Model Train Journal

I realize this is from FOX but it's about auto's and not politics so I figured I would get hit up side the head with a couple of 2 X 4s. I think I can survive that.

China-made Ford Focus revealed ahead of exports to U.S. next year
http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2018/04/10/ ... -year.html

Ford has unveiled its next-generation Focus compact that is set to be the first vehicle that the automaker imports from China to the United States. It is shifting small car production overseas to make room for more domestic truck and SUV production to better meet growing demand for the larger vehicles.

It's just the beginning. In my opinion China will dominate our auto market in the near future. They already produce 25% of the electric cars in the world.

He is correct with his numbers, I looked it up.

The middle priced 2018 Ford Focus ST starting price is $30,538 USD. Add 25% for the new Trump Tariff on Chinese goods and we have $38,172. Probably still cheaper than building it in the USA.

Wait! You say it will only cost $39.95 if it is made in China? Could be...

My collection of Chinese knock-offs of the Mont Blanc Meisterstruck 149 fountain pens cost $0.99 each (free shipping) direct from China.




Do the math: $985/1000 = $0.99. $30,838/1000 = $30.84. Add 25% tariff and you have $38.55 for a Ford Focus ST delivered to your door by the USPS.

I do not have a Mont Blanc but all the fountain pen reviewers say the Jinhao 159 writes equally well as the Mont Blanc 149.

Yeah, but look what you can get from Alibaba. They are the Chinese version of Amazon.
https://www.alibaba.com/showroom/buy-ca ... china.html

Wayne, you do speak Chinese now. Right ???

HONDO74 wrote:It is shifting small car production overseas to make room for more domestic truck and SUV production to better meet growing demand for the larger vehicles.

Maybe that bears a little more thought. Ford's business seems to be heavily based in the truck & SUV market and not in the rest of the auto market domestically. Their sales in their focused area is driving this decision. Shifting production of a car to the country where the demand is growing would seem smart and also avoids the import tariff there.

It's just the beginning. In my opinion China will dominate our auto market in the near future. They already produce 25% of the electric cars in the world.

Maybe. Yet at the same time Daimler is putting a Billion into a plant in Alabama. We have a lot of "foreign" cars made in the US now. I doubt that will decrease.

As for China's production of electric vehicles, no surprise - they have a very serious air pollution issue that they need to continue to respond to that is otherwise costing them.

As for China's production of electric vehicles, no surprise - they have a very serious air pollution issue that they need to continue to respond to that is otherwise costing them.

Yeah, and look at those vehicles on Alibaba. Those aren't cars! Their death traps.

BH

up148 wrote:

As for China's production of electric vehicles, no surprise - they have a very serious air pollution issue that they need to continue to respond to that is otherwise costing them.

Yeah, and look at those vehicles on Alibaba. Those aren't cars! Their death traps.

The US has a DOT that sort of tries to make things safe for people despite what amounts to resistance to every effort on our behalf.

China has......

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
China has......

...a surplus of expendable humans?

webenda wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:
China has......

...a surplus of expendable humans?

That was one of the implications.