reputedly had a tendency to fall apart. We don't know. If we're planning to get shot at, we might prefer something a bit more substantial. Like an Abrams. – Davey G. Johnson

China's Chery forms jv for bullet-proof car [Reuters]

Related:
Avengermino! The Dodge 1500 Pickup! [Internal]

This deal's been in the works for what seems like forever. We'd even heard the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid was all set to go in October of this past year, but held off for "political reasons." So it's really no surprise that the deals' done — the DaimlerChrysler supervisory board's approved the "framework of a limited partnership to develop small vehicles between the Chrysler Group and Chery Motor Company of China." Under the agreement, Chery-built vehicles would be distributed under Chrysler brands, primarily in North American and Western Europe. That means we'll be talking about a Dodge, as it's the only brand the 'merican side of the not-so-much merger of equals is building any brand equity with. And that means it'll be the little horn-dog of a Hornet, and this will be an easy and quick win for Tom "Need To Lose Weight Of Excess Employees Fast" LaSorda. Of course the deal's still contingent on the approval of the Chinese government, but we're assuming that'll happen — unless the Hornet's some symbol of uncleanliness to a minority religion in China. But probably not. Full press release after the jump. – Ray Wert

DaimlerChrysler Supervisory Board Approves Small-Car Agreement Auburn Hills, Mich./Stuttgart, Germany, Feb 27, 2007 - The DaimlerChrysler Supervisory Board today approved the framework of a limited partnership to develop small vehicles between the Chrysler Group and Chery Motor Company of China. The deal is still contingent upon approval by the Chinese government, but the final pact of the framework is expected to be signed by the end of March. Under the non-equity partnership, Chery-built vehicles will be distributed under Chrysler brands, primarily in North America and Western Europe.

Chrysler Group indicated that the partnership would allow the company to become a bigger player on the global automotive stage by giving it access to products in new segments more quickly, with less capital spending.

Small vehicles such as these will allow Chrysler Group brands to compete in segments in which the brands do not currently compete, and which are especially important in price- and fuel-economy sensitive markets. Some 67 percent of all vehicles sold outside of North America are in these segments. Chrysler Group's major competitors in the U.S. and Western Europe have similar arrangements with Asian manufacturers for vehicles in these segments.

Related:
Chrysler Would Prefer A Chery-Flavored Hornet Rather Than Plain Chery; Chrysler Boss: Company Even Closer to Choosing China's Chery to Build Subcompact [internal]

Negotiations have been going on for around a month between Chery and the Chrysler Group over what b-segment car the folks at Chery may build for the less-than-equal side of the "merger of equals." AutoWeek's reporting the folks at the 'merican side of the German-American hybrid are a bit concerned over the quality level of Chery's b-segment lineup. So instead of having them build one of their own vehicles, Chrysler looks to be moving in the direction of having them build the Dodge Hornet concept instead as a vehicle for import to the US and euro market. Although pretty much everyone and their brother knew Chrysler would end up moving in this direction, to be honest, we're just excited to be getting some Chrysler news involving Chery having nothing to do with rumors of acquisition. In case you've already forgotten what the Chery-flavored Hornet concept looks like, we've included a gallery below. – Ray Wert

Will China car be a Chery or a Chrysler? [AutoWeek]

Related:
Breaking! DaimlerChrysler Chooses Chinese Chery To Build Dodge Hornet? [internal]

We decided to call one of GM's masters of PR to ask about these rumors of a General Motors / Chrysler combination, but instead of providing a strong denial to the rumors begun early this morning, our sources at the General are doing nothing but claim "no comment." Not a "that's utterly preposterous" or even a "that's absurd" (although we did get a "I wonder where they're getting that?") Nope — nothing other than "no comment." Despite what we've now heard that talks center around requiring the Chrysler Group to find a way to cut employee health care costs out of any potential deal. So does this mean a prolonged negotiation with the UAW on self-health-management? Perhaps. We'll see what happens, but at this point we've got no denial from GM on the rumors and no paper issued. But if it ends up not being GM talking about an acquisition deal, then whom? Chery? Tracinda? What do you think? – Ray Wert

Photo By: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News

Related:
All Your Automakers Are Belong To GM: General Motors Looking At Acquiring Chrysler Group? [internal]

Report: China's Chery in talks with Fiat on closer ties [Detroit News]

Related:
Fiat Horny for Hornet? Boss Says Company Interested in Subcompact Partnership with DaimlerChrysler; Breaking! DaimlerChrysler Chooses Chinese Chery To Build Dodge Hornet? [internal]

If one thinks about it, the only truly great thing Malcolm Bricklin ever did was bring Subarus to America. Other than that, Yugo? The Bricklin? Entirely amusing vehicles, but only if other people own them. So who really expected his venture with Chery to succeed? Well, we kind of did. At least for a while. But now that the Cheries are possibly on board to build the Dodge Hornet, Bricklin's holding the bag, calling the cars' quality not up to snuff, and deciding that Visionary Vehicles is going to design their own automobiles and find a producer in China to build them. We're suddenly feeling like this just won't end well. [Thanks to Kevin for the tip.] – Davey G. Johnson

Bricklin drops Chinese import plan [Inside Line]

Related:
Bricklin Delays Chinese Imports Yet Again [Internal]

According to Automotive News. Chrysler's about as close to picking China's Chery Automobile to build its new subcompact model as it can be without actually, say, selecting them. The group's CEO Tom LaSorda told reporters in Beijing (hmm) that the car — a ~$14,000 model likely based on the Hornet Concept shown at this year's Geneva show — will debut in western Europe, Mexico and Canada before coming to the US. LaSorda didn't mention which other company was in the running (they're down to two), which wasn't surprising, considering he was in China making a non-announcement that may or may not have to do with a Chinese company. How do you say "That guy is such a tease" in Mandarin?

Related:
A Chinese Bee: Chery to Build Dodge Hornet?; Chrysler Considering Chinese Chery-Built Model for Global Markets? [internal]

Chinese automaker Chery has teamed up with Argentine groupe Socma to build two models in Uraguay, presaging the invasion of the Sinomobiles in North America. The venture includes building both the QQ and the Tiggo SUV. The venture will be 51% backed by Chery, and the company with sell the South American-built models in the Mercosur trade bloc. The cars will be built in a plant owned by Socma, which constructed Peugeots and Fiats in the 1990s. Man, talk about a post with a complete lack of humor. Sheesh. – Davey G. Johnson

Chery to build cars in Uruguay [AutoIndustry, UK]

Related:
A Chinese Bee: Chery to Build Dodge Hornet? [Internal]

Will the third Sino-Japanese war be over hybrid cars? China's Chery Automobile just announced plans to show off its first hybrid car at the Auto China 2006 show in Beijing next week. While it's unclear if the system's been developed in house, or if it's a product of UK engineering firm Ricardo (as a report last year suggested), news outlets are reporting it as the first to be developed by a Chinese automaker. The announcement comes on the heels of GM's plan to build hybrids in China with partner Shanghai Auto, while Chinese competitor Geely Automobile recently announced plans for its first hybrid model early next year. They want in — the question is how soon? – Mike Spinelli

China's Chery to display first home-grown hybrid car at Auto China 2006 [Forbes]

Related:
Bricklin's First?: Chery Crossover Unveiled in China [internal]

Will the Dodge Hornet be made in China? Automotive News reports today that DaimlerChrysler is in "late-stage negotiations" with China's Chery Motors to build a new small car for export, a car most believe will be one based on the Hornet concept (pictured) DCX showed in Geneva earlier this year. DaimlerChrysler executives are mum on the deal, saying they won't announce a small-car partnership until the end of the year. Still, a Chery-Chrysler partnership also calls to question a longstanding bid by auto entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin to bring Chery cars to the US under his Visionary Vehicles badge. According to AN, Bricklin says he won't be closed out by a Chery-Chrysler partnership, and that Chery-built Chryslers will help his cause by legitimizing Chery's production capabilities. He also says his joint-venture with Chery will be finalized by year's end. Either way, Chinese cars are coming, possibly sooner than we think.

Related:
V-Dub Snubbed: Volkswagen out of Dodge Hornet Production Deal [internal]

"We are putting our face out there and saying, 'Look at us.' And if we do our job, we're going to win this game," says Malcolm Bricklin. "And if we don't, we're going to get our ass kicked right on the first day." According to the Art Vandelay of the auto industry, the joint venture to bring Chinese cars to our shores is going more slowly than he'd anticipated, now saying that Visionary Vehicles will launch sales in late 2008 or early 2009, introducing a new model every three months. We're sort of holding our breath, but kinda not.

Bricklin delays plans for importing Chinese cars [Reuters]

Related:
Brickin's First? Chery Crossover Unveiled in China [Internal]

According to China Daily, the Chinese government's gonna do crash tests of their own. We think it sounds like a great idea, and we vote a crash-off between the Chery four-door and the Geely four-door. Given that no Chinese automaker has yet developed a car that can meet US and European safety standards, and if it goes anything like the Landwind SUV crash test above, it should be nothing short of hilarious. By the way — the Landwind, a Jianling Motors SUV — scored the amazingly putrid "zero" in Euro head-on NCAP testing.

China to start vehicle crash testing [China Daily]

Related:
Happy Life! Beauty Leopard Coming to Europe; More on The Great Landwind Crash-Test Fiasco of 2005 [internal]

China's Chery motors last week uncovered the car many say will be its first US-bound export — the V525 crossover. It's the latest incarnation of an MPV-style car entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin has said his Visionary Vehicles company will import to the US beginning in 2007. The V525 was reportedly developed with a dream team that included Lotus and Italy's Bertone design house, and sports a 127 hp, 2.3-liter engine sourced from Mitsubishi. Bricklin has always said his imports will offer the features of a $30,000 car for under $20,000, and the V525 is reported to be loaded with ABS with electronic brake distribution (EBD), traction control, nav system and digital entertainment. Chery says the crossover, which will go on sale there this month, will be offered in North America, but provided no further details — and hasn't confirmed Bricklin's participation in its US business. Interesting times, indeed. (More pics after the jump)

Wha-oh. Is Chrysler getting ready to tap into the People's Most Cheap-Labor Market? That's the story coming from Automotive News, which reports Chrysler may be considering China's Chery Automobile to assembly a "small-car entry for global markets," according to supplier sources. No word on whether we'll see the cars on Blue Light Special at Wal-Mart K-Mart anytime soon.

More on Chery [internal]

The title of this article grabbed us immediately; apparently the Geely Copywriter's taken a gig moonlighting over at the Xinhua News Service. "Home-brand Chery creates miracle producing 500,000 cars." But will it go with you for a happy life?

Home-brand Chery creates miracle producing 500,000 cars [Xinhua]

Related:
NEWSFLASH: Geely Copywriter Strikes Dodge Web Site [Internal]

Malcolm Bricklin's bid to bring the first Chinese-built cars to the US has been the object of both scorn and derision. (C'mon, we kid the Malclolm.) Actually, if his Visionary Vehicles venture keeps signing up northeastern dealer heavyweights like Bob Ciasulli and Miller Motorcars — a dealer of Aston Martins, Ferraris and Rolls-Royce models based in Greenwich, Connecticut — he might just have a shot. According to the Connecticut Post, Bricklin's deal with Miller involves selling the M14, a sporty model with a retractable hardtop, designed by Italy's Pininfarina, that looks awfully like the Peugeot 307 coupe-cabriolet. A Chinese-built cabrio alongside $200,000 supercars? It could be the most brilliant marketing-by-association coup of all. Now all they need is a few cars.

Chery to Enter American Luxury Car Market [MPH]

Related:
Bricklin Unveils Visionary Ragtop in Shanghai; Big Dealer Says Woohoo! About Wuhu: Ciasuilli Stoked on Visionary/Chery Deal [internal]

Mao and Stalin may have split ideologically prior to Ford's Great Leap Forward, but that ain't stoppin Chery from building cars in a Russian plant. Reportedly, Chery's signing a deal with Russian manufacturer Avtotor to build cars at their Kaliningrad factory, which already produces vehicles for BMW, Kia, Chevrolet, Hummer and Cadillac models. And golly, to think only two decades ago, the only way you would've seen a Hummer on Russian streets would've been in some Tom Clancy-esque scenario.

Chery to Produce Cars in Russia

Related:
Big Dealer Says Woohoo! About Wuhu: Ciasuilli Stoked on Visionary/Chery Deal [Internal]

Tim Ciasulli, CEO of Planet Honda and head of the Visionary Vehicles Dealer Board is way stoked. Completely, utterly and totally stoked. Stoked the point of irrational stokedom, in fact. As the head of a a family-owned dealership chain which has sold nearly a million cars, he claims he's never seen an opportunity as incredible as Brickin's Visionary Vehicles/Chery deal. He visited the plant in Wuhu, China and came back raving, saying, "I was in my hotel room in China when the BBC announced that General Motors was cutting 30,000 workers, 25 percent of their workforce.

"If I was not a part of the Chery/Visionary Vehicles venture, I would have felt despair for the auto industry in the United States." Now, all I can think about is that this is the golden opportunity of a lifetime." We're still pretty skeptical of the current Chinese cars, and we think Ciasulli's spewing a bit much in the way of hyperbole, but they are coming whether through Visionary's venture or otherwise and everyone else is gonna have to deal with it.

Ciasulli Says Chery/Visionary Vehicles Joint Venture Is Solid Gold For The American Market [The Auto Channel]

Related:
Chery Issues Recall, Cows GM [Internal]

It's an up and down day for Chery. Bad news first: they've issued a recall for their Oriental Son (It ain't me! It ain't me! I ain't no Party Member's son!) having to do with a faulty vanity mirror light that can stay on and drain the battery. It's the first recall by a Chinese domestic manufacturer since the nation's recall laws went into effect, and the automaker's execs are patting themselves on the back, rewarding their own bravery at the issuance. Way to go, kids! You get a smiley-face stamp!

Good news? GM has dropped its suit against Chery, allowing the company to continue to make and sell the QQ, which Chevrolet decried as a virtual clone of its own Daewoo-sourced Spark/Matiz. Mr. Malcolm Bricklin says that his Visionary Vehicles will import the QQ to the US, beginning in 2007. Ironic, a copy of a foreign-market Chevrolet vehicle designed by a Korean manufacturer and built by the Chinese. Sheebus, all of this globalizin' and and IP law bidness is making our poor, addled little head spin. Is it Thursday yet?

Chery recalls vehicles over mirror fault [China Daily]

Related:
Chery to Bricklin: Don't Bogart the Cash, Mal [Internal]

Visionary Vehicles has run into another snag when it comes to bringing Chinese cars to the slavering American masses. Apparently, Bricklin and co. offered two hundred mil in seed money to Chery Automobile to get the ball rolling on development of an American-spec vehicle. Thus far, Visionary's been unable to raise the entire amount from investors and the Chery people are getting a tad anxious. Plus, thus far, Visionary only has one dealership publicly announced, and franchising was supposed to raise a large portion of the cash for the venture.

Beyond the monetary issues, Chery has stumbled upon safety and quality peccadilloes when it comes to American tastes and safety standards everything from exposed corners on dashes that would fail crash tests to crappy stereos and unorthodox color choices. However, while development for America is stopped in its tracks for now, European development is continuing forward, meaning that Chery may pop the Continent before it deflowers the New World.

Chery's U.S. plan stalls: Bricklin's Chinese partner wants cash — not promises [AutoWeek]

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Chery Crossover [Internal]

It exists! Along with a sporty little hardtop convertible, one of the models in Malcolm Bricklin's plan to import Chinese-built Chery cars to the US is a crossover wagon, which Bricklin unveiled in concept form at the Shanghai motor show late last year. Now, The Car Connection has procured some shots of a close-to-production version in partial anti-spywear, as it was being transported to a Ford transmission factory in Cologne, Germany. It's got a distinctly MPV-like height, which will go over perfectly in Europe, but its viability in the states has yet to be proven by the Mazda5. (Chances are it will be.) Hopefully for Bricklin, a struggle with GM over the Chevy/Chery similarity won't hold up import plans. Watch this carefully.

Spy Shots: 08 Chery Crossover [The Car Connection]

Related:
Chinese-Built Wagon to Show in Chicago; Bricklin Unveils Visionary Ragtop in Shanghai [internal]