Comments on: Audi’s new Chinese plant to begin production next month

By: Biker

Biker — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:25:47 +0000

New Mercedes C-Class owners – eat your heart out. Made in (South) Africa.
It is all about economies of scale and cost of labor at the end of the day. When you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

By: demonaz

demonaz — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:36:43 +0000

Flying High, your comment is extremely offensive. Basically, you’re saying that Chinese people and culture do not value quality and will never will.

Thing is, you don’t know anything about Chinese culture, CHinese history, or the language.

I bet you’ve also never sat in a Chinese-made BMW, Mercedes Benz or Audi before have you?

By: BlueMan

BlueMan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:42:34 +0000

Chinese steel poor quality? Your kidding right?
Many aircraft quality materials come from China, and are trusted just as much as any other source.
Where do you think most of the aero & automotive fasteners that are ued throughout the world come from?

By: Flying High

Flying High — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:21:48 +0000

Sadly, this does will not auger well for Audi from a quality point of view. China and quality are not synonymous. And it has nothing to do with how many years of manufacturing they have under their belt. China has been manufacturing for nigh on a century. It is simply cultural – and quality is not something that has been or is likely to ever be part of their cultural make up.

By: observer

observer — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:54:02 +0000

In theory country of manufacture shouldn’t impact on build quaility….right?

So please explain why VW boasted that their current Gen 5 Golf is being sourced from Germany unlike the previous Gen 4 Golf which was built in South Africa and built up a reputation of inconsistant build quality.

Honda does a great job with Thailand sourced built vehiles so it really comes down to “best practice” production systems and quality control.

If car manufactures are not ashamed of where there cars are built then they should have more transparancy in their marketing materials and not just when it suits them.

By: Bavarian Missile but not for much longer :(

Bavarian Missile but not for much longer :( — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:11:13 +0000

Bimmerc…..”BIG” difference in what the Chinese get in China made Audi to what they will now export.

Audi allowed them to be sold in China only up till now and not to export ,quality a big difference.

If you own an imported car in China you are considered rich an Audi isnt an import to them currently.

Products we have made in China are made from Jap steel so I imagine the exported Audi will be too.

By: DGS

DGS — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:11:29 +0000

Material Guy,

you pretty much nailed it. It is the quality of the materials that will determine what the car is regardless of how well designed or engineered it is.

Would be interesting to compare a 5 year old BMW made in china with a 5 year old BMW made in Germany that have endured simular lives.

The Chinese made modle will probably have electrical troubles (cheap wiring), a few chassis cracks ( ? Steel), torn leather (too thin or reconsittuted leather) and brittle or distorted plastics.

The “build” quality may be the same, but the durability isn’t. One day China will get its act into gear, but that day has not yet dawned.

By: Bimmerc

Bimmerc — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:42:58 +0000

VW has established their factory in China for more than 20 years, and Audi started their production in early 90′s. There should be no problems for Audi.
There wasn’t as much automation and robotics in 80s, but now, there almost no differece at production line between China or Germany. Therefore, the standard is up there!

By: material_guy

material_guy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:34:47 +0000

It will all depend on where they source their materials from – I wouldn’t trust high strength Chinese steel & that’s what the most critical part of a vehicle, the chassis, is made from.

By: Bavarian Missile but not for much longer :(

Bavarian Missile but not for much longer :( — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:25:16 +0000

Thailand use to make real junk in the 80s, they have come a looooooooong way. China arent up to their standard yet so two words for Audi “GOOD LUCK” .