Steve Witt wrote:
>
> Well, you must not realize that manufacturers so insignificant as TVR etc.
> are not imported into the U.S. because they do not meet either our safety
> or emissions requirements (or both). It is very expensive for auto
> manufacturers outside the U.S. to certify their cars for this market so
> many have just stopped doing so. We lost Alfa Romeo just recently, and
> I'm not sure that Lotus is going to get the Elise certified for
> here either.
I don't believe that the problem is so much that they can't meet those
standards as much as they won't put themselves through the trauma (and
expense) of showing they can or do.
After all, unless your production numbers are awfully high, it is
gut-wrenching and overwhelmingly expensive to watch perfectly good cars
be crushed to prove that their occupants will be unhurt. Imagine doing
that to a very limited production and expensive car. It makes me cringe
to think about it.
Joe Curry
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