We were zipping along through the Central African countryside these past few days with this nice black, mid-size SUV blazing a path for us. For once in my long, car-loving life, I could not recognize the make or model. From the rear, it looked like a jacked up Honda CRV and from the side, a Mitsubishi. Finally, as I was able to catch up with it and snap a photo, I recoiled in horror as I realized the car was Chinese.
Granted, it's a pretty car but as usual, this black beast represented China's best efforts at copying others. This is not the first time I've ranted on this topic but I'm getting more and more irritated at these cars squeezing there way into markets where regulation is a suggestion at best. This car is from Great Wall Motors and I've had the unfortunate pleasure to see them displayed at some Asian car shows. Keep in mind, all Chinese cars are banned from Europe, not due to trade restriction but for safety. The same applies in the US.
Granted again, the cars look ok but I would never put my family in them based on many public crash test results which exposed their design flaws. I know I know, China will eventually make a decent car that can be sold world wide but at what cost? The obvious disregard for human safety, not only in the car industry, but from many products coming out of China is staggeringly disturbing. Listen China, study the industry, don't copy it. Spend a bit more and put safety into your products, your people will thank you for it. For those that import these sub-par machines, same applies to you buddy!
photo: Burundi says oh yes, we'll take'em!
photo: Burundi says oh yes, we'll take'em!
