Much like women seeking health care across state lines, it may be required to travel to another state for vaccinations, and depending on supply and cost, perhaps traveling to another country would be practical.
As for outbreaks, either wear a mask and avoid crowds, or have a passport and find a country not embracing insanity.
There is no reason they should have thrived during the pandemic, they should have been taking a hit just like the customers. If they were taking increased profits, then it’s because they were screwing over customers during a challenging time.
Any auto maker that focuses on practical/efficient/affordable will benefit in the long run, and the fact that another country is more focused on that, makes the real threat of competition.