Originally Posted by Hopetoditchcar
Someone at a shop mentioned this to me, and again it has been brought up by JKW. Why does manufacturers supply their european buyers with bikes made in europe, but supply the american buyers with bikes made in taiwan?
Distribution can add a substantial cost to getting a product to market. I assume it plays a role in this case as well. If Bianchi does produce the same frames in Italy and Taiwan, I am willing to bet they would centralize production when and where there is a cost benefit to do so as long as quality did not suffer.
A company the size and with the reputation of Bianchi has much more to lose in the long run if their quality declines regardless of any short term gains in margin.