I am curious. I’m aware that American brands that sell cars in America and Europe often sell different models in the two continents, and for obvious reasons (different taste, different market, different competition). What is the state of things in the other directions? Which European manufacturers export cars to North America, and what models? Are they the same models (apart from adaptations to local laws) as the ones sold in Europe?
I read that, at least in the past, European cars have been imported in the US, apparently without great success, apart from the luxury brands like, say, Ferrari. But I’d like to know more about less expensive cars, like the hatchbacks, the saloons and the estates that are so popular here. Being Italian, I’m particularly interested about Italian brands. I reckon they don’t have a good reputation, but things are getting better in Europe for them, so what about America?
European brands being brought to the US? By country and off the top of my head:
England:
Jaguar, Aston Martin, Rolls, Bentley
France:
None that I can think off at this time, Renault, Citroen, and Peugeot at one time.
Germany:
Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Maybach, VW
Spain:
None
Italy:
Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini. At one time FIAT, but not since the mid to late 1970’s.
Sweden:
Volvo and SAAB.
In some cases, some models are not imported, in others equipment is different, standard features in one market may be either unavailable, or a option in another.
How are they different than the cars you see in Europe? Let’s take a look at Volvo since this is the one I know.
A/C with electronic climate control is an option in Europe. In the US A/C is standard, and ECC is standard on some models. (optional on others)
No diesel engines for Volvo in the US.
Passenger airbags are optional in Europe
Passenger airbag cut off switches are standard in Europe (Government approval required in the US)
Safety standards are different, emissions standards are different (but getting closer all the time)
Italy has (or had anyway) displacement taxes so Volvo used to produce 2L engines for use in Italy that pretty much did not see service anywhere else.
Back in 1995 I had a European spec car shipped over that I turned into a race car. The more I looked at that car, the more little differences I noticed. Nothing big, nothing major, but a ton of little things. Things like door lock buttons (US= Mushroom head, EU = straight shaft), Seat belt reminder (US = 10 seconds, EU = constant)
Of the ones the ones that Rick mentioned, you would really only have a reasonable expectation of seeing the following on a regular basis.
Audi, BMW, Mercedes, VW, Volvo, SAAB, Jaguar
Jaguars are somewhat rare but the rest are meinstream U.S. vehicles. BMW and Mercedes and maybe some of the others build some models in the U.S. so they aren’t completely foreign.
Don’t confuse “North America” and “The US”. North America also includes Mexico, Canada, Greenland, and part of France (St. Pierre et Miquelon).
The Canadian market is broadly similar to the US, but there are differences. In addition to the marques mentioned earliers, we have Smarts, which are not in the US. Back in the eighties, we had Dacias, Skodas, and Ladas, but not Yugos. The model lineups of the big manufacturers are somewhat different as well.
There are no Spanish or French marques here. Renault pulled out at the same time as they did from the States, but I have often wondered why they and Citroen don’t try to make a go of it here, if only because of Quebec.
My parents used to have a Renault 5 during the 80’s and 90’s, and if I remember correctly, other than the fact that the heating was very bad, they liked it very much. But what makes you think that if a French car company tried to reenter the Canadian market now, they’d be able to make a significant dent in the sales of the established companies?
I see lots of Jags, both in SoCal and NoWA. Strangely, I don’t see too many Audis or Saabs. (I still see them though.) I’ve seen many Lotuses in SoCal, as well as Maseratis and Bentleys.
Yes, that’s right. It’s the car that brought the idea of ‘luxury small car’ to Canada, which Smart and (arguably Mercedes, with the B-class, if you consider that ‘small’) are trying to exploit. The B-class is not sold in the States, I believe.
My best friend’s first car was a Renault Alliance.
As for re-entering the Canadian market, I suspect that there might be some fondness in the French-speaking parts of Canada for French cars. Maybe I’m wrong.
Here in México we have Renault and Peugot. Also Seat from Spain. Fiat from Italy. Plus there are many models from the other makers that I believe aren’t available in the USA.
Surprisingly, not a single mention of the one marque that would apply to the country the OP hails from …
Lars, General Motors will be resurrecting the Alfa Romeo name stateside in the next few years after a hiatus that started over a decade ago, and one of the first models here will be the stunning new 8C Competizione flagship sportscar. To quote Jeremy Clarkson speaking on the Aston Martin DB9 (also stunning in its own right, and possibly my favorite car design presently), this new 8C isn’t a car, it’s pornography. Alfa will also be exporting the new Brera and the 159 to the States. I am personally quite excited for the unveiling of the new 169 saloon. Just Google ‘alfa romeo 169’ for some info. If the predictions are any indication, the 169 will be pure four-door sex, and an excellent stylistic (albeit cheaper) rival to the newly-confirmed-for-production Aston Martin Rapide. I think both these cars will help push the boundaries of saloon design and other carmakers will copy the proportions.
It’s nice to see at least one Italian marque stepping up as a rival to Aston Martin’s level of sleek styling. Any amateur could design an outlandish race car resembling a Ferrari or a Lambo, but it takes some real talent to define and refine a look like Alfa’s got going right now. These will be some truly modern Italian cars for the aesthetic everyman, rather than the folks with obscene amounts of cash and no taste at all. I can’t wait to see them.
Don’t forget Land Rover. We don’t get the Defenders though.
Another thing I’ve noticed is that you can’t really buy a low trim level Merc or Bimmer here. The ones I’ve seen in Europe included examples with smaller, cheaper rims than would be sold here.
There actually aren’t that many cultural links between France and Canada. We may speak French, but we’re not French, that’s not where we belong. It’s true that people here probably wouldn’t instantly dismiss a French car like people in other parts of North America might do (i.e. we wouldn’t think of it as a cheese-eating surrender car ;)), but I don’t think that many people would go for a French car because it is French.
And as I said, French cars are mostly unknown here. I know what a Renault is, and I have a good impression of them, because my parents had one. But if you say Peugeot, I’m more likely to think about Lt. Columbo’s car than anything else, and as for a Citroën, it’ll probably bring to my mind somewhat oddly-shaped cars that I saw in bandes dessinées. But Toyotas and Volkswagens are much more familiar to my mind.
As an aside, and to show my antiquity, one also used to see Hillman, Borg Warner, Renault, Citroen, Fiat, Peugot, Yugo, and Isetta, some of which were mentioned earlier.
North America also includes Mexico, Canada, Greenland, and part of France (St. Pierre et Miquelon).
