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The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

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Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#11

Post by Dig1t »

GenerWork wrote: post #5

Would BYD even be able to sell it here for $10k? Pretty sure Trump slapped a bunch of tariffs on Chinese vehicles, and Biden may have hiked those tariffs. To me, the logical step is for Chinese vehicles to build factories in Mexico and then ship vehicles into the country so they qualify as NAFTA vehicles. No way will it be $10k, but it certainly won't be $40k like other electric vehicles.

Yes totally, but it's still scary knowing that the only thing standing between you and destruction is a political policy.

Also: if you consider climate change to be an end-of-the-world catastrophe, then it's pretty easy to make an argument to consider changing the tariffs at some point.

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#12

Post by JumpCrisscross »

nothercastle wrote: post #7

Nobody in the USA wants that market. There isn’t even an interest in under 25k cars. I don’t see any issues allowing these if local manufacturers aren’t even willing to make products at 2x the price

> Nobody in the USA wants that market. There isn’t even an interest in under 25k cars

That doesn’t mean the market doesn’t exist. I could see these being sold in Mexico and Europe. At that point, the American car industry becomes an inefficient protected industry. American voters have limited sympathy for those in the long run when it comes to consumer goods.

That said, it’s unclear if BYD can make a $10k car that meets American safety (and useless regulatory) standards.

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#13

Post by Arnt »

tw04 wrote: post #3

As it should, just like the dirt cheap solar panels from China scared US suppliers and drove all of them out of business. When the government subsidizes product to the point of it being significantly below market cost in order to capture market share, the folks who can't do the same lose. See: Amazon and small bookstores.

That car is small, light, has few moving parts, no luxury parts, and the most expensive part is dropping quickly in price.

It clearly is below market cost, since it sets a new price record. But subsidized?

What makes you think it's subsidized?

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#14

Post by onlyrealcuzzo »

nothercastle wrote: post #7

Nobody in the USA wants that market. There isn’t even an interest in under 25k cars. I don’t see any issues allowing these if local manufacturers aren’t even willing to make products at 2x the price

> I don’t see any issues allowing these if local manufacturers aren’t even willing to make products at 2x the price

Because how are GM and Ford supposed to pay UAW wages, return a profit, and make a car for If people have the option, they'll buy the $10k Seagull and not pay UAW wages...

It's not like GM has a 60% margin on $25k cars...

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#16

Post by nothercastle »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #12
nothercastle wrote: post #7

Nobody in the USA wants that market. There isn’t even an interest in under 25k cars. I don’t see any issues allowing these if local manufacturers aren’t even willing to make products at 2x the price

> Nobody in the USA wants that market. There isn’t even an interest in under 25k cars That doesn’t mean the market doesn’t exist. I could see these being sold in Mexico and Europe. At that point, the American car industry becomes an inefficient protected industry. American voters have limited sympathy for those in the long run when it comes to consumer goods. That said, it’s unclear if BYD can make a $10k car that me…

I mean from the manufacturer point of view, under 50k cars aren’t sufficiently profitable to be worth making. So very little R&D happens at the low end

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#18

Post by apgwoz »

paxys wrote: post #4

Affordable small cars have never been a thing in the US, electric or not. There's zero reason to believe that this new batch will pose a threat.

This is exactly the size I want for my second car. Bring it on.

As it stands, I’ll end up spending $10k more on a used, 2023 Bolt EUV.

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#19

Post by belval »

paxys wrote: post #4

Affordable small cars have never been a thing in the US, electric or not. There's zero reason to believe that this new batch will pose a threat.

Indeed this article uses a weird framing, if anything this seems more like a threat to EU manufacturers that sell small cars in a market where people want smaller cars, not US manufacturers that mostly sell SUVs and Pickups in a market where people are picking ever-larger monstruosities.

Re: The $10k BYD Seagull EV is scaring the U.S. auto industry

#20

Post by ninetyninenine »

paxys wrote: post #4

Affordable small cars have never been a thing in the US, electric or not. There's zero reason to believe that this new batch will pose a threat.

Literally in that article a man who has more stake in the game than you, Elon musk, says it’s an existential threat. This must mean Elon is completely delusional. There is no threat and no market for sub 10k cars because they’re too small for Americans.

Elon musk needs a reality check.

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