The Anti-American Road Show

[Variance]

No Yankee Cars: The Anti-American Road Show
From the desk of Paul Belien on Mon, 2005-11-28 16:06

Car dealers importing American cars in Belgium are on the brink of bankruptcy. For the past three months the Belgian government has been refusing to deliver the required safety certificates for the cars. Since 1 September companies importing non-European cars must be able to show European certificates guaranteeing the safety of the cars.

The Belgian authorities are making no problems for Japanese, Korean or other non-American cars, but are refusing to give safety certificates for Dodges, GMCs, Chevrolets, Chryslers, Lincolns and other American car brands. Belgian dealers can import the cars via Germany, where the certificates are delivered without any fuss, but this costs them up to an additional 3,000 euros per car – a surplus which they do not like to inflict on their customers.

There are about twenty car dealers in Belgium selling some 5,000 American cars per year. Since September, however, they have not been able to sell a single American SUV, jeep, pickup truck, or other “big American.” According to Jos Meulemans of Geronimo Automobiles in Blankenberge, one of the largest importers of American cars in Belgium, the American cars are being singled out because their gas consumption or their appearance “do not conform to the European – read: Green – culture.” He says the ministry is pestering the importers of American cars by not answering their requests for information and by claiming that the American safety belts are below standard.

One car dealer, who was interviewed last Friday in Antwerp’s daily newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen, said he is facing bankruptcy as he has not sold a single car in weeks. In the past it took only one week to get an American car cleared, but since September it has become impossible. The dealer wishes to remain anonimous “as he fears more harassment.”

Renaat Landuyt, the Socialist Belgian minister of Mobility, told the paper: “It is a matter of road safety. I will make no concessions.” Landuyt maintained that the fact that his administration is slow “proves that my people take their job seriously. One cannot be too cautious in matters regarding safety.”

Link: http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/523

[sciguy_0504]

Typical. Let them buy their VW trash.

[Flybrian]

We should recipricate and ban Belgian cars... Oh wait... Belgium doesn't have an auto industry!

[tmp]

No, but they have chocolate. Let's start a boycott of that. you can start Here

[sciguy_0504]

I'll take a Hershey's any day.

[Cory Wolfe]

I have only two words for this... F**k Belguim.

[Croc]

They really aren't hurting US carmakers any...the number of cars imported is so small. They are really just screwing over their own. I'm apathetic.

[Enzora]

No, but they have chocolate.  Let's start a boycott of that.  you can start Here

[post="50843"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

I think I've been inadvertently boycotting them for years. At any rate, I certainly haven't been helping them much.

From the article, it sounded like those dealerships were specializing in larger trucks and SUVs, and made it sound like Americans were incapable of building a good, small, efficient car. Of course, even our efficient ones don't offer 0.3 liter engines, so it's true that they're not designed for the same cultures. Which to me sounds like the real issue here. A backlash against American culture because they fear that it might overpower their own. I'm sure European Fords and Opels are still allowed. Hell, Land Rovers probably are too.

And, uh . . . I thought America had the higher safety standards. If not, why the hell did it take so long for the Elise to get here?

[Cory Wolfe]

I don't know... but I found a pic of an awesome looking 240sx. There is no where to post it so I played pick a thread. This one won. I will post it in here. Sorry. :P

[Sixty8panther]

Fly: He-he! :P

BV: Love the new sig and the 240 Notchback

And as far as Belgium goes I'm going to quote Adam Carolla:


" Dear Belgium, thank you for the Waffles, ...now F*** off! "

[Sixty8panther]

Almost forgot: WMJ your sig kicks A$$ as well! :metal:

[Croc]

No, but they have chocolate.  Let's start a boycott of that.  you can start Here

[post="50843"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

No problem there. Chocolate is food, and food is for weak people. You should be anorexic or everything about you is ugly. Edited December 1, 2005 by Croc

[thegriffon]

We should recipricate and ban Belgian cars...
Oh wait...
Belgium doesn't have an auto industry!

[post="50839"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post]

Belgium has a substantial auto industry. Ford, Volvo and Opel have large plants in Blegium. The Mondeo, Astra, Galaxy, S40/V50 and Ford S-Max are all produced in Belgium, just for starters. So go ahead, picket deliveries of S40s and V50s until they become more co-operative ;-). I'm sure the UAW could have a word with their comrades on the docks. Edited December 1, 2005 by thegriffon

[Croc]

But Belgium doesn't have any automakers headquartered there. Mexico doesn't have an industry, though it has a few plants located there because the profits from those plants go out to other countries. There are no Mexican auto corporations just like there are no Belgian auto corporations.

[thegriffon]

It still counts as an auto industry, and one that the government would like to protect, if only for the jobs it provides. If there's a plant in your state email the article to your local senator and ask for action to be taken. Something like "We appreciate your concern for safety, and will be equally demanding in the inspecton of the 30,000+ Belgian cars imported into the US every year. Will be happy to accept advice on how we can streamline the process and speed delivery of your products in future."

[Croc]

That sounds like so much work, though. I like the forgoing of eating chocolate better. And who needs diamond rings? The plastic ones for a quarter look the same in low lighting situations. Edited December 1, 2005 by Croc

[razoredge]

So long as our market continues to be flooded with cars from Japanese and Korean companies..........who cares ? All is peachy in the good ol US of A

[Sixty8panther]

Yup in the new millenium unfair practice breeds apathy. I think Griffon has the right idea! :)

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

Not surprising