Matthijs
04-06-2010, 05:31 AM
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/04/aptera-denies-report-2e-bev-will-be-built-in-china-writer-stands-behind-her-story.html
Forty years ago products bearing the words "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" were widely regarded as low quality by most Americans.
While the Japanese label now evokes just the opposite reaction - nevermind Toyota's recall troubles - the same cannot be said of the Chinese label. In America, "Made in China" doesn't yet enjoy the same sterling reputation for quality.
It is quite possibly because of this rarely spoken but irrefutable attitude that Aptera Motors has denied a March 31 report by Automotive News China reporter Namrita Chow that the California company intends to build its battery-electric 2e three-wheeler in the People's Republic.
In her report, Chow quoted Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur as saying, during a visit to China, "We would build vehicles here and send them back to the U.S."
The day after Chow's report, "The Marketing Team - Aptera Motors Inc." (that's how they identified themselves, as opposed to using names) issued the following statement:
"Clarification - Aptera plans to manufacture Chinese domestic vehicles in China. North American market vehicles will be manufactured in the U.S. at one of two domestic, U.S., facilities. We have no plans to build U.S. vehicles in China, and plans for the rest of the world markets have yet to be defined."
Just to be clear, a clarification is something that frees of confusion ("needs time to clarify his thoughts") or makes understandable ("clarify a subject"), according to Merriam-Webster. If anything, The Marketing Team issued a correction; it said a statement was inaccurate and then issued what it claimed was an accurate statement.
Their correction raises the question: Who was inaccurate, the reporter or the chief executive officer of Aptera Motors?
The Marketing Team decided against faulting Aptera's CEO. Perhaps because the reporter's last name was Chow, The Marketing Team blamed the reporter for the alleged mistake and suggested how she could have been mistaken in one short paragraph:
"One of the most challenging things about traveling abroad can be the very same thing that we often take for granted - communicating. Aptera's CEO, Paul Wilbur, experienced this challenge firsthand during a recent interview with Automotive News China (reprinted in the China Car Times). The message got somewhat lost in translation..."
The assumption here is that the reporter's English is poor. In fact, she's more English than the American CEO of Aptera Motors. In an email to The Unofficial Aptera Forum (http://apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=4177), Chow wrote:
"It's hilarious that they are disputing the story. I have my notes to back up the interview. He also gave a talk at BorgWarner's new CTC regarding their plans - and it was pretty much the same.
"I like the way they use the 'lost in translation' bit as I am British! So unless they speak a completely different English am afraid that does not stand. I think what has happened is they want to keep their US base happy. He [Wilbur] has my direct email address and was in touch after the interview etc, and has not written to dispute the story....so I guess its only some audiences that need 'clarification'!"
Green Car Advisor sent an email to Aptera, which is the automaker's preferred method of receiving media inquiries, asking where exactly the U.S.-bound 2e BEVs will be made. This blog was posted after several hours elapsed without a response from anyone at Aptera.
Forty years ago products bearing the words "Made in Japan" or "Made in China" were widely regarded as low quality by most Americans.
While the Japanese label now evokes just the opposite reaction - nevermind Toyota's recall troubles - the same cannot be said of the Chinese label. In America, "Made in China" doesn't yet enjoy the same sterling reputation for quality.
It is quite possibly because of this rarely spoken but irrefutable attitude that Aptera Motors has denied a March 31 report by Automotive News China reporter Namrita Chow that the California company intends to build its battery-electric 2e three-wheeler in the People's Republic.
In her report, Chow quoted Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur as saying, during a visit to China, "We would build vehicles here and send them back to the U.S."
The day after Chow's report, "The Marketing Team - Aptera Motors Inc." (that's how they identified themselves, as opposed to using names) issued the following statement:
"Clarification - Aptera plans to manufacture Chinese domestic vehicles in China. North American market vehicles will be manufactured in the U.S. at one of two domestic, U.S., facilities. We have no plans to build U.S. vehicles in China, and plans for the rest of the world markets have yet to be defined."
Just to be clear, a clarification is something that frees of confusion ("needs time to clarify his thoughts") or makes understandable ("clarify a subject"), according to Merriam-Webster. If anything, The Marketing Team issued a correction; it said a statement was inaccurate and then issued what it claimed was an accurate statement.
Their correction raises the question: Who was inaccurate, the reporter or the chief executive officer of Aptera Motors?
The Marketing Team decided against faulting Aptera's CEO. Perhaps because the reporter's last name was Chow, The Marketing Team blamed the reporter for the alleged mistake and suggested how she could have been mistaken in one short paragraph:
"One of the most challenging things about traveling abroad can be the very same thing that we often take for granted - communicating. Aptera's CEO, Paul Wilbur, experienced this challenge firsthand during a recent interview with Automotive News China (reprinted in the China Car Times). The message got somewhat lost in translation..."
The assumption here is that the reporter's English is poor. In fact, she's more English than the American CEO of Aptera Motors. In an email to The Unofficial Aptera Forum (http://apteraforum.com/showthread.php?t=4177), Chow wrote:
"It's hilarious that they are disputing the story. I have my notes to back up the interview. He also gave a talk at BorgWarner's new CTC regarding their plans - and it was pretty much the same.
"I like the way they use the 'lost in translation' bit as I am British! So unless they speak a completely different English am afraid that does not stand. I think what has happened is they want to keep their US base happy. He [Wilbur] has my direct email address and was in touch after the interview etc, and has not written to dispute the story....so I guess its only some audiences that need 'clarification'!"
Green Car Advisor sent an email to Aptera, which is the automaker's preferred method of receiving media inquiries, asking where exactly the U.S.-bound 2e BEVs will be made. This blog was posted after several hours elapsed without a response from anyone at Aptera.