(3 May 1995) English/Nat
While auto trade talks between Japan and the U-S fall apart in Vancouver, American car makers are trying to get a foothold in new Asian markets.
The big three US manufacturers - Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford - are showing off their latest models at the Seoul Motor Show.
But the Americans face more competition back home - South Korea's Daewoo announced Wednesday that it will also start exporting cars to the U-S.
More than 200 automobile and auto part companies - including 37 foreign firms - showed up on the display floor at the Seoul Motor Show.
1.5 (m) million cars are sold each year in South Korea, but the country's car makers are also keen to sell more cars abroad.
Kia, its number two car maker, said it expects to ship abroad 60-thousand of its new mid-sized sedans starting next year.
Models dressed in pink pointed out to consumers the sedan's latest features.
Daewoo, South Korea's third largest car maker, also announced at the show that it will start shipping to the United States in 1997.
The company wants to expand overseas production to one million cars in the next five years, from the current 600-thousand.
But foreign auto companies have to overcome many obstacles to get a foothold in the South Korean market.
South Korea is the world's sixth-largest car maker and they don't like competition.
American exporters complain that South Korean car makers face few barriers to get into the U-S - and they want reciprocal treatment from the South Korean government.
Even Japan finds it extremely difficult to sell its cars in this Asian country - today at the motor show, not one Japanese company was present.
Ten foreign automobile companies did show up, including the U-S "big three."
Doug Downey, a Ford representative, flew in from his office in Tokyo to try and persuade the South Koreans to buy American cars.
SOUNDBITE:
"I think that one of the things that will help us sell more vehicles in Korea will be to show the vehicles that we've built, and to show them that we have quality and a variety of vehicles, and so that's why we're here today."
SUPER CAPTION: Doug Downey, Ford
Japanese car makers are hurting the American market - autos and auto parts last year accounted for nearly 60 percent of the record 66 (b) billion dollars U-S trade deficit with Japan.
American car makers need to make an export impact in Asia and the auto show gives them a good chance to target the South Korean consumer.
Chrysler only has two-tenths of one percent of the South Korean marketplace.
This year it hopes to increase its sale figures to 1500 cars - about twice the amount they sold in 1994.
SOUNDBITE:
"We recognise that there is a slow improvement over the last couple of years, and imports are being more accepted. We do feel that the consumers like the American imports, and therefore we are urging the Korean government to allow us to display our vehicles and to sell our vehicles."
SUPER CAPTION: William Buksa, Chrysler
More than a half (m) million Koreans are expected to drop by the motor show this week to take a look at the latest wheels for sale.
The Americans are going to be crossing their fingers that these consumers will want to buy their cars.
A new advantage is that the weak dollar makes American products more competitive overseas while making imports more expensive for Americans.
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