Chinese Mainland Carmaker GEELY topples TOYOTA CROWN monopoly of Hong Kong taxis

[rockiee_s]

This is good news again for all fans of Chinese cars/car manufacturers.....

Hong Kong, a 1st world nation and one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, has just signed a contract with GEELY (yes, the Chinese car manufacturer which bought Volvo for 1.8B US$ last month) to provide more City Taxis.

Taxis in HK for more than 10 years have been monopolized by TOYOTA CROWN.

If Chinese cars (specifically Geely) aren't reliable, I don't think a country as advanced as HK will enter into an agreement with them.

Chinese cars are really coming to age.

SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.....MAY 17, 2010

[tidus1203]

Reliable? How would they know for sure? Reliability comes in time... Maybe its the price! Its gotta be! Or maybe the communist government force them to buy those cars, HK is Chinese teritory afterall even though its a developed country. Now if we get Chinese cars to be sold in the US para sakin yun ang determination of perceive (perceive pa din kasi nga times makes a car reliable if tjhe car survives 10 years then we know its reliable) reliability. No US market, then its not reliable enough as far as I am concerned...

[rockiee_s]

you think a city which has one of the best urban planning in the world would settle for taxis to run around the city just because of its price? think again. and think harder.

sino nga mga nanalo sa senado dyan sa pilipinas....ah ok....i get the drift.

[tidus1203]

That's my opinion learn to respect it! I said price could be one, but it could also be the communist government had a hand on this deal that's why its pushed through. Its not like HK economy is in great shape these days after the 2007 Great Recession, government around the world are also trying to save money.

If you want to risk buying a Chinese car then thats you and your money. I won't! Buying Chinese cars now is like buying Korean in the 80's and 90's. Questionable pa rin, they should first prove themselves worthy and they have yet to prove anything spectacular but to copy Japanese cars flawlessly to the last dot... Walang involvement yet in any major sporting events like rallying or F1... Basta sakin no US market, then not good enough for me.

And by the way, I didn't vote for Bong Revilla and the gang if you are basing my thinking of my Senate picks...

[rockiee_s]

oh, i see. you want me to respect your opinion. sure, i will.

want to let you know that this thread was in relation to an article which came out in the South China Morning Post which i just reverberated. it was also my opinion which you questioned.

and when your opinion was questioned, you shouted for respect.

[tidus1203]

^^Which I did, as I said your choice, your money...

What I am countering is the idea na porke HK switches their taxis to Geely from a Toyota automatic reliable na ang Geely and automatic safe to buy na. I disagree completely with that analysis...

[andywesteast]

Taxis in HK for more than 10 years have been monopolized by TOYOTA CROWN.

Sorry, but you're Wrong. There is NO Monopoly of TOYOTA CROWN taxis in HK. About a third of the taxis there are Nissan Cedrics, pictured above.

So your beloved chinese car Geely is just an additional new player. The Japanese taxis have Reliability, Cheaper Purchase Price and Parts Availability on their side. It remains to be seen if the HK Taxi operators will switch.

Only about 1,000 of Hong Kong's 18,000 taxis are replaced every year. So it will be a long time until Geely can make a dent....if ever it will.

Your rejoicing is Premature.

[rockiee_s]

i was just quoting the headline of the South China Morning Post, andy.

they used monopoly of Toyota Crown because 99+% of the taxis in hongkong are Toyota Crown. by the way, monopoly is defined as "all or nearly all.....".

so you are wrong. get your facts straight next time.

also, let me clarify....

geely is not my beloved car. it is just a delight to know that a minor player is getting recognized for its worth. my first post was far from rejoicing. being pleased or delighted is more my feelings.

bakit kaya every news on chinese car manufacturers are being slapped with negativism and skeptism. why can't you be happy when someone gets something going?

ito ba yung crab mentality?

i am 100% pinoy. but has been exposed to chinese products because of my work. i am just glad that chinese products (those legitimate) are getting better and better.

should it happen to filipino products, i would for sure be even more delighted!

[andywesteast]

i was just quoting the headline of the South China Morning Post, andy.

they used monopoly of Toyota Crown because 99+% of the taxis in hongkong are Toyota Crown. by the way, monopoly is defined as "all or nearly all.....".

Nope, when you stay in HK long enough, you will observe that there are lots of Nissan Cedric taxis running around.

[rockiee_s]

south china morning post is already a very reliable source.

pero para mas makontento ka...here...

Historically, Standard, DeSoto Deluxe, Morris Oxford, Hillman Minx, Austin Cambridge, Mercedes W120 Ponton, and Ford Anglia were used up to the 1960s. Since the 1970s, Japanese cars replaced the various European models used earlier. Among them, the Toyota Crown Comfort YXS10 and Nissan Cedric Y31 had always been the most popular.
All taxis bear a semi-circular green plate on the front grille, and at the back of the vehicle indicating the number of seats available. Throughout history, most Hong Kong taxis have been 4-door saloons with bench seats in the front, thus allowing it to carry up to 5 passengers (driver excluded). In the early 1980s, 4-passenger taxis were introduced. Smaller saloons such as the Nissan Bluebird 910, Nissan Sunny B12, Toyota Corona (CT141) and the Mitsubishi Lancer were used. However, these were all phased out by mid-1990s. Since then and until 2008, all Hong Kong taxis have been 5-passengers vehicles. But from 2008, the new Toyota Comfort is equipped with floor shift automatic instead of column shift automatic, making the new Comfort a 4-passengers taxi again
Today, almost all taxis in Hong Kong are Toyota Comfort (YXS10) (over 99%), the minority being Nissan Cedric (Y31) saloons, and Australian Ford Falcon estate cars.

[tidus1203]

^^Well you can't blame people for the skepticism of Chinese products. For many years they have been considered inferior, cheap, and for the most part copies of products of other countries. From fake iPhones, to fake Rolex's and Lacoste... One can say the Florid is a fake Yaris or the Coolbear is a fake Toyota BB/ Scion Xb (or imitation is the proper word). They have to demonstrate first that they are already world class sadly wala pang major feats ang Chinese makers. As I said if they really want to be recognized then entering the US markets will be the first major step towards recognition. If all you do is sell to 3rd world countries and the homeland with low standards then people will not respect you. Korean cars were also like that but steadily showed their improvement. Chinese cars will have to do the same. There is no rush to get a Chinese car NOW, we can get it LATER they must prove themselves first. There is no TROPHY or REWARD for buying Chinese cars now and prove it to be good, but if its bad you will suffer the consequences. People prefer low risk when buying cars hindi naman ito investment (getting into business, buying financial assets or real estate) na you have to take risk to make money. Buying cars is always a money losing exercise, once nilabas mo sa CASA depreciated na so there is no reason to take risk. In fact in car buying the LOWER THE RISK, the BETTER! My 2 cents and I am sure the 2 cents of everyone who is not convince in getting a Chinese car at this stage. If you add all those 2 cents I am sure aabot ng milyon!

[andywesteast]

bakit kaya every news on chinese car manufacturers are being slapped with negativism and skeptism. why can't you be happy when someone gets something going?

ito ba yung crab mentality?

I'm not Chinese, so there's no Crab Mentality.

I have seen the workmanship of Lifan, Geely, Chery, Great Wall, Brilliance, Chana and none have reached the acceptable quality level. Maybe in 10 years.

[yapoy86]

God created the earth and the universe in 6 days and on the 7th day God rested... the rest is CHINA

[rockiee_s]

ayan ka na naman....crab mentality refers to a kind of personality that pulls down other people, denigrating them rather than letting them get ahead or pursue their dreams. that is regardless of one's nationality.

incorrect ka na naman. 99+%.

tidus, yes, korean and even japanese cars were like the chinese manufacturers back then. then, they improved sa harap din ng mga taong kamukha nyo.

i am sure chinese manufacturers will be like them also.

sa akin, as long as i am happy with my car gawa man yan ng pilipino, instik o hapon, kontento ako.

[eggman]

Maganda at matibay ang London Taxis ha. Nabili na nga nang Geely yan a couple of years ago!Grabe yaman talaga ng Geely!