>"If this can’t compete head to head (no tariffs or other import restrictions) with BYD and the like, then I don’t know why one would get excited."
Would you prefer our roads flooded with cheap Chinese EVs that are the automotive equivalent of Shein hauls? Protectionism has its place in certain areas, and I would say building a thriving domestic EV industry that isn't beholden to a single weirdo is one of them.
> cheap Chinese EVs that are the automotive equivalent of Shein hauls?
Your perception of Chinese auto manufacturing is very out of date. This makes as much sense as calling Japanese or Korean cars cheap and low quality.
I’m pretty sure there are more possible outcomes than “this one truck or cheap, dangerous Chinese EVs.” False choice fallacy.
A lack of import restrictions in no way prevents safety regulations. You could also subsidize the domestic automobile industry without having tariffs, so that we protect our domestic industrial base. These things take no imagination.
By most accounts the Chinese EVs are decent quality. What makes you think they aren’t?
NHSTA standards
I can’t find any evidence that the NHTSA has ever evaluated Chinese EVs negatively. The ones not available in the US meet high standards in other places like Europe and Australia.
Do you have any evidence to support your claim?
European standards are tighter, and many Chinese vehicles are homolgated in Europe.
Do you think that the rest of the world needs to protect itself from Tesla then and slap tariffs on any Tesla cars exported?
Do Chinese Evs break down a lot or aren't repairable?
I drive a Polestar 2, which is a Chinese manufactured EV, and it's better quality than most North American vehicles.
The Munroe Live episode on it should disavow people of these biases. He ends it with a strong warning about people's weird biases about Chinese manufacturing.