So Shi-Tei

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-	'''So Shi-Tei Motors''' is a [[Korea|Korean]] manufacturer of budget cars. So Shi-Tei Motors was founded in 1954. Their main competitor is Kra-Pi Motors from [[Japan]].	+	The '''So Shi-Tei''' is a budget compact [[Korea|Korean]] car manufactured by [[So Motors]], a subsidiary of [[So International]]. The Shi-Tei was first manufactured in 1983. Since 1985, the Shi-Tei has been plagued by various problems ranging from electrical to engine problems. Production ended in 1994. In [[North America]], the Shi-Tei is known as the '''So Car'''.
	==History==		==History==
-	So Shi-Tei Motors was founded in 1956 by Won Tai Lee and Yi Son Guy . The company began as a bicycle repair shop in Downtown Korea. In 1970, the business was moved to a bigger location and began servicing motorized scooters and bicycles. In 1974 the company began manufacturing and selling their own bicycles.	+	In 1979, So Manufacturing wanted to expand into making automobiles. Having no such experience, they sent out an ad in the local newspaper to find a designer. Meanwhile in 1981, they created So Motors. Finally in 1982, the winner was chosen. The So Shi-Tei was the brain child of Korean Won Tai-Lee.
-	==Decline==	+	==First Generation==
-	By 1976, the company was facing serious financial trouble. The second generation bicycles were not reliable and were selling poorly. By late 1976, the company had a stock of over 10,000 unsold bicycles. By late 1977, brankrupcy was almost the only option.	+	The first generation Shi-Tei was produced between 1983 and 1991. The first generation was designed by Won Tai-Lee. The car was originally a two door hatchback. The car was powered by a 56 horsepower inline four known later as the Si4. In 1988 the Si4 gained [[three|three horsepower]] making a total of 59 horsepower. However this version was plagued with various problems and became known as the SV2.
-	==Buy Out==	+
-	During a visit to Korea in 1978, businessman Jason Jackson visited the shop for repairs to his bike. Jackson was told the story of how the business was going under. After hearing the story, Jackson wanted to help. Jackson bought one-third of the company in [[February]] 1978.	+
-	In [[November]] 1979, Yi Son Guy died and left his share of the company to his son. Jackson bought the other third in [[January]] 1980. The company stopped making their bikes in [[April]] 1980. However, they continued selling second hand bicycles.	+	==Second Generation==
		+	By 1989, sales of the Shi-Tei were falling quickly. So blamed this on the design of the car being too old. So Motors began redesigning their car. The second generation Shi-Tei was produced between 1991 and 1994. However, this did not help sales of the Shi-Tei and they were falling again in 1992. In late 1993, So brought in the option of a redesigned SV2 engine. However, production ended in [[January]] 1994.
-	==Cars==	+	==Third Generation==
-	After his death, Won Tai Lee and Jason Jackson began talking about expanding into the motor vehicle franchise. Jason's brother, Andy Jackson entered the company in 1983. In 1984, Jason Jackson bought a service station near the head office. A month later, the company was renamed J+J Bike and Auto Service.	+	In 1998, So Manufacturing was purchased by Jay Roberts. In 2000, Roberts decided to bring back the Shi-Tei.
-	Tension was growing between the Jacksons and Lee and eventually resulted in Lee leaving the company. In 1986, Jason invested in a car plant that was going bankrupt and eventually bought 100% ofthe company in [[August]] 1986. The plant had stopped making vechicles in [[June]]. In September, J+J Bike and Auto Service abondoned the bicycle market and focused on the automobile. in 1987 the name was changed again to JJ Motors and the first car drawing were shown in September 1987. The JJ C1 was a full sized car based on several North American models.	+	The third generation Shi-Tei was produced between 2002 and 2006. The engine was a redesigned Si4 with 89 horsepower known as the roberts4. In 2004, So Motors decided to test new features such as power windows and airbags. However, they could not get them to work correctly and the idea was scrapped.
-	The reception was not well and forced a redesign. The JJ C2 was shown one year later in 1988. The C2 was just a smaller version of the C1.	+	In 2005, So International was purchased by [[Jayatsu Manufacturing]].
-	[[Category: transportation]]	+	==Fourth Generation==
		+	The fourth generation Shi-Tei was produced between 2007 and present. The fourth generation Shi-Tei was designed by European Paul James. The Shi-Tei continued to use the roberts4 engine. In 2008, So Motors brought in the option of a new engine with 73 horsepower for better fuel economy. This version became known as the Ji4.
		+
		+	In 2009, it was reported that Jayatsu is changing the name from So Motors to the [[Jayatsu Motors]]. Jayatsu confirmed this and also reported that the Shi-Tei will be discontinued at the end of 2009 and will be replaced with a new model currently called the Jayatsu Vee. In May 2009, Jayatsu announced that the new [[Jayatsu Vee]] will be delayed until at least late 2010. Production of the So Shi-Tei will still end of 2009. Jayatsu's plan is to redesign the current car and introduce it in late 2009 as the Jayatsu So or the [[Jayatsu Vee]].
		+	===GTR===
		+	The Shi-Tei GTR was released in [[2006]] as a 2007 model. The car features a rear spoiler, different rims, and more power. The GTR was only available in GTR [[Blue]] and GTR [[Red]]. The GTR model was discontinued at the end of 2008.
		+
		+	==Jayatsu EC==
		+	In 2008, Am-Kor Motors announced that they were working on an electric version of the Shi-Tei. The car is currently called the [[Jayatsu EC]]. In 2009, [[So Motors]] made a deal with [[Richards Motor Company]] to sell the [[jayatsu EC|So EC-1]] in North America. The car will be called the RMC Charge. Jayatsu is expected to unveil the car sometime in 2009.
		+
		+	==Defects==
		+	Being so cheaply produced, the So Shi-Tei has been reviled to have several design flaws.
		+
		+	From 1983 until 1993 the So Shi-Tei faced electrical problems. The result would range from a faulty radio to the car randomly not starting. The problem came back again in 2004 but was solved by 2005.
		+
		+	From 1985 until 1987 and 1989 until 1991, the Shi-Tei had windshield wiper problems. When driving, the wipers would apparently fly off. This was fixed in 1991.
		+
		+	==Pictures==
		+	First generation:
		+	http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/3rd-Toyota-Corolla-coupe-2.jpg/120px-3rd-Toyota-Corolla-coupe-2.jpg Second Generation:
		+	http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/2nd-Toyota-Tercel-EZ-3door.jpg/200px-2nd-Toyota-Tercel-EZ-3door.jpg
		+
		+	Third Generation:
		+	http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/CarCheryQQ.jpg/250px-CarCheryQQ.jpg Fourth Generation: http://www.babez.de/chevrolet/matiz/picth01.jpg
		+
		+	==See Also==
		+	* [[So International]]
		+	* [[Am-Kor Limited]]
		+	* [[Chevrolet]]
		+	[[Category: transportation]] [[Category: Fiction]] [[Category: Jayatsu]]

---

Current revision as of 05:39, 28 May 2009

The So Shi-Tei is a budget compact Korean car manufactured by So Motors, a subsidiary of So International. The Shi-Tei was first manufactured in 1983. Since 1985, the Shi-Tei has been plagued by various problems ranging from electrical to engine problems. Production ended in 1994. In North America, the Shi-Tei is known as the So Car.

Contents 1 History 2 First Generation 3 Second Generation 4 Third Generation 5 Fourth Generation 5.1 GTR 6 Jayatsu EC 7 Defects 8 Pictures 9 See Also

[edit] History

In 1979, So Manufacturing wanted to expand into making automobiles. Having no such experience, they sent out an ad in the local newspaper to find a designer. Meanwhile in 1981, they created So Motors. Finally in 1982, the winner was chosen. The So Shi-Tei was the brain child of Korean Won Tai-Lee.

[edit] First Generation

The first generation Shi-Tei was produced between 1983 and 1991. The first generation was designed by Won Tai-Lee. The car was originally a two door hatchback. The car was powered by a 56 horsepower inline four known later as the Si4. In 1988 the Si4 gained three horsepower making a total of 59 horsepower. However this version was plagued with various problems and became known as the SV2.

[edit] Second Generation

By 1989, sales of the Shi-Tei were falling quickly. So blamed this on the design of the car being too old. So Motors began redesigning their car. The second generation Shi-Tei was produced between 1991 and 1994. However, this did not help sales of the Shi-Tei and they were falling again in 1992. In late 1993, So brought in the option of a redesigned SV2 engine. However, production ended in January 1994.

[edit] Third Generation

In 1998, So Manufacturing was purchased by Jay Roberts. In 2000, Roberts decided to bring back the Shi-Tei.

The third generation Shi-Tei was produced between 2002 and 2006. The engine was a redesigned Si4 with 89 horsepower known as the roberts4. In 2004, So Motors decided to test new features such as power windows and airbags. However, they could not get them to work correctly and the idea was scrapped.

In 2005, So International was purchased by Jayatsu Manufacturing.

[edit] Fourth Generation

The fourth generation Shi-Tei was produced between 2007 and present. The fourth generation Shi-Tei was designed by European Paul James. The Shi-Tei continued to use the roberts4 engine. In 2008, So Motors brought in the option of a new engine with 73 horsepower for better fuel economy. This version became known as the Ji4.

In 2009, it was reported that Jayatsu is changing the name from So Motors to the Jayatsu Motors. Jayatsu confirmed this and also reported that the Shi-Tei will be discontinued at the end of 2009 and will be replaced with a new model currently called the Jayatsu Vee. In May 2009, Jayatsu announced that the new Jayatsu Vee will be delayed until at least late 2010. Production of the So Shi-Tei will still end of 2009. Jayatsu's plan is to redesign the current car and introduce it in late 2009 as the Jayatsu So or the Jayatsu Vee.

[edit] GTR

The Shi-Tei GTR was released in 2006 as a 2007 model. The car features a rear spoiler, different rims, and more power. The GTR was only available in GTR Blue and GTR Red. The GTR model was discontinued at the end of 2008.

[edit] Jayatsu EC

In 2008, Am-Kor Motors announced that they were working on an electric version of the Shi-Tei. The car is currently called the Jayatsu EC. In 2009, So Motors made a deal with Richards Motor Company to sell the So EC-1 in North America. The car will be called the RMC Charge. Jayatsu is expected to unveil the car sometime in 2009.

[edit] Defects

Being so cheaply produced, the So Shi-Tei has been reviled to have several design flaws.

From 1983 until 1993 the So Shi-Tei faced electrical problems. The result would range from a faulty radio to the car randomly not starting. The problem came back again in 2004 but was solved by 2005.

From 1985 until 1987 and 1989 until 1991, the Shi-Tei had windshield wiper problems. When driving, the wipers would apparently fly off. This was fixed in 1991.

[edit] Pictures

First generation: Second Generation:

Third Generation: Fourth Generation:

[edit] See Also

• So International
• Am-Kor Limited
• Chevrolet