Buick, Volvo, and Lincoln are American brands, but they’re made in China. Same goes for Toyota, VW, Honda, and Nissan.

Question

Cars like Buick, Volvo, and Lincoln are American brands, but they’re made in China. Same goes for Toyota, VW, Honda, and Nissan.

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I was wondering why people were so mad at Slotkin and then I see this. And yet another example of Americans don't know shit about their country.

Buick, Volvo, and Lincoln are "American" brands with Chinese production. You also have Toyota, Volkswagen, Honda, and Nissan with Chinese production.

Answer 1

The claim that these American brand cars are "made in China" is different from the claim that they "use Chinese production". The former statement is partially untrue in that not all models of the same brand are manufactured solely in China. For example, although the Buick Envision is manufactured in Shanghai, models like the Enclave and the Lacrosse are made in the US. This is where the latter statement is more accurate in that these brands use Chinese production, but aren't entirely reliant on them for all of their models. Additionally, although Buick and Lincoln are American brands, the Volvo brand originated in Sweden and is currently owned by Chinese company, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. These claims do have some truth to them in that these brands do manufacture a number of their models in China, but loses some legitimacy by listing Volvo as an American brand, and making the blanket claim that all cars under the brand's name are made in China. 

https://www.serravolvocarsoftraversecity.com/who-owns-volvo/

https://www.daleearnhardtjrbuickgmc.com/manufacturer-information/is-buick-american/

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/18/business/lincoln-nautilus/index.html

Comments

Now this guy knows his stuff, multiple sources, not arguing for entirely one side and 3 whole sources. All 3 of these sources are also and essential. The first is an American Brand's Volvo Dealership and the second is a GMC Dealership. I liked how they rounded it out with a major news corporation.

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Really good fact-check! I appreciate how you broke down the difference between "made in China" and "uses Chinese production", I feel a lot of people overlook this. You also did a great job clarifying the common confusion around Volvo's ownership and origin.

One thing that stood out to me was your point about brand perception. I wonder if people assume these cars are “made in America” because the brand "feels" American, even though production is global. Could be worth exploring how much marketing plays a role in shaping that belief.

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You made some really good points! Your fact-check was accurate, balanced, and well-supported by current, credible sources, especially in clarifying the difference between saying "some models made in China" and "all vehicles made in China." It rightly calls out the error of labeling Volvo as an American brand, because Volvo is Swedish and owned by the Chinese company Geely, as confirmed by SERRA Volvo.

But, while I agree that the CNN article backs up your claims, dealership pages like the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Buick GMC site are more promotional than journalistic. They might reflect accurate manufacturing info, but they’re not neutral. It would have been stronger to cross-reference that with an official GM manufacturing or press release instead of relying on a dealer trying to sell you a car.

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I agree with your points. It's important to differentiate between the use of Chinese production and the idea that these brands are exclusively made in China. As the reply mentions, some models from Buick, Lincoln, and other brands are still produced in the U.S. or elsewhere, not just China. Buick's production in the U.S. (such as the Enclave and Lacrosse) and Lincoln’s manufacturing in the U.S. show that it's not a blanket rule for all their models. Thus, the claim about "American" brands being "made in China" does hold some truth for certain models, but it's essential to avoid generalizing to all vehicles under those brands. Thanks for pointing out the need for more context in these kinds of discussions.

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This is an accurate and well-supported fact-check! It effectively distinguishes between the claims "made in China" and "use Chinese production," highlighting the nuance involved. The fact-check correctly identifies "made in China" as an oversimplification, clarifying that while some models are manufactured in China, others are produced elsewhere. It provides specific examples (Buick Envision, Enclave, and Lacrosse) and references. This accurately explains Volvo's origin and current ownership, correcting any misrepresentation of it as a purely American brand. It acknowledges the partial truth in the original claims but also points out the inaccuracies, specifically regarding Volvo and the generalization about all models being made in China. In conclusion, this fact-check shows a good understanding of the complexities of car manufacturing and provides a balanced and accurate response to the claim.

Answer 2

Yes, many of the recent vehicles created by these companies are created in China. New car releases are seeing a rise in production in places in order to either avoid tariffs or simply to reduce costs. "When it comes to performance and reliability, where a car is built really matter less than how it's designed and manufactured. Therefore the answer is yes, many American vehicle brands have switched to Chinese manufacturers.

https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/automotive-industry/chinese-made-cars-in-us-market-a3786571662/

Comments

You got a half a pair of quotes in there and you only cited one source. Also your source is kind of wack, the guy that wrote it is more of a car guy than a markets guy AND he is just a media creator for an editorial that neither specializes in trade nor cars.

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I would suggest to dive deeper and provide some analysis [from your perspective] based on the quote you put in your argument. Additionally, I would try to get different sources if possible on this issue as the writer is only one of many people who "specialize" in the car dealership world.

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You're correct  but I would suggest you to dive deeper about many recent vehicles from American brands are being manufactured in China. This shift is often driven by the desire to avoid tariffs and reduce production costs. Regarding performance and reliability, the location of manufacturing matters less than the design and manufacturing processes themselves. American vehicle brands have indeed switched to Chinese manufacturers, leveraging advanced technology and rigorous quality control measures to ensure their vehicles meet high standards.

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I think you need to go deeper into the validity of the information in the article and making an argument based on where the information is coming from and the credibility of the article itself. When fact checking, it is important to take into consideration where the information is coming from and where there facts are from. If taken from a bad source, the fact can be proven to be invalid.