Ex-Mitsubishi Boss Pierre Gagnon leaves Malcolm Bricklin's Visionary Vehicles

"One of the risks is definitely quality in any start-up, and it's difficult to commit to Lexus-type quality with

"I think it's 90-plus percent that Chery Automobiles will make it to the United States," commented Stewart. (Photo: Visionary Vehicles)

a five-year-old company, and by 2007 they'll (Chery) be five years old," Gagnon stated.

Bricklin retorted that neither executive had been with Visionary long enough to visit Chery's factory in China, and therefore couldn't make a judgment on expected quality.

But the ex-Mitsubishi execs are still bullish that Chery will find its way to North America, eventually.

"I think it's 90-plus percent that Chery Automobiles will make it to the United States," commented Stewart, "and 99 percent that it won't happen with Malcolm Bricklin."

Stewart may be right. Bricklin plans for 250 dealers across the U.S., and expects each to invest $2- to $4-million in Visionary.

Bricklin plans for 250 dealers across the U.S., and expects each to invest $2- to $4-million in Visionary. (Photo: Visionary Vehicles)

With money tight, most dealer principals are hanging on to what they have and riding out the most competitive market the auto sector has ever experienced. A week into June and Visionary has yet to announce one single new dealer.

But when asked whether any new dealers had signed on to Visionary's vision, Bricklin responded, "The answer is yes; the number is what you're not going to get."

The entrepreneur continued that his business would take out an ad in Automotive News in two weeks time which would reveal the number of new Visionary dealers. "I think everybody will be surprised," he added.