Industry News: BAIC Seeks A Mid to High-Level Automaker From America or Europe

[William Maley]

Last Thursday, Beijing Automotive (BAIC) made an interesting announcement. Reuters reports the company is looking into buying a "mid to high-end brand" in Europe or the United States. If you're wondering, they have a number of companies in mind, but don't give out any names. President Dong Haiyang told reporters at a briefing in Beijing that this would allow them to break into the global marketplace much quicker.

The company already some ties in the automotive world mostly in Europe. First, the company bought the bulk of the technology that underpins the last-generation Saab 9-3 and 9-5 sedans from GM back in 2009. Then last week, the company signed a joint-investment agreement with Diamler to work on doubling production by 2015.

Source: Reuters

William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

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[Drew Dowdell]

Telsa but I doubt Elon is looking to sell at this point.

Jaguar/Land Rover, but I feel like Tata is too happy with their performance right now.

Maybe Ford could toss them Lincoln and the Chinese could finally make something of the brand. I feel like Lincoln is too damaged right now to even return.... Ford could give them up and use the money to restart Continental as its own brand again.

[G. David Felt]

Agree, I do not see anything in America going to the Chinese, Ford should go with Continental and truly let it be luxury unlike the damaged Lincoln.

Maybe they will try to buy out MB, a reversal of what MB did to Chrysler.

[FAPTurbo]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Edited April 8, 2014 by FAPTurbo

[G. David Felt]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Based on quality of china products, I figure it would kill you within the first 12 months from toxic fumes from the toxin's they mix in with their plastic to get rid of it. Breath and die the Chinese way.

[FAPTurbo]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Based on quality of china products, I figure it would kill you within the first 12 months from toxic fumes from the toxin's they mix in with their plastic to get rid of it. Breath and die the Chinese way.

Because Made in the USA is so much better! LOL!

[G. David Felt]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Based on quality of china products, I figure it would kill you within the first 12 months from toxic fumes from the toxin's they mix in with their plastic to get rid of it. Breath and die the Chinese way.

Because Made in the USA is so much better! LOL!

I would rather die supporting an american company than send my hard earned dollars overseas.

[Intrepidation]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Based on quality of china products, I figure it would kill you within the first 12 months from toxic fumes from the toxin's they mix in with their plastic to get rid of it. Breath and die the Chinese way.

Because Made in the USA is so much better! LOL!

I would rather die supporting an american company than send my hard earned dollars overseas.

You should buy a first gen Equinox then. Nothing more `Merican than the hum of that Chinese built V6.

[G. David Felt]

Why not Pontiac? Instant name-recognition and Pontiac used to be regarded as something of a 'mid level' brand. Plus the SAAB platforms would already make for sport-oriented driving.

I'd imagine that the Chinese would actually know how to differentiate Excitement from EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!! unlike GM.

Based on quality of china products, I figure it would kill you within the first 12 months from toxic fumes from the toxin's they mix in with their plastic to get rid of it. Breath and die the Chinese way.

Because Made in the USA is so much better! LOL!

I would rather die supporting an american company than send my hard earned dollars overseas.

You should buy a first gen Equinox then. Nothing more `Merican than the hum of that Chinese built V6.

Nope, I'm a V8 man and that is all I drive. American V8 on CNG!