Thunder Tiger bought Associated???

[ATeam]

Am I the only one who missed this?? Thunder Tiger buyout of Associated Electrics. (http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/06/25/2003260716)

I guess I'm now officially a Losi guy.

[ErikRC10]

that's depressing..... but they are still gonna sell AE cars under the AE name so DON'T YOU DARE GO TO LOSI!! lol sorry have a moment. but as long as I still have an AE car that's sold under the name AE I'm fine with it as long as they quality dones't deminish or anything.

[ATeam]

But its no longer American.

[Buggyracer28]

WOW! thats pretty big...

[Baja-Destroyer]

we should have all chipped in and bought AE for the 9.5 million since its net profits were 1.5million in a year wed all be rich soon enough

[ErikRC10]

the article is from June 05 though... not exactly recent. I think we would have heard something about this if they actually bought it. because that would be big.

[ATeam]

It went down, I found some info on other RC sites. Strange that none of the major mags made any mention of it....

[ErikRC10]

so wait! AE is allready owned by thunder tiger?? man that's a shock. Well I guess nothing is gonna change (at least for now) sense they have owned AE for a while and nobody new about it.

[Billy W]

waste of a good company....... AE probably asked them not to say anythign so there wasn't a big backlash.... i know several that don't work there anymore.....

Billy

[ATeam]

Reading more about this. AE says it was a merger. But to me it is clearly a buyout, as TT will take over all of the manufacturing of AE products in the future, at least according to the above article. Several months ago AE had on their website several videos of tours of their offices and mfg. facilities. Those are all gone.

Call it what you will, but I call it sad.

[ErikRC10]

Do the same ppl still.... design I guess and manage the AE department as before because I don't want some other company/people in and screwing up AE. I mean if they went away or anything I would freak out because I don't want to have to get a losi... it would just be depressing! lol If AE get's messed up I will personally kick somebodies a$$. :) lol

[ATeam]

I think so. At least according to their website.

[crazy4rc]

I was always wondering why the reciever on my RC18B had a Thunder Tiger sticker on it. :cool:

[highroller]

The planned merger was announced in late 2004 becoming final in 2005. AE was suppose to still have a major interest still but many things have been happening that makes me wonder.

Parts have never been an issue with AE, that was my main reason for running AE products. But many of those things have changed, someof the parts that were readily available have seen months of back ordered status both online and at LHS. Kits and products suddenly appear as discontinued, where AE normally announced it in advanced. New products have seen dates of release revised and changed with no reason or explanation.

I've had to change one AE vehicle so far, parts for their 10L4 were so hard to get (bumpers, main chassis etc) that I switched brands, waited so long for the QC3 esc that I went out and purchased a Tekin 411 Pro after debating on whether to purchase the Keyance or Ko Pro escs.

[kawasakirider]

Well the ttr mta4 and the mgt are the same so i thought they were co-owned like toyota and lexus or mustang and ford

[Neon_Dave]

This kinda thing happens all the time between companies. I have no problem with it, even if they change a bunch of things. As long as quality stays the same and their products are as good as they were before, it's no problem.

According to TT in the article, it says they want to introduce AE stuff in Europe, and lower prices. That could be a good thing for us AE fans - same vehicles, but with more purchases price is lower. I see it as a win-win situation for buyers.

Then again, who knows what will become of AE a few years down the road. I hope to see a good future, but only time will tell.

-Dave :(

[zakerid]

i thought this was old news....

[tallyrc]

now when you buy their stuff you are mailing your money overseas instead of keeping it here....

[jocktheglide165]

didnt know TT was that big....or had enough cash to do that...

[tallyrc]

i just can't believe that someother american company like mip or trinity or well heck, anybody didn't get first dibs....

[GramdeGixxer]

Yeah, it is kind of dissapointing. I will tend to stay away from them now.

[OldSkoolRCRacer]

It's a sad day.....
I used to race at the Ranch Pit Shop in the early 80's when Gil Losi Jr. and Jay Halsey were driving the prototype RC10s. It was amazing to watch them, so far advanced over what the rest of us had..... highly modified Tamiya cars, even 4WD Hirobo cars.
I guess TT was the only company that either had the $$ to but AE, or was the only company willing to do so.

[tadium54]

This kinda thing happens all the time between companies. I have no problem with it, even if they change a bunch of things. As long as quality stays the same and their products are as good as they were before, it's no problem.

According to TT in the article, it says they want to introduce AE stuff in Europe, and lower prices. That could be a good thing for us AE fans - same vehicles, but with more purchases price is lower. I see it as a win-win situation for buyers.

Then again, who knows what will become of AE a few years down the road. I hope to see a good future, but only time will tell.

-Dave :(

id like to think that when ae makes more money, we get the savings, but i doubt that will be the case at all

as long as parts support and the relative quality stay the same, probably wont change much

[johnstoys]

Hate to say it, but this is a true sign of the times...

Pick just about any "mainstream" hobby -- if you buy an electric train from Lionel or MTH; if you buy a slot car from Scalextric or Carrera; if you buy a diecast car model, what do they all have in common???

They're all made overseas,probably in China or Korea.

[t9dragon]

The motor in the MGT is made by Thunger Tiger. What is the problem with Thunder Tiger? I have an EB-4 (older version) and it holds up just as good as the others

[ATeam]

The problem? Well nothing if you don't mind Americans loosing their jobs so you can buy an AE rtr instead of a AE Racing kit. When was the last time AE released a new kit?

[t9dragon]

I lost a job and it had nothing to due with a foriegn business buying the company I worked for.

[johnstoys]

The motor in the MGT is made by Thunger Tiger. What is the problem with Thunder Tiger? I have an EB-4 (older version) and it holds up just as good as the others

Yeah, I hear you about the motor, but that's not news -- the radio equipment that comes with the AE RTR's has Thunder Tiger stickers all over it (see comments above).

[t9dragon]

I always replace the radio gear anyways so no big deal for me.

[ATeam]

Well thats what its going to mean in this case as it said Thunder tiger would take over production of AE products. I seriously doubt they will continue to make them here.

Thats why they bought the company. Move manufacturing save all of that labor cost since overseas labor is a fraction of American labor. Charge the public the same thing and pocket the difference. I have a big problem with that.

[cucan]

Well reading the posts I would like to add a few things;theres no problem for tt to buy ae,the way the world is going it willnt be american or european companies buying out the companies from asia but it will be the other way around.Asian companies with eager and cash to expand will be buying the well known international brands.
I agree that it might not be good for the american workers(they probably keep the design and engineering in US but the production will move on to asia) but this is something US has done.Trying to get every damn thing made in china this is the result that will faced.You guys are happy to buy the goods for cheaper price right?(the electronics,computers,toys,textile products,etc)So this is the situation.

[deity]

It is a sad day indeed. Good bye AE it was nice knowing you. I wont be giving my money to TTR.

[ministerOFfire]

...I already give my money to kyosho and tamiya...why not AE?...As long as the quality stays the same and they continue to provide new and exciting products...I will still support AE. I am in it for the hobby..not the politics...

[t9dragon]

...I already give my money to kyosho and tamiya...why not AE?...As long as the quality stays the same and they continue to provide new and exciting products...I will still support AE. I am in it for the hobby..not the politics...


:D :D I agree!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D

[rcguy2477]

Why is everyone so against this? A large majority of the products you use are made overseas. What car do you drive? What computer are you using? When we have ceo's who sit on their behind all day and get paid several hundred-thousand dollars, companies are bound to look overseas for cheaper solutions.

Not to mention this is old news(nearly a year old). Many of the associated parts had been made by tt previous to this merger.

[crazy1]

double post please delete

[crazy1]

rcguy2477 "Why is everyone so against this?"

I have had one TT brand product. An 1/8 scale. Product support did not exist. It always seemed to me that they waited until they sold the last peice to think about making more. They were always out of something. Then their was the problem with the front arms on the EB4. They knew about the arms spliting at the mold marks and did not care. Untill very recently you could buy almost any part for a RC10 from AE. A RC10 not Rc10B/T 3/4 but orgianial B or T. They had problems but cared enough to take the time to fix the problems. We wish for the AE service and parts supply to stay the same as it was under the old owners and not change to the TT level of support. The parts availbilty is why many of us run AE over Losi.


You ask what kind of car I drive? GMC and Buick. I use Novak speed controls. Every thing I can I buy made in the USA. Why? I and many others need jobs. You say that the AE parts are still made in USA. Yes but the proffit gose overseas. Do you realy want to see the trade depict go higher.

Maybe just maybe after they run AE into the ground like Harley Davidison was run into the ground some one will buy it and bring it back to life like Harley Davidison was.

[rcguy2477]

GMC, Buick, Novak, etc. Im sure they all get parts from overseas. Some profit AE is still going to americans, I am sure. I just hate it how everyone overreacts to this.

[Street Style]

GMC, Buick, Novak, etc. Im sure they all get parts from overseas.

does the owners of this company care?

I think Not... they get Richer, we get poor..as long they dont mess whith the quality of the brand name its ok for me. :(

[CenMatrixDude]

Boy I can't belive AE only made 1.5million in that article.

I remember a time when they made 10x that! LOL!