North American analysts familiar with the Asian auto industry have been saying that Canada and the U.S. would be seeing inexpensive vehicles built in China before the end of this decade, but now it looks like it might be even sooner than that.
It seems that Malcolm Bricklin, of the Bricklin and the Yugo and other automotive disasters, and a group that includes Canadian business veteran Maurice Strong has signed a deal with China's Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. to import and sell as many as 250,000 vehicles in North America, perhaps by 2007.
Following traditional sales breakdowns across the continent, that would mean about 20,000 to 25,000 sales a year in Canada.
Visionary Vehicles LLC of New York says it will be the "first major importer of Chinese cars to North America," specifically a "full-line of high-quality, luxury-styled, affordable cars" from Chery Automobile Company, a car company owned by a local government in Anhui Province's Wuhu Economy and Technology Development Zone.
Chery is one of the so-called "young lions" of the Chinese auto industry and it has big plans for big market share in its home market and the rest of the world. So far, it is mostly famous for selling inexpensive cars that sometimes look a great deal like cars from other companies. Indeed, GM has started legal proceedings against Chery over just such an issue.
In the next couple of years, however, Chery will start to build unique-looking cars from such famous stylists as Bertone and Pininfarina. For 2007, Bricklin's plans call for his dealers to be selling an entry-level compact sedan, a mid-size sedan, a crossover-type sedan, an SUV, and a sport-luxury coupe.
They will be targeted to be priced 30 percent below comparable models currently being sold in the marketplace, says Bricklin, and will have a warranty equal to the best in the industry -- 10-years or 160,000 km.
For the time being, Bricklin's biggest challenge will involve finding the dealers to launch his lineup of cars. He's looking for about 250 stores to start, and he is asking a great deal of each owner. "These dealers must be willing to invest everything necessary to ensure all of our success," Bricklin says, "and by doing so get to own a piece of everyone's game."
For the consumer, Bricklin is promising that Visionary Vehicles will "also introduce a new retail experience for its consumers and is in the process of creating a revolutionary new design and consumer-friendly environment for the planned self-standing dealer facilities."
Canadian Maurice Strong is one of Visionary's senior executives, Bricklin says, as the chairman of its technology and environmental advisory board.
In that role, the former chairman of Ontario Hydro, Petro Canada, and the Power Corporation will have a considerable challenge to start out since none of Chery's existing engines are likely to meet North America's stringent emissions regulations.
Yin Tongyao, the president of Chery Automobile Company, says, "The North American automobile market is complex, competitive and always changing. We are looking forward to working with Visionary Vehicles and taking advantage of Malcolm's expertise as we enter it."
It seems that Malcolm Bricklin, of the Bricklin and the Yugo and other automotive disasters, and a group that includes Canadian business veteran Maurice Strong has signed a deal with China's Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. to import and sell as many as 250,000 vehicles in North America, perhaps by 2007.
Following traditional sales breakdowns across the continent, that would mean about 20,000 to 25,000 sales a year in Canada.
Visionary Vehicles LLC of New York says it will be the "first major importer of Chinese cars to North America," specifically a "full-line of high-quality, luxury-styled, affordable cars" from Chery Automobile Company, a car company owned by a local government in Anhui Province's Wuhu Economy and Technology Development Zone.
Chery is one of the so-called "young lions" of the Chinese auto industry and it has big plans for big market share in its home market and the rest of the world. So far, it is mostly famous for selling inexpensive cars that sometimes look a great deal like cars from other companies. Indeed, GM has started legal proceedings against Chery over just such an issue.
In the next couple of years, however, Chery will start to build unique-looking cars from such famous stylists as Bertone and Pininfarina. For 2007, Bricklin's plans call for his dealers to be selling an entry-level compact sedan, a mid-size sedan, a crossover-type sedan, an SUV, and a sport-luxury coupe.
They will be targeted to be priced 30 percent below comparable models currently being sold in the marketplace, says Bricklin, and will have a warranty equal to the best in the industry -- 10-years or 160,000 km.
For the time being, Bricklin's biggest challenge will involve finding the dealers to launch his lineup of cars. He's looking for about 250 stores to start, and he is asking a great deal of each owner. "These dealers must be willing to invest everything necessary to ensure all of our success," Bricklin says, "and by doing so get to own a piece of everyone's game."
For the consumer, Bricklin is promising that Visionary Vehicles will "also introduce a new retail experience for its consumers and is in the process of creating a revolutionary new design and consumer-friendly environment for the planned self-standing dealer facilities."
Canadian Maurice Strong is one of Visionary's senior executives, Bricklin says, as the chairman of its technology and environmental advisory board.
In that role, the former chairman of Ontario Hydro, Petro Canada, and the Power Corporation will have a considerable challenge to start out since none of Chery's existing engines are likely to meet North America's stringent emissions regulations.
Yin Tongyao, the president of Chery Automobile Company, says, "The North American automobile market is complex, competitive and always changing. We are looking forward to working with Visionary Vehicles and taking advantage of Malcolm's expertise as we enter it."
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