Import or not?

[VaporS197]

Okay, none of you guys attacked me, so I assume you see that I'm not trying to call out Chevy for building the Camaro in Canada, or testing it in Europe and Australia...

I'm American - a mut of Italy, Ireland and Scotland (and more, I'm sure), so I don't have a problem with anything we're talking about.

I was distinctively worried that GM was going the route of Chrysler and just outsourcing their vehicles. That would offend me. I can definitely see how this could get out of control, but I was far from trying to start an argument.

[GothamCamaro]

Originally Posted by JohnS

I've always felt that a vehicle's brand nationality should be where the vehicle's corporate headquarters is located. e.g. even though BMW's & Nissans are built in the States, they are still German and Japanese respectively, in my humble opinion. GM's headquarters is in the USA, so I feel, even though the Camaro will be built in Canada, it's an American car.

I'm with John on this one. At the end of the day, I'll be driving my awesome Camaro on American soil.

GC

[VaporS197]

I'm a fan of the Subaru STI. I would drive that, on any soil. And that's cool and all, but not what I was getting at.

I'm not a hater. I owned an Xterra for years. I've owned many japanese sportbikes. But not what I am talking about, bro.

[Croathlete]

I don't know if anyone has seen the episode of Top Gear where they reviewed the Ford GT. They gave it great reviews, but of course poked fun at it at the end. They talked about how the brakes were from this country, transmission from another, etc.

That might be true, but it was an American company that put all those pieces of existing technology together to make an amazing, unique car. This is done all the time in many different industries. In the defense industry, we take off the shelf commercial products, add some military specifications and sell it as ours. When you're making something brand new, why reinvent the entire wheel when you can use something else as a good base to work from?

[VaporS197]

Originally Posted by Croathlete

I don't know if anyone has seen the episode of Top Gear where they reviewed the Ford GT. They gave it great reviews, but of course poked fun at it at the end. They talked about how the brakes were from this country, transmission from another, etc.

That might be true, but it was an American company that put all those pieces of existing technology together to make an amazing, unique car. This is done all the time in many different industries. In the defense industry, we take off the shelf commercial products, add some military specifications and sell it as ours. When you're making something brand new, why reinvent the entire wheel when you can use something else as a good base to work from?

Good point

[VaporS197]

Guess what really bothers me is that creativity with certain American brands seems to have gone bye-bye. Where's the American ingenuity that we saw for the past hundred years? It's as if we rely on our laurels and sit back now and nothing new is coming out of this country, whether it be automobiles or television (too much British television today...and Top Gear are full of morons).

Again, I don't want to take this thread on a political discussion, so I'll stop there. But am I over-analyzing this?

[GTAHVIT]

Ok here's how I score it.
I'll use Chrysler as my example - When Chrysler merged with Mercedees the CEO of Mercedees testified before congress that the US tax code was too restrictive and said that they would be use Dailmer's headquarters in Germany as the Dailmer-Chrysler HQ.

Hold that thought.

Now as far as GM and Ford go. I have to accept the fact that a global economy is the norm and relationships will be forged with companies outside of the US. I don't know how you can draw a line in the sand to say if a certain percentage of the car is from outside the US then it isn't American. Too complicated for me.

So, I say if the company was founded and is still based in the US, its product is American. Does that mean the 100% of the car may have originated outside our borders. Yup! And I'm okay with it.

Maybe it's true. The "All" American Muscle Car is dead.

Do companies even say american made anymore?

[TAG UR IT]

I saw this thread and saw two pages already...said *wow*, this is a hot thread, and then read post #1.

After reading all the posts, I'm surprised no one has taken a "solid stand!" Good job once again, folks.

[VaporS197]

What's your stand? Cause apparently you don't have one...

[Pencil.Fight]

If I'm not mistaken, you're question is more about "who" is making the car and less about "where".

The Camaro is being designed in Australia and will be produced in Canada. However, it is being designed by GM employees in Australia and will be produced by GM employees in Canada.

I can't speak for all of the little parts, but the majority of the pieces that will go into making this car are being produced by GM as well.

Rest assured that Chevy did not just stroll down the Sports Car aisle at the grocery store when putting together this car. A lot of people put in a lot of hard work (and continue to do so) in order to bring the American ideals of the Camaro to life once again.

I think the things that make a car "American" have a lot more to do with things as simple as location. American cars have a certain ideal that goes along with them, whether they're made in Detroit, Canada or Australia.

[35th02ss]

I see, how much content of the car will be from the USA. Thats a good question........Look at the current car coming out of Canada or the HHR from Mexico. Also remember that the plant the Camaro is going to built is the Number 1 plant in North America. You can't get any better than that.

[VaporS197]

You make some good points, Pencil. Don't worry, they're not going over my head, and I absolutely agree with you. I like the way you put it, though. Maybe in the back of my mind I was thinking that GM did just that - strolled down the aisle and picked and pulled... But it's okay to hear that I'm wrong, too...

What do you mean by number 1 plant in North America, 35?

[DGthe3]

Nobody has taken a stand on this so I will.

The Camaro is an American car. Always has been, always will be. Does it matter that 4th gens were made in Quebec? Not to me. Its still an American car. Do I get fooled into thinking that the Civics that are made north of Toronto are Canadian and not Japanesse? Nope. For the new Camaro where was it created: America, where was the engineering done America and Austrailia, who builds it: America and Canada , who funded it: America, and who gets the profits: America. I'm happy that the new Camaro is being built in Oshawa, mainly because our plants are the best in north america and that will help with the quality of the Camaro. I would feel the same way if it was being built in Michigan, Luisianna, Tennesee, or Mexica. There is the other side issue of the fact that it will be made in Canada

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by VaporS197

What do you mean by number 1 plant in North America, 35?

The plant won the JD Power Gold Award for initial quality in 2006, 2005, 2003, 2002; as well a numerous other individual awards for the specific models it produces. In 2007, the plant won silver for initial quality, and a Gold Best in Segment award for the Pontiac Grand Prix, and Bronze Best in Segment for the Monte Carlo.

It has also recieve awards for productivity and efficiency as well