Today most people don't have the incomes, the savings or the credit lines needed to sustain a "rich" lifestyle. So they look for deals.

And what's not to like about QQ, a four-door compact from Chery Automobile Co of Wuhu, Anhui, China, that sells under US$8,000. It may be a GM Daewoo knock-off, but what the hey?

And so with success comes litigation.

The world's established auto manufacturers are getting worried about these tiny Chinese upstarts. And they should be. Today, China has emerged as a net exporter of cars. Exporter, yes, exporter!

In 2005, China exported 172,800 vehicles (+27 pct Y/Y) and imported just 161,600 vehicles. And Chery, which moved 18,000 cars overseas last year, say they plan to export between 300,000 and 400,000 in 2008.

No longer is the old saw working. You know, the one about the opportunity to put shoes on a billion Chinese. Actually, I think that was a Hollywood "B" movie about 30 years ago; but myths persist. The reality is that the Chinese are putting those shoes, and shirts, and undergarments, and overgarments, on Americans. And TV's in their livingrooms, and, increasingly, automobiles in their garages.

Today, China is on a different kind of Long March. The march is no longer a domestic military action of some 5,000 miles. Today, it's a commercial journey taking value-oriented Chinese goods to beckoning markets around the globe.

If you are holding shares of GM and Ford, you might want to look at these photos of currently available products from Chery and their concept car pictures as well. Thank you Jim. :-)