Honda, Nissan, Toyota post record China production

Looks like China baled out not only GM but the Japanese car makers too..........now say thank you.

Interestingly even KIA outsold Toyota in Europe and VW is poised to dethrone Toyota as world's number 1.

How long before China starts to copy Nissan, Toyota, Honda etc..and make their own cheaper off the wall car brands? I saw a nice off the wall remake of a very expensive Rolls Royce last year on the Beat Takeshi show, so it must be already underway to undercut Japan, the EU, and the USA at making cars cheaper, but my guess not very good nor safe.

How long before China starts to copy Nissan, Toyota, Honda etc..and make their own cheaper off the wall car brands?

They already do and they are growing rapidly in China and soon the world; hence they are beating the Japanese in their own game. One of the reasons why Toyota tries so fiercely to become a premium car maker.

Interestingly even KIA outsold Toyota in Europe

Let me correct you, that should be the total sales of Hyundai AND Kia combined.

Although China will eventually reach a good standard in car production if we look at ,say, the electronics market, Chinese consumers still prefer the brands of Japan due to the high quality and the luxury concept of the brand. For the low and average range consumer the domestic chinese brands will cater for but I still think Mercedes, Toyota et. will continue to do well in China for a long time yet.

The challenge will eventually come more from international sales of their domestic cars. As KIA have manged to eat into parts of the market in numerous countries, i expect China will seek to do the same. Then its the consumers choice!

kyoken Probably although it's even sad. The low quality of hyundai-kia and the continous problems with those cars are not enough to make people see, those cars are just mediocre cars.

Japan better increase hybrid production in Japan as soon as possible in order to take advantage of the new hydroelectric dam. Otherwise, the price of gasoline will only go up for the Japanese consumer.