Why don't you import French cars in America?

Question

Or why don't we export french cars to the US?
Nowadays, we have very good cars. As good as yours.. I'm always surprised to see in your streets a lot of ugly korean cars but no modern french cars.
For example Citroën C6 or Peugeot 407 coupé.
have a look :
for the Citroën C6 :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URy1HBVEFh8

for the Peugeot 407 coupé :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Lf_aqdxh4

They're far better than any other hyundai or Kia.

Answer 1

Renault was imported into the US in the early 1900s and again after the war in the fifties. The Renault Dauphine was a good car -I drove one for a year in France- but was underpowered and too expensive in the US. Another factor with both Peugeot and Renault was price and the execs failed miserably with a fair advertising campaign. From '50s to early '90s the most Peugeots sold in one year was around 20,000. To set up service and sales, a goodly amount must be sold. In the fifties and sixties the French always seem to think French, not what can be sold World-wide. The French seemed to build for France. The Japanese seemed to build not for Japan but with a World-wide market perspective.

The Japanese had many little cars, similar to the Dauphine, that by around 1970, even new, were echoing [public sales] obsolescence.

I would speculate that since the demise of the beetle that VW sales have dropped off somewhat. So, at this time it would be exceedingly expensive
for the French vehicles to make inroads to the US market. Too much to overcome. Loved my Dauphine.

Answer 2

French cars will not be sold in America as long as American politicians do not forgive France for not backing Bush when he decided to invade Iran. The French government didn't believe Bush when he said that there were weapons of mass destruction being hid in Iran. As long as France doesn't deliver a sincere apology it's cars will not be sold in America. People might say Citroen, Peugeot and Renault make ugly, unsafe and unreliable cars and that replacement parts are hard to find or expensive to buy but those are just weak excuses. I guess the Smart car and the Fiat 500 are considered beautiful and safe cars by American politicians and consumers.

Answer 3

You need someone who will take a chance on them. If they have a reputation for being expensive (Peugeot), poor quality (Renault) or both (Citroen) then that's an image problem that will be difficult to overcome. I wouldn't mind taking a second look at French cars, if they could offer me reliability in a nicer package than a Japanese car does.

Answer 4

We are getting stuck with french PARTS already.
My 03 Ford Ranger has a french transmission, and a new 07 Mustang I looked at yesterday had a french trans and a german motor.
I am knocking on wood that my pickup trans lasts.
You couldn't GIVE me a damn korean car.

We also remember the citroens and renaults from the 60's, enough reason there not to buy them.

Answer 5

It is a shame, because when I lived in UK, my favourite cars (besides Alfa romeo), were the Peugueot & Renault, also the German VW's make some nice cars too.

Also here in the US, it is almost impossible to buy a Diesel car, a few VW Rabbit's and some Mercs, and that is all.

It maybe because a new Kia can be bought for around £4,000 or about €6,000 I guess.

Answer 6

You are correct when you state that French cars are better than Kia, possibly as good as Hyundai. That statement should say it all but I will add more: I don't know how the French measure what a 'good' car is, but here in the States 'good' means a vehicle will usually start everytime you twist the key, go anywhere you want to go and bring you back home without breaking down or falling apart. There isn't one single French made bucket of rust that can make that claim. American cars are not as fuel efficient as most euro cars, but still have very good mileage stats. American styling is, for the most part, bland and unispired save for a handfull of diehards like the Corvette, Viper, and Mustang but take a hard look at any Citroen and tell me that the designers weren't drunk when they dreamed those up. American cars are bigger and heavier than most euro and Japanese cars but face it -- our roads are huge and we drive many, many more miles every year. Our cars HAVE to be able to start, go and stop on command for years and hundreds of thousands of miles with little more than routine maintenance. American cars are saddled with strict federal emmisions standards. It took some time but the auto engineers managed to design the engines and transmissions around the needed smog equipment and maintain good mileage and gobs of horsepower. Peugeot would suffer such a drastic performance drop just trying to comply with the safety and emissions regs it would hardly be able to keep up with a lowley Buick LeSabre on the interstates. All three French carmakers (Renault, Peugeot and Citroen) tried it here and failed horribly. We have enough crap on our roads with Kia, we don't need any French garbage added to the mix.

Answer 7

the Peugeot 407,is a great car ,but americans are for the cheap car,,,,kia

Answer 8

I remember Peugeot and Renault, I also remember they weren't very good! Also there designs left a lot to be desired!

Answer 9

Theres just not enough market for the `big three` french cars according to the execs. there. Renault, Citroen, Peugot.

Answer 10

they dont want to put out the money to meet northamerican safety and emmision rules,we used to have french cars here years ago