This whole matter has prompted me to do some research.  It seems that
VW has been manufacturing cars in China for quite a while.  By 2002
they had already produced some two million cars in Shanghai, no less,
according to this
website:
http://english.people.com.cn/200206/28/eng20020628_98742.shtml.  I
would judge, therefore, that my relay with the VW logo and "Made in
Shanghai" was made by or for VW and must certainly meet VW standards
world-wiide.  After reading this, I have no qualms about buying
non-German parts as long as they bear the VW logo.

As for space flight, I don't know about missions to Mars, but the
Chinese put a man in space in 2003.  And their Silkworm missile is
legendary.  When we fly Boeing's new 787 a large number of important
components will have been made in China, in including the rudder.

No, the more I think about it, the more I'm sure that "Made is China"
or Shanghai or wherever in Asia has to be taken seriously.

Charles
'85 Westy

At 08:16 AM 9/4/2006, Mark Drillock wrote:
>We are calling it a relay but it is really a simple electronic control
>unit. Given the huge amount of high tech electronic gear that has major
>components  built in China, I think you can chance it. We are not
>talking a manned mission to Mars after all.
>
>Mark
>
>Charles McGehee wrote:
>
>>Well, I dunno.  Is there really evidence that "Made in Germany" is
>>absolutely better than "Made in China?"  It's my impression that the
>>Germans are riding a historical reputaiion which is not necessarily
>>deserved.  I know, for instance, that they are outsourcing work to
>>Asia every bit as much as we are, and that one reason their "Made in
>>Germany" parts, etc., are more expensive is because their production
>>costs are so high.  .............
>>
>>>Ahhhhh, made in Shanghai.  No wonder their retail price is way below
>>>the importing warehouse cost, much less the resulting markup for the
>>>factory KAE relay, which retails for around $30 at VW (I think $27
>>>or so at Bus Depot).  Hope it works (I'll stick to buying KAE
>>>relays, I haven't been much a fan of Chinese relays of late, even if
>>>they do have the VW-Audi Logo) ;-)
>>>--
>>>Jim Thompson