DaimlerChrysler to Import Chinese-Built Chryslers to North America?

GM Already Powers Chevy Equinox with Chinese-Made V6 Engines

Alarm bells started ringing in Detroit and across the river in Windsor when Ruediger Grube, head of DaimlerChrysler's Chinese division announced that

DaimlerChrysler's Chinese division may build new Chrysler's destined for the North American market, but not existing products like the 300. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

his organization may build new Chrysler's destined for the North American market.

"We would like to establish here in China an export joint venture for Chrysler products," Grube told reporters on the sidelines of the Shanghai auto show. "Today we are not talking about Europe. We are talking about North America."

Later, during an interview with Reuters, Grube declined offer more detail about the plan.

"Exploring the idea and actually doing it are worlds apart," he added. "We are being very cautious on this because we see how quickly market conditions can change, in China as well."

It's not like the potential for such an announcement was unexpected, but more like

It was inevitable that a North American-based automaker would eventually consider building its compact models in China. Only time will tell if Chrysler Group will. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

someone with a terminal disease being told that he only has three months to live. In other words, it was inevitable that a North American-based automaker would eventually consider building its compact models in China, and exporting them to its home market.

After all, the North American manufacturing industry has been under siege from foreign markets with cheaper labour costs for years, but the domestic auto industry seemed sacrosanct, or at least it was previously thought that the Big 3 would refrain from importing new models from China in an effort to compete.