Foreign Auto Repair

The distinction between American automobiles and foreign automobiles is not what it used to be. Traditionally there were companies that only operated in the United States and they’d compete with other manufacturers worldwide. Now, the companies that used to only operate in the US have foreign factories, as well as US factories. Also, companies that were traditionally foreign now have factories in the USA. Although the extent to which those automobiles are manufactured in the US varies since parts can be manufactured overseas and then the vehicle is assembled here.

For decades the top selling automotive brands in the US were US companies. In the early 1970s the market was dominated by Chevrolet, Ford, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Buick, Plymouth, Mercury and Doge. In the early 1980s the 4 top selling brands were still American, but Nissan, Toyota and Honda managed to work their way up to numbers 5, 6 and 7. By the early 1990s Toyota, Honda and Nissan were at top-selling numbers 3, 5 and 6.

The housing crash and subsequent economic recession in 2008-2009 was rough on the auto industry as well. During that time some car companies were filing for bankruptcy (the “reorganization of funds” kind of bankruptcy, not the “we’re out of business” bankruptcy) and others were being acquired by foreign companies. One such company was Chrysler and their sub-brand Dodge, who was acquired by Fiat, a traditionally Italian-based company which now operates in the US as “Fiat Chrysler”. Ford and Chevrolet still managed to hold the top two best-selling brands in the early 2010s, but Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, and Kia were all numbers 4-8.

In 2018 Toyota had reached the #2 spot with other foreign companies not far behind. The market is now much more balanced where the sales of traditionally-American and traditionally-foreign vehicles are about the same. However, the globalization of the auto industry makes the phrases “American” and “foreign” less meaningful.

If there are any reasons besides the before-mentioned economic recession that could be attributed to the rise of foreign vehicle sales in the US market, it’s the fact that these companies manage to stay competitive from multiple different angles of the market. From one angle there are some who produce cheaper and more economic vehicles which allow more people to own a vehicle.

From another angle they are competitive in their technologies and designs. The Toyota Prius is the hallmark of all Hybrid vehicles even though there are many others in the market. Toyota, Hyundai and Subaru are all known to make vehicles with good parts. For years the Honda Accord was known as the vehicle with the best resale value, due to it’s long-lasting quality. More recently vehicles with the best resale value include the Subaru Impreza and Subaru Legacy.

One might consider that an automotive manufacturer is American or foreign depending on where they are headquartered, regardless of where they may have factories, but that doesn’t necessarily work either because a sub-company can be headquartered in the USA while their parent company is headquartered in a different country.

Traditionally-Foreign Makes & Models That Are Serviced By Crawford’s Auto Repair:

Crawford’s Auto Repair also services traditionally-American makes and models. See Makes & Models for a full list.

Foreign Auto Services

All maintenance services are performed according the manufacturer’s recommendations. Vehicle manufacturers often recommend a “standard” and a “severe” maintenance schedule. Here in the hot AZ weather and with the frequent stop-and-go traffic that we experience in the Chandler-Gilbert area, we generally lean towards the severe maintenance schedule to keep your vehicle running smoothly and to catch any needed repairs before they become more severe. The hallmark of all maintenance services is an oil change, with which we include a full works package at no extra cost.

Learn more about all Maintenance Services including Vehicle Fluids Maintenance.

If your vehicle has any signs of under-performance, any visible leaks, or dashboard warning lights are illuminated then most repair services would begin with a free code scan and affordable inspection so that we can both (you and us) see what is going on with the vehicle. A highly trained Crawford’s Auto technician will diagnose the problem and then give you a straightforward, no-pressure presentation of the findings so that you can decide how to proceed.

See also the Dashboard Warning Light Guide.

For more information on repair services see the service pages for each vehicle system:

Services For Fleets With Traditionally-Foreign Makes & Models

Do you own a business fleet that consists entirely or partially of foreign makes and models? Crawford’s Auto Repair can service those vehicles whether they are consumer vehicles or commercial class. That even includes diesel engines and heavy duty models with special electrical components and hydraulics.

Learn more about Fleet Auto Repair Services.

Why Choose Crawford’s For Foreign Auto Repairs:

Crawford’s Auto Repair was established to be different from the rest of the auto repair industry. We don’t pay staff by commissions and we never try to sell unnecessary repairs. You can speak to the technician working on your vehicle at any time. Our highly-trained technicians will treat your vehicle like it belonged to our own mother. Call 480-201-0740 to schedule an appointment today.