What is it?
 

If a bike is designed in one country, but built in another country, what "nationality" is the bike?

For example, Univega was a U.S. company, and the bikes were designed in the U.S., but built in Japan. Are they Japanese bikes? American bikes? International bikes?

Before Univega, there was Italvega, same deal: designed in the U.S., built in Italy. Lotus? Designed in the U.S., built in Japan.

And then there's that whole can of worms we get when an American company like Trek starts manufacturing in Taiwan, or an Italian company like Bianchi starts manufacturing in Japan.

Opinions?

What to call it?
 

I think you need to get out and ride your bike more, rather than trying to see how many times you can spit a hair!:D

:lol:

Dude... I have a headache now :eek:

I'm elevating what Aaron says to 'I have a migraine now'!

Does this have anything to do with Fuji bicycles :) ?

East Hill

Was it the Ford Escort or some kind of Chrysler that tried as its selling point that it was "international": designed in the US, parts manufactured in various places, assembled in Lower Botslanastan. I don't think that worked out so well, and it was probably just a scheme to skirt the UAW, anyway.

Neal

I know the answer!
It's still a bike...

+1:p

Reminds me of my mother's Mercury Tracer...American brand, built in Mexico at a Mazda plant:lol:

Aaron:)

Yes, this is definitely headache time. I recollect Raleigh USA in the early 80's importing Taiwanese manufactured front triangles and rear triangles, welding them together in their Washington state factory, painint them there, and slapping a large USA flag and USA manufactured stickers on them. Perhaps that was the harbringer of things to come. In the early 70's when I was selling Raleigh of Nottingham, England bikes, we would receive the same model bike made in UK, Holland, South Africa and sometimes India. However, they were properly decaled with the country of manufacture. Welcome to the global manufacturing economy.