Senator Debbie Stabenow claims China to take Ford and GM tech, GM + Ford say “Huh?”
American Senators are famed the world over for their brow beating patriotism, so it comes as no surprise to learn that Senator Debbie Stabenow was incensed after reading reports the darn’ commies in China were after her local constituents technology:
Sen. Debbie Stabenow urged the Obama administration Wednesday to take steps to prevent the Chinese government from obtaining auto technologies from General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co.
The Lansing Democrat wrote U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, urging him to oppose Chinese efforts to demand U.S. auto technologies.
She cited a news account “that China is attempting to pressure American automakers, including General Motors and Ford, to transfer core technologies of their electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to Chinese companies, in order for those vehicles to qualify for China’s clean energy vehicle incentive program.”
Stabenow said the move would amount to a violation of World Trade Organization rules.
“Forced technology transfers are already allowing Chinese companies to use American technologies to compete against American companies in industries such as water purification, high-speed trains and wind turbines. In these industries, if U.S. companies refuse to hand over engineering secrets, China threatens to deny access to the Chinese market,” she wrote. “These types of shakedowns are another example of China’s disregard for fair trade and intellectual property, and its willingness to violate trade rules for its own advantage.
However, further down in the same article GM revealed that they had no plans to put their flagship Volt into production in China, and Ford have no plans to offer a hybrid to China either, so whats the fuss about:
Both GM and Ford said they have no plans to build electric vehicles in China.
Ford spokeswoman Meghan Keck said the matter wasn’t an issue for the company.
“We appreciate Senator Stabenow’s continued support of our industry. However, the issues she raised apply to electric vehicles, which we do not currently sell or produce in China,” Keck said.
GM spokeman Greg Martin said the company has no plans to build the Chevrolet Volt in China.
“Sen. Stabenow’s long-running interest in automotive trade issues is nothing new and the letter is her own,” he said. “GM wants to help cultivate market acceptance for an early introduction of electric vehicles and our Volt plans remain unchanged. The car will be introduced as a fully imported vehicle because we want to get it over there quickly. As such, there is no local content requirement.”
Ford Motor Co. said in a leaked diplomatic cable from Wikileaks that it had experienced difficulty with a Chinese partner.
A Ford executive, for example, told the U.S. Consulate in Chengdu that the automaker “believes that its Changan partner copied engineering data” from the Mazda 3 — Ford has an alliance with Mazda — for Changan’s Yuexiang model, according to a August 2009 cable.
As a result of the incident, the cable said, Ford “now more tightly controls sharing of engineering data.”
Ford, the cable said, warned that its partnership with Changan will “break apart” if it doesn’t establish trust.
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So what is your point snarkface, that China really doesn’t put on the pressure for tech transfers or have an ongoing esionage effort that sees some nationals snagged every few weeks?
Snarkface – the problem is that the senator is rushing to conclusions based on incorrect reporting, plus GM and Ford are clearly coming out and saying they don’t need her help.
Obviously getting on the fast riding Anti-China bandwagon gets the attention of the easily lead and this is never good.
blah blah blah incorrect reporting, groundless, baseless, meritless, the Dalai Lama is a wolf in sheeps clothing, must protect the PRC, you’re a fifty center with his own blog.
If I am a 50 center, please have the gubbermint forward the pay check – I must be due for 4000+ articles now. that’s at least 2000rmb, Ill have you know.
“American companies in industries such as water purification, high-speed trains and wind turbines.” Since when have has America had high-speed trains? Are they stealth trains that no one knows about?
As much as you condemned (and name call) Senator Stabenow, when I read the New York Times article (link below)… it appears that China is asking GM to turn over vital hybrid technology to China in order for GM’s soon to be imported Volt to get the same regulatory treatment as other Hybrid vehicles in China. That would be a violation of WTO just as the Senator said.
In the US the Japanese made Toyota Prius gets the same subsidies as the American made Ford Hybrids. It was “nationalistic” senators like Stabenow that passed laws that allows this equal treatment of foreign hybrids to happen in the US. (no joint venture partners required)
Frankly, this publication has it’s facts wrong and this Senator (who you name called) has her
facts right. Shame on your journalistic ethics!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/business/global/gm-aims-the-volt-at-china-but-chinese-want-its-secrets.html?_r=1&ref=china
Mike – thanks for the reply. Nobody is name calling, only reporting the facts.
Shame on your reading skills.
From you:
–”American Senators are famed the world over for their brow beating patriotism…”
–”Stabenow was incensed after reading reports the darn’ commies in China were after her local constituents technology”
These are not facts… nor was this professional reporting… nor was it news. It was an attack on the Senator, not on her statement.
Her statement was correct… the Chinese government is asking foreign companies to turn over their hybrid technology in order to qualify for domestic sales subsidies for imported hybrids.
Attacking the senator as a person does not make her factual statement false.
See how that works? (I hope.)
Best regards,
-Mike
The picture of her on the tops is enough for me. Two thumbs up and everything will be ok. With that killer smile and thumbs she will win over the world.
Since China has stolen or pirated every other technology they have come across how come they can’t generate better propaganda than the crap this bozo spews?
Thanks for reading, Buster!