I have got the impression, that selling images is what is the main business of
every big company nowadays. Product quality and customer satisfaction are
definitely secondary or tertiary issues.

Viktor

Here is more on this:

Built at the Ingersoll plant in Ontario, Canada, the 2006 Chevrolet
Equinox could be the most un-American ³American² car on the road.
Consider that, in addition to its assembly north of the border, the
Equinox has a China-built V6 engine.

GM says that the 2006 Chevrolet HHR was inspired by the 1949 Suburban.
We wonder whether they built that SUV in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico as well.

The much-improved Impala, with more room and comfortable seats  plus an
attractive style  is Canadian.

The Tahoe debuted early this year to brisk sales, and may even find
itself as a serious contender for Truck of the Year. That¹s the good
news, along with the fact that it¹s built in Arlington, Texas and
Janesville, Wisconsin. Ah  but the things they put inside, only 67
percent come from US-based suppliers.

The Chrysler 300, only the most well-received new sedan Chrysler has put
out in years  from critics and consumers alike  is about as American as
a Moose. Built in Brampton, Ontario, the 300 also gets just 72 percent
of its parts from US suppliers.

Built in Toluca, Mexico, the PT Cruiser was updated in 2006.

Like its brother, the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger is itself a big
buff Canadian that borrows its legacy from an American icon.

Built in the US but made of only 60 percent American parts, the Focus
could be considered at least ³near American.²

As the flag-waver for Ford¹s newest rallying cry, ³Red, White and Bold,²
it¹s interesting that the 2006 Ford Fusion is more a hue of green, white
and red, signifying its Mexican birthplace. Or maybe it¹s more red and
white, symbolizing its Mazda/Japanese roots.

According to the Act, cars must be made of 75 percent US parts, and the
Mustang registers at a paltry 65 percent, Canada included.  At least
it¹s still assembled in Michigan.

Consider, though, that if you want to buy a more American car than the
Mustang  the Mustang -- try the Camry, the Accord, the Avalon, the
Corolla

OTOH, there could be RWD Volvos again. ;) 8-]

What happened to it? Could the build quality really have gotten much worse?

What a strange idea.

By Ford?

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,

Dunno - but hopefully they'd have no daytime running lights!

Is a car that is designed in Sweden and built in Sweden and Belgium,  
with Japanese transmissions, German.  I don't think so.  I don't think
the present Volvo is American either.  Ford's only contribution was
adding the V-8 engines which I avoid like the plague.

And then they'd crank out updated 240's....

BMW would be a far better owner for Volvo than Ford is, I think.  But
one must wonder what exactly BMW wants with Volvo?  Perhaps as it's
FWD/AWD brand?  Would we see Volvos being made in the US BMW plant?

I wonder if BMW would pay Ford as much for Volvo as Ford paid BMW for
Land Rover a few years back.

Strange times indeed.

CNN just ran a story on this as well:


http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/28/news/companies/ford_volvo.reut/index.htm?source=
yahoo_quote

I understand the 5 cylinder FWD engine is a BMW design, at Volvo request.

joe