TBSS Factory rims made in CHINA

[c72lt1]

Man,

What a deal, my good old apple pie, "drove my Chevy to the leeve" has aluminum rims made in CHINA. Look inside the rim if you doubt.

Can you believe it, what is this world coming to? Have never though that Chinese made tools and products I have purchased as good as other Asian products. Such as from Japan.

Quite disappointed, bought a Chevy based upon some sense of supporting US workers and economy.

Well Global ecomomy hey.

[Envoy Fan]

the wheels being made in China might be a reason for the less than great finish on them.

[blktbz]

everything is made in china, even "made in america" stickers...lol:D

[TBSSTony]

[rant on]

Living in a town with a GM factory, and meeting many of the workers there, I'm not bothered at all that it's not 100% American. To me "made in America" is actually a negative many times. I don't see any of this "American pride" you guys think you're paying for. Besides it's a global economy and paying someone $100,000/yr to slap a few bolts on is a joke.

[/rant on]

[Obsessed]

In order for it to be considered "Made in America", very little of the vehicle has to actually be made here. The government has given breaks to MANY different companies and products in that matter.

Just another example...in order for a product to be called natural, only 10% of the ingrediants have to be natural.

[Gnfanatic]

The new Z06 rims are made in China to. The car has to have min of 60% of North American parts to be considered Domestic made. It does matter to me. What also matters is who owns. Camrys are made here but Jap owned, no thanks.



Ralph

[C6 and TBSS]

the finish on these Chinese rims is much better than the finish on the 2005 C6 polished rims that were made in the USA.

[JJ]

One of those stories.in 1989 we bought a Cadillac Seville,about the same time there was a TV ad showing a Cadillac shooting down Jap Zero's. My wife struck a nail that went thru the sidewall so I took the wheel and tire off to get the tire replaced. Guess what!!! Inside the rim Made in Japan and that's a true story.:eek:

[Silver_06]

So GM has wheels made in China (guess where the ENTIRE Chevy Equinox engine comes from BTW) and many of the Japanese auto manufacturers get their wheels from an Enkei plant, a Japanese wheel company, in Columbus, Indiana...I used to work there. And GM used to get a lot of wheels from those guys too. So how does an American company buying wheels made by Americans working for a Japanese company work out?

And your radio came from Mexico.

[ltz03]

i do my best to buy american but its tough some of the stuff made here sux like stereos i maean look at home theater stuff, what most of us can afford that is ok stuff is made in japan or china, but if you look at the real high high end stuff 15g for an amp, 40g for 2 15" subs 250g, 7g for a FN silver s-video cable(yes those are the #'s for that stuff, CRAZY!! for the rest of the speakers that stuff is made in america weird but it is but ant way our wheels are made over seas, go around you house and look at the stuff and most of it will be from overseas

[Dave]

Just look at your home computer. Everything is made somewhere else. My Thai hard drive just dumped so I had to buy another one (Taiwan version) and had to reinstall Windows. I had a problem with windows so they connected me to a technician in India. It worked so I'm happy.

It is definitely a world economy. But what pisses me off is when certain companies sell their goods in the states cheaper then in there home countries. Just about everyone is allowed to do it.

[ieatglue]

Well, i'm made in Saudi Arabia but I bench twice as much than those Japanese people in class :rotfl:

[Gnfanatic]

Best motherboards in the world are made in Taiwan. In the old days practically everything in the computer was designed and engineered here. COMPAQ,NEC,TEXAS INSTRUMENTS etc etc.

It really is a shame and I blame it on greed and congress. This country should have a massive retaliation agaisnt congress, I say 90% of them should lose there seat and pension.

[blktbz]

Best motherboards in the world are made in Taiwan. In the old days practically everything in the computer was designed and engineered here. COMPAQ,NEC,TEXAS INSTRUMENTS etc etc.

It really is a shame and I blame it on greed and congress. This country should have a massive retaliation agaisnt congress, I say 90% of them should lose there seat and pension.
its not greed or congress really, its just the fact that they are much smarter in Asia...they have the brains and the factories, so why not...

[Gnfanatic]

LOL, that is a very stupid thing to say. Most of that stuff is/was engineered here. We have very bright Engineers/scientists here. We have the brains, technology and people. Problem is when someone brings it voer there they get paid 10% of what we get paid. Congress allows this and then other companies have to follow or they will close there doors.

[blktbz]

LOL, that is a very stupid thing to say. Most of that stuff is/was engineered here. We have very bright Engineers/scientists here. We have the brains, technology and people. Problem is when someone brings it voer there they get paid 10% of what we get paid. Congress allows this and then other companies have to follow or they will close there doors.
theyre smart right out of the box though..i saw a japanese girl on TV, came to the states 2 years ago, shes winning spelling bees..shes known the language for a year...maybe its congress's fault, i dont know, but you cant deny that they put out pretty good products...

[Gnfanatic]

They are smart out of the box??OK, thats amazing they must not be human. You telling me once they pop out of the vagina they know how to talk?? Who denied they had good products? They have bright people as well, without a doubt. China is a problem, simple as that. Some people seem to forget they are communist country and dont like us. There elader is building up there military like there is no tomorrow. I dont trust that country and I know our gov, s. korea and many others dont.

[blktbz]

They are smart out of the box??OK, thats amazing they must not be human. You telling me once they pop out of the vagina they know how to talk?? Who denied they had good products? They have bright people as well, without a doubt. China is a problem, simple as that. Some people seem to forget they are communist country and dont like us. There elader is building up there military like there is no tomorrow. I dont trust that country and I know our gov, s. korea and many others dont.
so why do you drive your truck if you dont like Asia? i bet 50% of the parts on it are from there...w/e dude, i dont wanna start a big argument...

[Gnfanatic]

Simple, it comes from an American OWNED company. It is assembled here and I believe over 65% is made in North America. I love the looks and performance. Only think I cant stand is the clutch fan, which will be taken care of soon. Have a nice day.

[Dave]

Please keep it cool on this thread. It is a touchy subject but it is a fact of life. Our favorite vehicles will have foreign parts in them. There is no avoiding it.

The problem is not the talent of the workers on either side of the oceans. The problem is that we are not (and can not) work for as much as they do. It is cheaper for a US company to go overseas to perform a lot of tasks. What use to be unskilled tasks now is turning into skilled tasks. Manufacturers are required to list what % of non North American parts are on their new cars, including where the engine and transmission comes from. You must then decide if it is American enough for you.

Foreign workers are not more skilled then domestic workers, they just demand less pay and benefits. A lot of foreigners receieve their education right here in the US also.

We will continue to see jobs go overseas until our government does something about it. A lot of foreign companies build their goods in the US to get around the import tariffs. That is why you see Japanese and German companies building their cars in the US cheaper then they could in their own country. They know the average American would be more willing to buy their car if it was built in the US also. Personally, I would want my Mercedes to be made in Suttgart and my BMW in Bavaria.

After we pay our taxes and just living expenses, we can not afford to work for a cheap wage.

[Gnfanatic]

Dave, I agree 100%. Not to mention labor laws there. They dont get paid mroe for overtime, etc etc. Other companies are going through the same thing. Mercedes is not made by many Germans anymore. I heard alot of uKrainians work there factories?? Only 2 VW in the whole line up is made in germany. Japan puts a very heavy tariff on imports, inlcuding US. Why doesnt our Gov do that?? They diont care, they have money, they have jon stability and they have a pension.

[steined]

We will continue to see jobs go overseas until our government does something about it. A lot of foreign companies build their goods in the US to get around the import tariffs. That is why you see Japanese and German companies building their cars in the US cheaper then they could in their own country. They know the average American would be more willing to buy their car if it was built in the US also.

The government can do nothing about it. If they stop it by means of tarrifs, they just hurt the people who can't afford to pay the inflated wages demanded by US workers for jobs that others are willing to do for less.

The Jap and German companies don't build cars there to avoid tarrifs, there are no tarrifs here on CARS (trucks are a different story). They build them here because, at least currently, they can pay their employees less, the US has cheaper land and less regulation (hard to believe but true) than the Japanese or Germans, and they don't have Unions in the us (yet) because they locate their plants in economically depressed areas where people are just happy to get a job and they are happy to work for the wages offered. In Japan, it costs BIG $$$ to build a plant as they have limited real estate, here land is cheap.

Building cars in the US does build consumer good will.

With regard to the SS wheels being made in China... If they didn't build those wheels in China, we would never have an SS. The driving lights are also made there. The only things that GM can afford to make in the US when paying UAW (or IEW) wages are things they make 100s of thousands of. The SS is low volume and the costs to make dies, tools, equipment for a low volume vehicle would drive up the costs beyond what we would be willing to pay.

So the SS is a perfect example of how foreign made parts are GOOD for us. The SS is more affordable and a reality as a result.

[Gnfanatic]

Thats a very good point as well. We do jhave alot of foreign companies here. Problem is the money goes back to there country. Good thing is they create jobs. UAW has to go, simple as that. they prpotect the lazy, disgruntled workers and over pay everyone. I dont like union and never will be part of it.

[Silver_06]

its not greed or congress really, its just the fact that they are much smarter in Asia...they have the brains and the factories, so why not...

I work for a very large Japanese electronics company and your statement couldn't be any more wrong. I'll just say they are not at all efficient and they wow the world by presenting the most overly complicated polished turds. Let me give you an example. I used to drive a 2005 Lexus IS300 wagon. I hit a curb with the right rear wheel. Upon inspecting the car, did the wheel break...nope, wasn't even out of true. Did the lower control arm give way...no. Rather, the entire rear subframe blew out. So these "smart" designers made the rear frame of the car weaker than any of the parts connected to it. They and the media have done a wonderful job pulling the wool over the publics collective eyes.

And if the Chinese would properly value their currency rather than this voodoo relationship to other world currencies, it sure wouldn't be that cheap to manufacture/design over there especially when factoring in what is currently spent travel and shipping. Anyone remember earlier this year or late last year when China just raised it's currencly value like 0.25 points? This was after a U.S. congressman (Schumer I think) threatend tariffs. 0.25 points overnight...doens't seem suspicious at all does it? And don't get me started on the latest management pipe dream about China graduating 60,000 engineers a year. Who cares. They have a long ways to go before catching the quality of our engineering schools. I can sit here all night and rattle off examples of rediclious designs coming from Asia but I'll step off of my soap box now.

[Gnfanatic]

:woot: :woot: :woot: John, you smart mofo you. Hope the kid is doing well.


Ralph

[Dave]

Unions are a big problem in this country. The unions rather see their companies go bankrupt then cut wages. But then again, CEOs and upper management rather see their companies go bankrupt (they'll bail out before it does) then take a pay or benefit cut.

CEOs need to make as much as their company does. They shouldn't have a golden parachute to bail them out.

Unions were a thing of the past when we didn't have competition from overseas.

Germans do get paid big wages with great benefits. They make ours look like a joke. It doesn't surprise me that their companies are building cars here. A German back in the 90s received around $250 a month for kindergeld (child care) for one child and it increased as you had more children. Germans also use to get paid about $100 a day for being in the hospital overnight (krank pay). And that doesn't include the strict labor laws.

[Gnfanatic]

Is this why German cars and parts are big bucks?? I heard Porsche has the largest profit margin then any oither car manufacturer.

[Dave]

The German cars also have status. Having a Mercedes emblem on the front of the car is real big for status and it is known world-wide. They can charge more because of their car's reputations.

Porshe is in a different league because of status. You know that when you buy a Porshe, you bought one of the top performance cars in the world. Like they say "There is no substitute". You will pay the price though and the options on a 911 are endless and expensive. They also had the financial backing of VW. I don't think we'll ever see a Porshe built out side of Germany (I could be wrong) but it would be like building the Vette in Mexico or China.

But the Germans also have other manufacturers that are not over here. One is Opel, which is owned by GM.

VW is about the cheapest German car that you'll find in the US and it is well equipped even in its stock form. It is a lot cheaper to buy a VW, Mercedes, BMW, Porshe or Audi in the US compared to Germany. Power windows are options over there on a lot of their cars.

[bomehdar]

now evry thing made in china becuse they need the price to be cheap and thy forget the quality:crazy:

[kendico]

The last comparison that I saw of auto workers around the world, German auto workers made about half what our auto workers make and Japanese auto workers made about a third. You must remember that our auto workers that have been with the company for any period of time makes over $100,000 a year. However, our auto worker efficiency rate per employee is superior to any other country.

Our engineers still design the bulk of the high-tech goods such as computer parts, but it is much cheaper to build them in places where workers make 50 cents an hour or perhaps Mexico were they might make $5 an hour. This of course saves the American consumers money.

Building cars (German and Japanese) here in the states is mostly a factor of currency valuation differences and also that most of the cars being built here are strictly for the US market.

I really hate to see us helping out the Chinese economy, but I guess it is just a fact of life. What seems to be the most important to me is whether the company making the money is an American based company or a foreign owned company, perhaps German or Japanese.

Our BMW's have always had at least 7% more markup than our Cadillacs. That is a chunk of money when you are talking about a $40-80,000 cars!

[Dave]

Some European manufacturers seem to me more technically advanced then us. Look at some of the options on their top cars. I can see why our companies are in trouble though if we are paying them 6 digit figures to build cars. Don't forget the Germans get tons of benefits though that we don't (free health/dental, daycare, strict work hours, 30 vacation days, etc). As far as efficiency goes, you may be correct although I wonder why it is mostly our companies that are having serious financial troubles. Germans are also known for their efficiency also.

[BluavalancheZ71]

ok u have russian parts, american parts all made in tawian!!!

ALL of the sensors and wiring harness and major assemblies in our vehicles are made out of the country. Basically the only things that are not are the frame and engine and other major mechanical pieces

[kendico]

Some European manufacturers seem to me more technically advanced then us. Look at some of the options on their top cars. I can see why our companies are in trouble though if we are paying them 6 digit figures to build cars. Don't forget the Germans get tons of benefits though that we don't (free health/dental, daycare, strict work hours, 30 vacation days, etc). As far as efficiency goes, you may be correct although I wonder why it is mostly our companies that are having serious financial troubles. Germans are also known for their efficiency also.

American engineers have developed virtually everything on automobiles from power windows/door locks to ABS brakes, traction control, auto transmissions, DOHC, and on and on. Some of these things have their beginnings dated as far back as the 1920's. Bosch has made a few contributions such as the fuel injector. The American car companies have a huge bag of goodies that goes unused because they aren't viable in the market place because of price. They are simply too expensive for use on the more moderately priced American cars.

Our auto workers have benefits that put the others to shame, including the Germans. The biggest problem with the American companies are slumping sales and at the same time these costly benefits paid to present and retired employees. Like health care for the employee for life and then even carrying on after they die for their spouse, and the health insurance is primary with Medicare being secondary. The US workers would laugh at thirty days vacation. They have more time off than that and have had for over 30 years.

The American car companies were so much larger than the other car companies in the world for so many years that they have a huge numbers of retirees (GM alone has well over a million retirees) collecting very nice pensions and costly benefits. Toyota is really the only other car company in the same size league as GM and Ford, although others are catching up fast.

[kendico]

I work for a very large Japanese electronics company and your statement couldn't be any more wrong. I'll just say they are not at all efficient and they wow the world by presenting the most overly complicated polished turds. Let me give you an example. I used to drive a 2005 Lexus IS300 wagon. I hit a curb with the right rear wheel. Upon inspecting the car, did the wheel break...nope, wasn't even out of true. Did the lower control arm give way...no. Rather, the entire rear subframe blew out. So these "smart" designers made the rear frame of the car weaker than any of the parts connected to it. They and the media have done a wonderful job pulling the wool over the publics collective eyes.

And if the Chinese would properly value their currency rather than this voodoo relationship to other world currencies, it sure wouldn't be that cheap to manufacture/design over there especially when factoring in what is currently spent travel and shipping....

Very true. :yes:

[kendico]

You may have read recently that GM was buying out some of the Delphi (GM's spun off parts company) employees that were making an average of $76 to $78 an hour! I believe these include benefits, but that is over $150,000 a year including benefits. :eek:

[Bulldog]

About 60% of Harley parts now come from China.

[AMRAAM4]

About 60% of Harley parts now come from China.

Yes, I already stated that, But Dave couldn't take the honest truth of one of my posts and deleted it.

Also, kendico, please stop posting salary numbers and buyouts, because you're numbers aren't even close. Delphi was not buying out $76-78 workers, and "a lot of auto workers who work for any period of time" do not make $100,000. GM supported my upbringing and my father still works there...and as a non-union person he can't believe how it has all gone to piss


Finally, curious how many people talking about american workers this...and american workers that, have actually come across the MAIN issue with our auto workforce we are discussing here. How many of you have done/read social psychological work on these populations? The reason work goes outside the USA due to cost is because our workers are lazy, greedy, and have an inaccurate sense of what they think they deserve as opposed to what they really do deserve. Yes, we are smart enough, but its the "american attitude" that is the problem.

[chevyjj]

You meam that my TBSS is 40% rice! OMG! I feel like giong out and putting a fart can sticking out my SS. sushi anyone?:eek:

[blautens]

I don't think it was the Chinese who forgot to secure the wiring harness in one of my doors. Or who slapped the body panels on with a panel gap ranging from a few MM to something I could lose my keys in, fob and all. Or didn't install the front bumper brackets that the TBSS so obviously needs. Or installed a driver's seat that is obviously misaligned. With a wiring harness too short. Or continued to install (since 2002) a rear license plate gasket that oozes sealant daily...or...well, you get the picture.

So wheels made in China don't concern me all that much. :)

[Dave]

Yes, I already stated that, But Dave couldn't take the honest truth of one of my posts and deleted it.

Also, kendico, please stop posting salary numbers and buyouts, because you're numbers aren't even close. Delphi was not buying out $76-78 workers, and "a lot of auto workers who work for any period of time" do not make $100,000. GM supported my upbringing and my father still works there...and as a non-union person he can't believe how it has all gone to piss


Finally, curious how many people talking about american workers this...and american workers that, have actually come across the MAIN issue with our auto workforce we are discussing here. How many of you have done/read social psychological work on these populations? The reason work goes outside the USA due to cost is because our workers are lazy, greedy, and have an inaccurate sense of what they think they deserve as opposed to what they really do deserve. Yes, we are smart enough, but its the "american attitude" that is the problem.


First thing, you need to get your story right. I didn't delete any post that referred to Harleys unless there was a slander remark within that post. I would guess it involved the 2nd part of my statement. I don't delete other opinions (even if I don't agree with them) but I will delete slander remarks. Please PM me if you have a question about something that I did besides accusing me in "public".

[Dave]

American engineers have developed virtually everything on automobiles from power windows/door locks to ABS brakes, traction control, auto transmissions, DOHC, and on and on. Some of these things have their beginnings dated as far back as the 1920's. Bosch has made a few contributions such as the fuel injector. The American car companies have a huge bag of goodies that goes unused because they aren't viable in the market place because of price. They are simply too expensive for use on the more moderately priced American cars.

Our auto workers have benefits that put the others to shame, including the Germans. The biggest problem with the American companies are slumping sales and at the same time these costly benefits paid to present and retired employees. Like health care for the employee for life and then even carrying on after they die for their spouse, and the health insurance is primary with Medicare being secondary. The US workers would laugh at thirty days vacation. They have more time off than that and have had for over 30 years.

The American car companies were so much larger than the other car companies in the world for so many years that they have a huge numbers of retirees (GM alone has well over a million retirees) collecting very nice pensions and costly benefits. Toyota is really the only other car company in the same size league as GM and Ford, although others are catching up fast.

And that is why our biggest car company is going bankrupt and another is owned by a foreign company. I also don't see many Americans that get 30 days of vacation a year (Pretty much all Germans do). The Americans have been passed by and they are playing catch up. GM cars are not selling well without incentives and Fords are mostly a joke and Mercedes is taking care of Chrysler's losses. Meanwhile BMW's, Porshes and Mercedes are selling at or above sticker a long with most Japanese brands. Designing something 50 years ago or more is useless if someone designs something that puts it to shame now. GM is just starting to have automatic gearboxes with more than 4 gears, I think Mercedes is up to 7.

I'm a GM fan all the way but they are really on life support right now. We can design a lot of good things but we don't (Brembo and Bosch are two examples). And Bosch builds more than fuel injectors.

[torker]

Yea like my washer and dryer. It is not without it's problems by the way. I was at Boeing for 19 yrs. Got up to 26.83 an hr. to drive a forklift. Am I surprised to be laid off.. NO Luckily I saw the writing on the wall in enough time to get ready. Harleys had Jap forks and wheels yrs. ago

Still makes it hard to swallow sometimes.. Dave

[vetruck]

Wow, I can't believe I just read all 5 pages of this.

[azachata]

Wow, I can't believe I just read all 5 pages of this.

I know, eh? What a waste of time...:crazy:

[Gnfanatic]

Dave, we have the technology here. GM has how many patents? 8 speed trannies are coming as well. Problem is they dont freaking put it in there cars! I swear its the guys behind the desks that want to see more profit for a car. Things are changing, slowly but it is. Better interior, more power better everything. It will take time.

[torker]

Bingo! My dad worked at dealerships in the 60s. Yea I'm old/only in the mornin':) I would ask why they did certain things that seemed totally moronic, even to a teenager. He would say , Cause they can save a nickel a unit. A nickel times 3 or 400,000 units. Damn , It's alot and I'm sure they still look at it the same. Big biz is still about the bottom line.

[Envoy Fan]

Bean counters rule. :yes:

[MyGoatBites]

You know why they don't use the new technologies??? Because the warranty repair costs of implementing a new transmission or engine is usually several times the cost of the R&D for the first 2+ years. They spend tons of money doing service bulletins and repairs on new to market parts. It is only going to get worse with their 100k warranty. They will stick with tried and true.

[Gnfanatic]

Tried and true??? How long are we going to have a 4 spd tranny?? I agree with you but to a certain point. My 86gn has a 4 speed tranny. We should have at least a 5sp in these trucks. Good example of a tried and true is a v8 pushrod engine, 10 bolt rear etc.

[torker]

Is this the japanese wheel thread/? :D I'm all for k.i.s.s. but there is also alot to be said for hitech. I just wish they could put a little more effort into durability. To me there is no reason that rotors should warp. Fuel pumps going out at 50'000mi. Front tires wearing on the edges because of some design compromise. We have made so many advances but then fall short . I do blame outsourcing to an extent, less ownership of the process can be a huge problem.

[Dave]

Dave, we have the technology here. GM has how many patents? 8 speed trannies are coming as well. Problem is they dont freaking put it in there cars! I swear its the guys behind the desks that want to see more profit for a car. Things are changing, slowly but it is. Better interior, more power better everything. It will take time.

Gnfanatic,
I agree with you 100% and we do have the techology here. We just choose not to use it, at least in the auto industry. Or we save a few $$ and have someone overseas make the part for us. In time, we may find out if we end up paying the difference in the money they saved by sending the job overseas.

Don't ignore the Europeans though. They build real solid cars and they are not afraid to put their new products on the market. A lot of their testing is also done on the race track such in Formula 1 racing.

[Gnfanatic]

This reminds me of the high speed trains that float on some sort of field (magnetic??) It was engineered here and we dont have it. We sold the technology and Japan and other countries have it. They go well over 100 mph, quiet and safe. I watched a show on it several years back, looked wicked.

[Dave]

I heard we were supposed to build one connecting Houston, Dallas and San Antonio but the plans fell apart.

I rode on the German version for around 1 hour and it is extremely fast and smooth. I believe France also has one besides Japan that you mentioned. I think 100mph might be a slow estimate since regular trains can get up to around 80mph. I think the German's ICE gets up to around 150mph.

[ltz03]

actually the one in japan goes almost 500kph so what ever the equals in mph and it rides on magnetic track. I have seen the show a few times (extreme engineering)

[torker]

Dang my speedo doesn't go that high.:) 200 clicks is about 130 so would 400kph be about 260 mph. whew!!

[BLZR SS]

400 kph = 248.548477 mph

[azachata]

400 kph = 248.548477 mph
400 kph = 248.548477 mph = Damn fast!:eek: