"The secret to BYD's success is simple: The company makes high-tech electric and hybrid cars and sells them at incredible prices. The tiny BYD Seagull costs as little as $8,000 in China, and it's a megahit in several countries. The Chinese car industry-not just BYD but also its many competitors that also make affordable cars-is quickly taking over the world."
"But you won't find the Seagull or any other cheap Chinese models in the United States. The Biden administration levied steep 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs and then essentially banned them for reasons of national security. (U.S. officials have said that the cars could transmit sensitive data back to Beijing.) For its part, the Trump administration has continued to keep out Chinese imports and push American-made gas cars instead."
"Recently, however, the wall around Chinese cars has started to crack. Earlier this month, in a speech at the Detroit Economic Club, President Trump expressed enthusiasm for letting Chinese automakers build their vehicles in the United States: "If they want to come in and build the plant and hire you and hire your friends and your neighbors, that's great," he said."
BYD overtook Tesla last year to become the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles. The company combines high-tech electric and hybrid models with dramatically lower prices. The BYD Seagull starts at about $8,000 in China and has become a bestseller in several countries. Chinese automakers broadly are gaining share in Europe and Mexico by offering models thousands of dollars cheaper than local brands. The United States has largely blocked Chinese EV imports through 100 percent tariffs and national-security-based restrictions. Political leaders are showing signs of easing barriers, with U.S. interest in domestic Chinese-built plants and Canada cutting tariffs to 6 percent.
Read at The Atlantic
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