Fender American

Fender American

Chinese-made Hybrid Coming Soon

In New York City, Miles Automotive Group is reportedly planning to manufacture a plug in hybrid, named XS 500 and release it to the masses by 2009. To experience the electric-driven Chinese-made sedan, it will cost you $30,000.

The electric car technology is no longer new news. But manufacturers have encountered problems with its expensive production and recently, the battery to be used.

Miles Rubin, founder of the Miles Automotive Group plans to change all that with his XS 500.

By cheaper production, the XS 500 is built to reach a top speed of 80 miles per hour and a range of 120 miles at 60 miles per hour. It’s as fast as EV 1 car of General Motors (manufacturer of GMC front fender) in the late-90s.

Because the XS is Chinese made, it is of lower price. In China, labor cost is low and it keeps the price down. The advanced lithium ion battery is yielded by Miles Automotive from a state-sponsored research to Lishen Battery. The built in battery of the XS 500 only needs six hours of charging in an ordinary wall outlet.

It seems like XS 500 is one perfect car, but like all other it’s likely that it will confront some setbacks.

First on the list is introducing the car to the industry. Before marketing to the United States, the XS 500 will undergo test driving, battery testing and they are required to get safety approval from U.S. regulators. According to Rubin, by fall, he’ll be having 6 prototypes of the XS 500.

Another problem is competition. Miles Automotive Group’s closest competitors are the Phoenix Motors and the Tesla Motors, both on their way of entering the plug-in sedan market.

Plus, the big American motor companies with their blossoming plug-in hybrids that uses both electricity and gasoline to power their vehicles as their edge.

"But the world has changed," said Rubin.

"We need to get off our reliance on oil and we need to alter our carbon footprint."

Chinese goods had long been questioned of their quality; it is another addition to the list. To resolve this, Rubin said that there are inspectors in both Chinese factories that will manufacture the car. He also emphasized the safety features of the car with its reinforced doors and both front and side airbags.

"The cars will speak for themselves. You can PR it to death, but if it doesn't perform well, it's dead on arrival," he said.

Value of Fender American Made Stratocaster?

I got an amer. made fender strat for my 16th Birthday in feb. of this year. it's a 2009; from GuitarCenter.
i had to help pay a little for it, but the total was $1,050 (i got it b4 they went up $200)
im never planning on selling it, but i was just curious how much would it be worth in say.. 10, 25, and 50 years from now? and what most effects a guitars value?

Hello, Taylor! Having owned and played many Fender Stratocasters over the years (1963 to present), I can say from personal experience that my 1962 model cost about $200 and my 1969 model was around $400. Of course now they are worth many times the original price, but I do not know how I would feel about them if I was able to play them now (long since sold). To a collector, playability and tone is only part of the equation; more importantly is when the instrument was made and by whom, the rarity of that particular model, and the vibe created by the marketplace. The pre-CBS Fender guitars (before 1965) are usually considered by collectors to be the most valuable and desirable. An all-original parts, mint-condition 1954 Stratocaster is going to fetch a premium price, mainly because there are just not that many available anywhere! Up to about 1970 is where the line gets drawn between true vintage and the more modern instruments. The same woods and craftsmanship are generally no longer being employed, and overall quality becomes dependent on specific year manufactured. Granted, there are Fender Custom Shop and Limited Edition models that far exceed the build quality and hardware selection of the earlier instruments, but even those do not always escalate from their original cost. Now to your questions! First, I believe the value of your 2009 American Standard will gradually shrink and then stabilize at somewhere around 70% to 90% of whatever is the current selling price. I regularly see ‘80s and ‘90s Stratocasters advertised on Craig’s List and eBay in the $800 to $1100 range. Second, what makes these non-vintage guitars hold their value is proper maintenance (lubricating moving parts, polishing wood and metal surfaces, etc.), care in handling and playing (avoiding noticeable nicks and scratches), and above all, parts originality! I am one of the worst offenders for changing parts on the planet, having replaced major parts on every one of my Fender Stratocasters; sure, I have devaluated the guitars, but they sure play well and sound good to me! Hope some of this babble helps. Best regards, Dana