No Chery for Malcolm Bricklin

Hornet Photos

Partners no more? (Photo: Visionary Vehicles)

The A3 near-production concept vehicle shows just how far Chery has come in the past couple of years. (Photo: Chery)

Chery still looks to be on the bill to build Bricklins vehicles. (Photo: Chery)

DCX needs a partner to build subcompacts like the Hornet. It looks like Cherys the one. (Photo: DaimlerChrysler)

Visionary to Design Its Own Vehicles; Chery To Team Up with DCX?

Malcolm Bricklins plans of importing a quarter million Chinese-built automobiles now have a big, wooden clog stuck in the gears. According to the Wall Street Journal, Bricklins Visionary Vehicles will no longer be importing Chery vehicles to the United States. This of course comes after the very grandiose plans of having 20 models by 2010, including BMW-beating performance sedans and a folding hardtop convertible, plus economical hybrids, all at costs 40 percent below traditional luxury vehicles.

It hasnt exactly been the easiest of times for Bricklin since the project started almost two years ago. Besides fighting skepticism from the general public and members of the heckling media (buying into an unheard of brand from a country not known for automobile production), Bricklin postponed his importation schedule two times, the latest of which saw the first vehicles landing on U.S. shores in 2008. This most recent decision is going to have both investors and retailers rather upset, given the vast resources contributed on their part to the project.Â

As bad as this news may sound, its not back to square one for Visionary Vehicles. Bricklin has said that itll still be importing vehicles. Rather than Chery, mind you, it will be his own company that will be designing and producing the cars and SUVs, and theyll still be built by Chinese automakers.

Chery nevertheless still appears to be in contention to build Bricklins vehicles, as well as FAW Group (links with Toyota and Volkswagen) and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp (SAIC), the folks that are currently building Rovers 75 and the 3.4-liter V6 that goes into the Chevy Equinox and Pontiac Torrent.

In what is probably related news, DaimlerChrysler is one step closer to finalizing a partnership for building its new B-segment subcompact car, the funky albeit boxy Dodge Hornet. Originally, DCX was supposed to team up with Volkswagen Auto Group to construct the subcompact model, the two of which would share components for a new global car. But that was ruled out due to the high cost of production. Its difficult to figure this one out, however, considering the cars could be built in any number of the two brands global plants. Both automakers also have Mexican assembly facilities to boot.

Now, it appears that Chrysler will be teaming up with Chery. Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda told Automotive News Europe, “Well have a decision by the end of the month. We are down to two and Chery is the leader.”

Amongst the other two firms at the table are French conglomerate PSA Peugeot-Citroen and Hyundai. Chery impressed DCX by showing off a troupe of new concept cars featuring attractive new designs, styled by Pininfarina and packed with all sorts of safety equipment, such as stability control, ABS brakes and side-curtain airbags. And from the looks of pictures, the build quality has been improved significantly, which is a strong, positive sign.