[kube-system]

All automakers (except maybe, sort of, Volvo) have shown they'll put in a minimum amount of effort on safety unless held to higher standards either by regulators or the insurance industry. It costs money to make things safe and if you spend more money on it than you're required to, your competitors won't.

The Chinese can build a safe car if they're required to do so.

[PeterisP]

The absolute minimum of safety for a car that's legal to sell in USA or EU today is greater than the maximum of car safety any money could buy in 1990s, and we're not even speaking about 1970s or earlier.

Of course they will build a safe car, because they definitely will be required to do so; the law is there, and the local car industry are sufficiently powerful and capable to act as an effective watchdog ensuring that all the requirements are enforced for their Chinese competitors.

[kube-system]

I would presume they might not meet voluntary standards, like high performance on IIHS tests, because their competitive advantage would likely be price. At least, in the short term.

[sam_lowry_]

Volvo is pretty much a Chinese company now.

[kube-system]

Volvo is Chinese in the same way that RAM Trucks are Dutch.

I think in this context people are more referring to country of origin in terms of culture, engineering, and operations. Not just the financial side of the fence.