Dateline>City of Angels

Just the usual housekeeping note to advise readers that posts here will remain sporadic as I focus on a looming deadline for the automotive trade magazine, Styling and Performance.

The article, due this week, is on the emerging Chinese automotive market and the opportunities to be found there for American makers of aftermarket parts. It’s a business piece, but my research into the topic may actually be interesting for general readers as well — especially if you’re a car buff.

For years American manufacturers have been outsourcing to China. Many have kept their overseas operations on the QT, however. Hardcore car enthusiasts tend to be true “red, white and blue” buyers, and recent media reports about shoddy and even unsafe Chinese products have only helped to reinforce their “Made in America” buying habits. (The truth, though, is a surprising percentage of aftermarket styling and performance components are sourced from China, with American companies enforcing rigorous quality and assurance standards.)

Nevertheless, for about a decade there has been a trade imbalance with China. They’ve sold parts and knock-offs into our marketplace, while we’ve scarcely penetrated theirs.

All that’s about to change. With its emerging middle class, China’s automotive industry is exploding. And with automobile ownership comes a natural desire for customization and enhanced performance. Given their expertise in these areas, American manufacturers are ideally poised to deliver such goods to the Chinese. Interestingly, Peter MacGillivray, vice president of events and communications for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), predicts that makers of off-roading accessories will be among the first to prosper.

Turns out that, similar to Americans in the 1940-1950s, China’s growing middle class is developing quite a yearning to tour the countryside from the seats of their autos. (Think “See the USA From Your Chevrolet,” but in China.) Outside the major cities, China’s underdeveloped highway structure makes off-road-capable vehicles the perfect choice for sightseeing and outdoor recreation.

Yes, folks, this is some of the stuff I write about when I’m not blogging here. As you can see, one of the great things about being a freelance writer is all the fascinating things you learn with each new assignment.