By Mark Clarkson

The Toyota Motor Corporation primarily focuses on the manufacturing and production of their products in the automotive market. That is why Toyota remains undisputed in terms of market profitability compared to its competitors. Toyota also opened numerous regional divisions such as Toyota's luxury car manufacturer, Lexus and Scion. And when talking about Toyota and the automotive industry, Toyota will be presenting 27 vehicles the 4th China (Guangzhou) International Auto Exhibition. The auto exhibition is currently on going at the province of Guangzhou in China, and had just started last July 24, 2006.

Toyota will be displaying a total of 27 concept vehicles along with their latest production vehicles. This number is a huge amount and actually is the largest that Toyota has ever presented for such a car exhibition. Toyota would also be joining the Guangzhou Auto Exhibition, well, since Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co. Ltd. (GMTC) had been established and started their operation last 2004. During the mentioned auto show, Toyota will present the new safety technology features of their models such as the Toyota Prius and Toyota Reiz. Safety is one of the main priorities of Toyota Motors' production vehicles.

In addition to these, Toyota will also present a diverse selection of their all-new hybrid concept and production vehicles that include the new Toyota Tundra concept, which will come in availability early this 2007. Also included is the Fine-T concept, the modified version of rugged Toyota RAV4 and Previa, Lexus ES350, Lexus IS300, and GTMC's new production vehicle, the new Toyota Camry. These are only a few of the 27 vehicles that will be displayed during the exhibition. Various products from Toyota and new Toyota parts like Toyota Camry parts will be also featured in the show.

Hoshibi Inaba, the Vice President of Toyota said that: "This year, we began production of the Camry with the world's highest quality levels at a cutting-edge plant in Guangzhou, and it has thus far been extremely well received by customers. Toyota hopes to make contributions, modest though they may be, to the balanced development of an automobile society in China through the provision of various products as well as through environmental and safety initiatives."

By Richard Crittendon

How many times have you thought about giving that old mustang in your garage a new look by going in for an auto detailing? But maybe you were restrained from doing it because of the high costs involved.

Today with all the auto detailing materials available at the neighbourhood auto shop, many people are exploring the option of self auto detailing. Even if you are amateur in auto detailing, with a bit careful planning and knowledge you can look forward to obtain excellent results.

At a basic level auto detailing essentially involves comprehensive cleaning polishing and waxing of vehicle. Although the procedure mainly deals with maintaining the look and of the car, at times even internal parts of the cars are cleaned. Generally done for auto shows and related events, auto detailing proves to be an excellent way to increase self satisfaction and self pride.

There is nothing like the feeling of showing off a shiny car to your pals and watching their eyes gleam with astonishment. Let us look at popular auto detailing steps that people normally undertake.

o Cleaning: This is the first thing done to a car when it is taken for auto detailing. Most of the dirt and dust of on a car, both, inside and outside the car is taken care of by basic cleaning methods which may include cleaning with special cleaning agents or simply wiping with soapy water. Care should be taken not to use harsh detergent based cleaners on a paint job of a car; detergents have chemicals that are harmful to the lustre of the paint and could leave your car look dull.

o Polishing: This is a very time consuming process and takes a lot of patience along with concentration to find the minute imperfections on the paint surface. It is usually done to remove any visual flaws like scratches, water deposits and oxidation marks on the paint surface of a car. Polishes are classified into two types, namely, chemical and abrasive polish. Chemical polish is used to remove oxidation as well as clean the surface while abrasive polish is used to get rid of the clearcoat of the paint. A rubbing compound is usually utilized to clear deep scratches as well as oxidation marks.

o Claying: To remove paint contamination, a clay bar is used. A clay bar requires a lubricant for usage. Water or spray wax can act as a lubricant in claying. Although claying causes no harm to the clearcoat of paint, incorrect use of clay bar can cause dulling of the paintjob. Claying is ideal for removing road grime, tar, tree sap and other external material which stick to the surface of the car.

o Waxing: Done as the last step in enhancing the look and shine of the car, it also enhances the intensity of the paint along with protecting its lecture for a longer time. Wax usually comes in liquid, cream or thick paste like textures. Almost all waxes have a high amount of fatty acids as ingredients in them. At the time of application of the wax, the fatty acids act as a layer between the paint surface and the outside world and prevent the surface from dust, dirt and water. Many Waxes also contain UV protection for longer paint life.

The next time you think of auto detailing, just start by using these basic techniques to make your car shine to its fullest glory.

By Noah Scott

GM's VP of Global Product Development, Jim Queen has told Motor Trend recently regarding their upcoming international car lines. He said that the automaker's Australian RWD platform is going to be used as basis for both the Pontiac G8 and Chevy Camaro. General Motors is also reportedly contemplating on using the same platform for its next generation Cadillacs and of course since GM has already expressed its interest in creating environmentally friendly vehicles you can bet that a GM catalytic converter will be a part of the whole Caddy equation.

The only large RWD car that is not built on this platform is going to be used as the basis for the next Corvette and possibly for the XLR. Queen also said that the C7 Corvette will be equipped with a naturally aspirated V8 and RWD. In terms of power it is expected that C7 will have around 700 horsepower for the top end model. Queen has not commented on the possible selling price of the C7. But he did say, "We're working hard to get the power onto the pavement," further saying that weight and weight distribution are the keys.

Likewise, the twinning of Opel and Saturn will also continue. The freshly built Korean-Opel Antara has been recently launched in the European market and will later be introduced as the 2008 Saturn Vue as announced before at the Chicago Show.

The Saturn will also have body enhancements basing on the Europe-built compact, the Astra.--The three-door and five-door hatchbacks were previously unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. The sedan and a coupe-cabrio called the TwinTop will make its transition to Saturns as part of the upcoming international car lines of GM.

GM's Vauxhall VXR8 Revealed
It was a really sad day for motoring enthusiasts in Britain when production of the Monaro was stopped. The Monaro is the only Australian-built car to reach the UK market. The Monaro became a hit in the UK for the very reason that it offered raw and exciting performance made possible by its 6.0 litre V8 and RWD set up.

The Monaro was taken off the market by Vauxhall in order to change it with a more powerful model, the Aussie muscle car VXR8. The new powerful saloon is powered by the same 6.0 litre V8 found on the Monaro however the VXR8 will have engine revisions to boost its efficiency. And with its new engine it is expected that the VXR8 will be able to deliver a potent 420PS and 550Nm of torque giving it the ability to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in a matter of 4.9 seconds.

The VXR8 also features practical and spacious boot, climate control, and leather trim. It also contains driving aid features such as stability system and traction control which are very easy to operate with its push button features. The VXR8 is also equipped with 365mm front disc brakes which slow down the car from 60 mph to a complete stop faster than the Lamborghini Murcielago or the BMW M5.

The VXR8 will also be the first VXR model that will have an automatic gearbox. And for an optional £1400 self-shifter the VXR8 will have a manual override and a sport setting which boost its performance. Satellite navigation and 20 inch wheels are also offered as options for those who prefer to set their VXR8 apart from the rest. And the best about the VXR8 is its price which will soon be announced by GM is around half the price of other cars with the same comparable performance.

By Michelle Crimson

It all started back in the United States. Auto dealers as well as finance companies were having a hard time keeping their profits up because of some customers who were what they called financially challenged. The On Time® car device became their rescuer. And now, this car device is out to save more auto dealers and finance companies in the United Kingdom.

The On Time® car device and car system is actually a creation of Payment Protection Systems which is based in the state of California. And now, the company has announced that it will now be expanding its market by offering such a creation to financial institutions in the United Kingdom.

At the Booth No. 455 at the British International Motor Show 2006 which will be held in London, the company would be exhibiting such a creative innovation. Indeed, this would be a good move for anybody and everybody in the automotive community would sure be there to attend such a coveted car show. Of course, these auto shows may not be just the right time to look for the usual Jaguar XJR performance parts, but it sure would be the right time to introduce to the motoring public helpful and creative accessories and innovations like the On Time®.

So what does On Time® do? Well, this creation actually is a patented starter interrupt system. In simple terms, when you pay your dues on time for your vehicle, you can start your car up. However, if you are late in paying what you owe, the On Time® would interrupt the ignition system thus making your car not run. It sure is one very good way of reminding customers of auto dealers and finance companies to pay what they owe.

As per Payment Protection Systems, this company sure is on the verge of reaching out various markets. Mike Simon, the president and founder as well of PPS, states, "We are in the process of expanding our international distribution network as more and more financial institutions around the globe realize the bottom line benefits of the On Time® system as a credit enhancement tool. This latest move represents an exciting new opportunity for us, and we look forward to providing the system to organizations throughout the United Kingdom."

By Ryan Thomas

Purchasers lead the auto industry to an exciting trend consisting of small, chic and fuel-efficient cars. Sales reports lay the fact on the table - small cars create a really big buzz!

Automakers in the industry are now aware of the obvious: the market is swiftly shifting to small fuel-efficient cars. This is why they strive hard to produce cars that tease the fantasies of aficionados.

Earlier, the General Motors Corp. stimulated some publicity with a website asking netizens to vote on which of three super-small vehicle concepts the automaker should build. The auto giant was 'blown away' over positive global response to the concepts. To note, approximately 870,000 votes cast for one of the plucky rides.

The poll conducted is remote from scientific, as the automaker has no way to stop people from weighing in multiple times. Nonetheless, the upsurge of interest has the automaker thinking more seriously about bringing minicars to the United States. "We were pretty blown away," GM spokesman Michael Albano said. "It has certainly opened our eyes to that segment here."

The three minicar concepts include the Chevrolet Groove, Trax and the Beat. The upbeat concepts are part of the automaker's global approach to design and manufacturing. They were designed in Inchon, South Korea, and assembled in the United States and India. GM also builds minicars in other markets. But the automaker has not settled on whether there is compelling enough demand to deliver the minicars to the United States.

Analysts said the potential is growing as fuel price increase and consumers are shifting toward small, fuel-efficient cars. According to statistics, minicars account for about five percent of worldwide market, with some estimates suggesting that they could account for 15 percent within a decade.

GM's mini concepts were unveiled at the New York International Auto Show in April. The Beat is a three-door hatchback that would offer front-wheel-drive high performance. The Trax is a flat-faced micro-SUV, featuring a single molded plastic front end to help reduce weight, tighten its design and advance the vehicle's gas mileage. The Groove, dubbed as the "Funkastalgia," is a five-door model with a lengthened profile and flared fenders created to offer longer, tougher look.

As of Friday, the Chevrolet Groove was leading the vote with 54 percent to the Beat's 37 percent and Trax's nine percent. The online voting, which includes input from around the globe, won't single-handedly drive GM's decision to build here. The automaker still plans to conduct more traditional market research and would have to consider the logistics and costs of producing such a car and selling it in the U.S.

So far, GM has said that it is not likely to bring one of the three vehicles to the United States anytime soon, and none of the three is built to meet U.S. safety standards. After the New York debut, Bob Lutz, GM's product czar, said only a dramatic prolonged increase in fuel prices or an "unforeseen" change in demand for American small cars would justify selling them in the U.S.

But the cyberballots will be greatly considered into decision making at the automaker, GM said. "We're going to get continuous feedback and see what the right portfolio is moving forward," said Courtney Moody, a marketing executive with Chevrolet. "Even if the Groove doesn't come to market, some of what we learn when we put a concept out there, we can use on other vehicles."

The automaker would be wise to get a foothold in the segment in the United States, since consumer demand is trending toward smaller vehicles, said Erich Merkle, a senior auto analyst with consultant IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids. "The generation known as the echo boom, whose parents belong to the baby boom generation, are hitting the age where they're driving their first vehicles and are going to want attractive, affordable options," Merkle noted. "They will, just like their parents, be looking for affordable, economical transportation," he noted. "They're going to want these types of cars."

Customer feedback is essential to the success of the vehicle. This is why automakers are ensuring quality of their product lines. The Nissan control arm, Ford engines, Toyota technology and other auto parts accessories have undergone meticulous testing to deliver superb quality.

By Lance Winslow

Often Automotive Think Tanks will stay within their boundaries - The Auto Industry when doing there thinking. The Online Think Tank takes auto issues very seriously and yet we do not only talk about automobiles, however we are hard core when it comes to that industry and we read all their Online Newsletters, Industry Trade Journals and stay up on all the DOT issues and government regulations as well.

So, today we talked about the Auto Industry in our Online Think Tank for a good 10 hours. What were the topics? Well, we talked about many things, but below is a sample of some of the issues we discussed and are definitely of interest for those who follow the industry, because what is good for our cars, is important to our quality of life and mobility - Freedom:

1. The Bashed the US Auto Makers on Ecology and Now EU Auto Makers Speak Up.

The US Auto Industry lobbied hard against the newest fuel standards, while Toyota and Honda are already there, the US auto industry fought hard to limit the excessive fuel standards. Meanwhile the EU is trying to help their own manufacturers while getting regulations put in place against the US manufacturers, which is hard to do without hurting their own.

"The EU wants to limit CO2 to 120 grams per kilometer by 2015."

The head of several companies said that the deadline was not possible, which is interesting as the EU is using the Global Warming issues to promote its businesses over other industrialized nations, like the US and China. Of course the Germans make many models of large cars, still the Italians and French who make smaller cars still seem to believe they cannot do it, that is to say limit the CO2 that much, but Volkswagon thinks it can, yet still joined the others in lobbying against the tightened emissions.

2. "The 100 MPG Car and the Volkswagon - Can Do Attitude!" Industry Week Reports:

Germany's big automaker Volkswagen said it is planning to make a curiously designed car that will use just one liter (a quarter of a gallon) of fuel per 100 kilometer (62 miles)."We want to put 'one-liter car' on the market by 2010," the group's supervisory board chairman, Ferdinand Piech, told the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung at Frankfurt's' International Auto Show.

The vehicle is not the most pretty in the world, and its engine only has one-cylinder and is a diesel, but 100 mpg, is attainable they say. Volkswagon says it wants to sell the car for under $5,000 and I bet people in the US right about now would love to have one too. Meanwhile the Chinese are getting ready to flood the US market with new Chinese made automobiles, the first dealership opens in 2008 in New Jersey. The Chinese will have fuel efficient cars, will they sell, probably so.

3. Meanwhile the Chinese Counterfeit Tires then Try to Promote Luxury Bentley Level Car?

Here is an excerpt of an article in a popular Online AutoSpies newsletter:

It appears Chinese companies are just as happy to clone tire designs as they are cars, with Continental the latest manufacturer to suffer lost sales due to fake Chinese imports. However, unlike BMW and Mercedes-Smart, which have yet to take serious action against China's Shuanghuan Auto and its clone-cars, Continental has shown that it's possible to defeat counterfeiters by winning a case against several tire resellers in Germany selling the counterfeit stock. Though only affecting a couple of commercial truck brands, the counterfeiting is still of major concern because customers were buying inferior products that weren't as safe as the originals.

4. President Bush has asked a committee panel to study the US fuel efficiency laws to make sure that the regulations for future fuel economy is actually an attainable number.

This from the White House Website:

The Bush administration will launch a new study next week to estimate what kind of technology automakers will need to raise fuel efficiency over the next 15 years, updating and expanding a 2002 report that's been a benchmark in this summer's energy debate. The National Academy of Sciences panel, which includes environmentalists, independent experts and automotive engineers, will spend the next year working on the report. The panel will hear testimony from federal officials and auto industry executives during its first public meeting in Washington on Monday. With Congress moving toward passing some kind of increase in fuel-economy standards and President George W. Bush ordering his administration to set its own increases by the end of next year, the updated report will act as a road map for many future decisions by federal regulators. The 2002 edition concluded ... that the industry could raise the efficiency of its cars by up to 27 percent and its trucks by 42 percent over a decade -- to roughly 30 miles per gallon -- with no changes in weight, size or performance. U.S. cars and trucks are expected to average 26.4 m.p.g. in the 2007 model year, the highest level ever, according to federal estimates. But automakers have long objected to the 2002 report, saying it overstated the benefits of new technologies and understated the costs and engineering work needed to put them into vehicles.

5. Chrysler Ramps up Fuel Efficient Competition Car and Industry Week states;

That they have an advanced propulsion electric drive vehicle ready to launch, an advancement from their new ENVI Concept Cars from their CTC - Chrysler Technology Center. Mercedes is angry that the Smart Car is being copied by China, BMW and the Toyota Rav 4 copies are also a concern. Germany's Chancellor, is making a complaint to the WTO on China, there are significant problems with these infringements. But spying is not only in the passenger car sector. Auto Racing Spies Get Dusted by Competition - We found this interesting piece in the UK Register:

Formula One team McLaren must pay a $100m fine and has been kicked out of the constructors' championship for spying on rival team Ferrari. The decision by the governing body of the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) means McLaren is out of the constructors' championship this year but drivers Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso can continue to compete in the drivers' competition. McLaren did not accept the verdict. In a statement Ron Dennis said: "Having been at the hearing today I do not accept that we deserved to be penalised in this way."

6. The DOT has stated that Bike Lanes take monies away that could be used to make bridge infrastructure stronger.

Bicycles VS Cars, well we know who will win on the street in an accident, and most likely in the courtroom of public opinion, as we do not wish anymore bridges to be collapsed and yet, we need more bike lanes. Bicycle and car accidents kill way too many people each year and Americans are way too fat, they need to exercise too. The Department of Transportation - DOT stated this because they do not consider bicycles a real form of transportation, as very few people use them in that way, most of the bike riding is for recreation and staying in shape. True, but if you never put in bike lanes then no one will ever use them, so it is a self-fulfilling prophesy either way. Well those were all the automotive thoughts from today. Sincerely, Lance.

By Freddic Clay

Motor vehicle theft plagues all parts of the world and despite many efforts to curtail it, it still remains quite a pain for both the victims sometimes as well as law enforcement agencies. However many countries show a declining trend in motor vehicle thefts. Further, the thieves seem to have a greater affinity for some automobiles.

Often referred to as grand theft auto by police departments, the act of stealing motor vehicles has many motivations. And range from chopping and selling automotive parts to resale of vehicles and even for joyriding. In the year 2003 there were 1,261,226 cases of auto thefts in the U.S. which further decreased to 1,237,114 in 2004 showing a decline of 1.91%. The following are the thieves' favorite cars in the USA based on 2004 data.

#1: Honda Civic: Introduced in July 1972 as a two-door coupe, the Honda Civic is the second-longest continuously running nameplate from a Japanese manufacturer. Now five generations old, it has won quite a few accolades throughout its history. Some of them include Road Test magazine's 1974 Car of the Year; Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year; Car and Driver magazine's annual Ten Best; North American Car of the Year and the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Car of the Year.

#2: Toyota Camry: Now over 6 generations old the Toyota Camry is a mid-size car assembled by Toyota. Launched in the year 1980 it's manufactured at several places around the world, viz. Tsutsumi, Japan; Georgetown, Kentucky; Altona, Victoria, Australia and Guangzhou, China. In the year 2007 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conferred a five-star safety rating for frontal crashes for both driver and passenger to the car (whether a thief or not!).

#3: Honda Accord: The car made its debut in the year 1976 as a compact hatchback and later grew up in to an intermediate vehicle. Now 8 generations old, the vehicle has received several awards such as the Consumer Search's Best Family Car, Motor Trend's Import Car of the Year, Car of the Year Japan, etc. The car has also been featuring at the European Touring Car scene since 1995. Perhaps, it high value plus the "race-ability" is what makes it attractive for a steal and run operation! Off course, they can split apart its various automotive accessories and the engine and sell it to make money.

#4: The Dodge Caravan: The Dodge Caravan and Dodge Grand Caravan are minivans manufactured by Chrysler. The sister models of the product were the Chrysler Town and Country, and the Plymouth Voyager that later became the Chrysler Voyager. Being produced since the year 1984, the automobile is now in its fifth generation.

#5: Chevrolet Full Size C/K 1500 Pickup: This full-size pickup truck line from Chevrolet continued production from 1960 until 1998. The light-duty pickup truck was replaced with the GMC Sierra in 1988 and the Chevrolet Silverado in 1999.

For more insight into thieves' favorite cars, and automobile theft, kindly follow me through the URL below.

By Mike Bartley

The auto industry has always been known to be a dynamic industry. Year in and year out, car makers look for ways to improve their production vehicles. They focus not only on the performance of their car but also in the looks of these automobiles.

That is why car designers have always played a key role in the auto industry. In connection with this, car makers are always on the lookout for promising students. Lately, the industry has found a new spot where talented car design students thrive: South Korea.

While the country has only a short time of car making history compared to Japanese and Western countries, students from the country are touted to be one of the best in the world. Koreans have been employed by car manufacturers like Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. Some attributes that these South Korean designers have that impressed chief designers from the aforementioned car makers are their technical skills, work ethic, and creativity.

Shiro Nakamura, the chief Creative Officer and Head of Design for Nissan, said that: "When I first saw the sketches that Korean students were drawing, I was utterly shocked. Their design is very emotional and powerful. I hate to say it, but they are miles ahead of Japanese students, both in terms of design sense and technique. There's no comparison". He further said that Nissan will probably hire more Korean designers this year than Japanese ones.

The most known school where South Korean designers come from is the Hongik University which is located in the country's capital. The university is the country's top fine arts school. The Seoul-based school only offered the transportation design course in 1990, last year the number of students accommodated is doubled to 120.

Aside from homegrown talents, South Korea also produced some of the best young designers in the world. On of them is Jae Chung. He did not study in South Korea but out in the West. He graduated from the Art Center in California. Today he is now working for Dodge and the interesting fact is that he penned the Dodge Demon sports coupe currently on display at the 77th Geneva International Auto Show.

Ralph Gilles, the Vice President of Design for Chrysler, has this to say about Chung: "He was born in Korea and went to school in Pasadena. And it's just like anything -you get exposed to the school, you get exposed to Chrysler and Dodge and out comes this new aesthetic."

Another Korean, and also an alumnus of the Art Center, Han Seung Lee landed a job at Honda. Lee, in turn, penned the Sports 4 Concept shown to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. This shows that Koreans have what it takes to take on the world of car designing as sure as a Mercedes H&K air filters are efficient when it comes to doing their job.

Another chief designer which expressed admiration toward Korean design students is Koichi Hayashi, Deputy General Manager of Design for Mazda. He said that: "There's a real passion among Korean designers to advance and succeed that exceeds what you see in Japanese students." Currently, he has four Korean designers working for him at their Hiroshima headquarters.

The emergence of South Korea as a source of talented car designers is a good news for Japanese car makers. Due to the similarities in language structure and working culture of Japan and South Korea, Korean designers have an edge over their Western counterparts when applying for a job in any Japanese car company. Furthermore, Koreans are more willing than Westerners to work for relatively low starting salaries offered by Japanese car companies.

According to Nakamura, "all the pieces are in place, right now, young Korean designers are most sought after by Japanese carmakers but they can make it in the West anytime." But Korean students should not rest on their laurels since in the near future - other countries in the world will also be producing design students at par with them. Countries like China, Russia, and India have all invested in training their car design students to be competitive in the auto industry.

By Matthew Keegan

Over the past several years, rumors of a pending "invasion" of the US consumer market by cheaply priced (and cheaply made) Chinese cars have surfaced from time to time.

First, it was Chery Automotive, a company sued by General Motors for having a name too close to Chevy, the nickname for GM's iconic Chevrolet brand. A company set up by Malcolm Bricklin who brought the ill-famed Yugo to our shores in the 1980s was planning to bring these same Chery cars stateside as recently as 2006, but that venture has failed and Mr. Bricklin is in a legal wrangle with his Chinese partners.

Next, it was Brilliance Auto who talked about shipping their cars to the US only to be publicly embarrassed when their flagship Brilliance BS6 (I kid you not, that is the name of this model) failed an important European crash test. Results of that test were posted to YouTube and and can still be found there today. Yes, that is the car's windshield that worked its way loose and went flying...get out of the way!

Lastly, just about every other manufacturer of Chinese cars has also promised to import their cars to the US including several with unpronounceable and clearly unforgettable names. Great Wall Motor (GWM) is one of the easier names to remember, but their cars were kicked out of Italy recently after a judge ruled that one of its models was a replica of the Fiat Panda, a charge that GWM denies.

Brilliance Auto At The 2009 NAIAS

This year's auto show in Detroit (North American International Auto Show or NAIAS) featured a handful of models from select Chinese companies, but none have promised what Brilliance Auto plans to do in 2009: put their cars on display and start selling them the same year in the US.

Brilliance has announced that they will ship their BS6 midsize sedan, BS4 compact car, BC3 sport coupe, and FRV hatchback to Detroit for the 2009 NAIAS and begin selling their cars in America later in 2009. Moreover, company officials promise that by this December each featured model will pass stringent US safety and emissions testing.

Advice For Brilliance

Though I certainly commend Brilliance for their persistence, I can offer some advice to the company before they show up in Detroit this January:

Change the name of your models - In the US, BS doesn't mean Brilliance Sedan - it wouldn't be proper etiquette to explain exactly what these two letters stand for, but it has something to do with cattle excrement.

Build better quality - The federal government will require your cars to pass US tests otherwise no Brilliance model will be allowed to enter US ports. Once you get that down, you need to make sure that your cars can stand the test of time. American drivers are picky and expect their vehicles to last without bumpers falling off, side panels rotting, or windshield panes breaking.

Hire a US PR firm - Work with a US public relations firm who understands the domestic automotive market and be ready to listen to their advice. Some of what they have to say will frustrate you, but be ready to make changes as needed. Hire a crack writing team who can properly translate documents from Mandarin to English flawlessly. American consumers will only laugh at your poorly translated documentation.

Will Brilliance succeed stateside? That depends - their cars have to be of decent quality, priced to sell, and be backed by a generous warranty. You can bet that the first time a Brilliance model is in an accident, news crews will descend to see how it withstood the crash and what damage was realized. If things get ugly, YouTube could become the worst PR nightmare for the fledging Chinese auto industry.