Even with the new 100% tariff on electric vehicles imported from China, BYD would still have the cheapest EV in the US. According to a new report, BYD’s lowest-priced EV would still undercut all US automakers at under $25,000.
After discontinuing the production of vehicles powered entirely by internal combustion engines in March 2022, BYD has been at the forefront of the industry’s shift to EVs.
Honestly in my opinion it is time to remove all tariffs on EVs under 25k and let anyone who wants to fill that slot in. American car manufacturers refuse to fill the market need.
Buyer: I want a small, light weight, reliable vehicle with no frills or excess features, that will get me from point A to point B.
Automotive industry PR: So what you’re saying is that you want bells and whistles? Why don’t you buy radar in the bumper, a distracting touch screen that can’t be used while going over bumps or around corners instead of buttons, heated seats that don’t work without a subscription, heating elements in the steering wheel that occasionally burn you and set your car on fire, heavy sunroofs that leak, heavy electric motors to adjust your seats, heavy electric motors to roll the windows, heavy electric motors in the steering column that will fight you for control of the vehicle, a video game console for a speedometer, more cameras than a paparazzi, and expensive self-driving software the does not work yet but we totally promise that it will Soon™. Also, it will not get you from point A to point B.
Automotive industry when sales are disappointing:
shocked_pikachu.jpg
stick_in_bike_wheel.jpg: “Fucking China!”
Yeah good luck with all that considering they haven’t sold any vehicles, EV, ICE, or otherwise that don’t have at least some of these features in several decades. Even Chinese EVs are going to have these features, so it sounds like you won’t be happy with them either.