The nation’s largest chain of auto dealers, AutoNation, will not buy from China. At least their cars anyways. Mike Jackson, chairman of the 325-store group, said he considers Chinese-made vehicles to be lagging, especially in safety and quality standards, and wants no part of them.

The head of the dealership giant has been approached by Chinese automakers, though he declined to identify which ones. Despite their willingness to export to the States, Jackson is dissatisfied with their safety and quality standards. This is what he told the Society of Automotive Analysts today.

With AutoNation selling about 600,000 vehicles a year, he wants to take no chances. Jackson added this saying ” We get approached to sell Chinese vehicles,”.  ” I say, ‘Hmmm. …’ I don’t want to be the one left holding the bag and standing in front of customers when the thing goes ka-fooey.” I will not be an early adopter. Somebody will….somebody will regret it.”

Even though the Chinese are very much trying to get into the U.S. market, they are being met with hesitation over the sub-par  quality and safety standards all of their vehicles. A current Chinese manufacture started to crash-test it’s cars in the U.S. The cars failed miserably, literally falling apart and killing everyone inside(theoretically). That’s not even one star then (out of five). It’s easy to see old Mike’s hesitation.

Interesting enough, Jackson said his decision does not include Chrysler’s plan to distribute vehicles made in China by Chery Automobile Co. ” If the first one is Chery through Chrysler, I’ll sell it,” he said, ” because I know Chrysler.”

Looks like the Chinese are gonna have to pay some dues if they wanna play ball. Well, at least in our backyard.