Electric vehicle sales are booming in South America – without Tesla

Post by tensor » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 8:09 AM UTC

shermozle wrote: post #197

tensor wrote: post #115

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mostly agree on all points, but what self driving tech is better? I've periodically looked at the options, and nothing really seems to compare in North America. Maybe BYD and others have great tech, but stuff like Blue Cruise works hardly anywhere in Canada, and to me, that makes it virtually useless.

"I've tried all the options I have here in the country that banned the major players and I don't think any are better."

Post by rsynnott » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 9:57 AM UTC

juujian wrote: post #2

Not just Tesla, all established brands we know are left behind. I never understood Volkswagen's pivot from 'wait and See's to 'were inversing billions' to 'we were too late, abort'. Largest brands n terms of units, completely left behind in an emerging segment that's already dominating it's largest market (China). So many executives in the industry just didn't see the writing on the wall. I don't what GM was thinking…

Post by ponector » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 10:09 AM UTC

epistasis wrote: post #128

AngryData wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Im sure some of it is personal bias from experience with them but I don't think ICE are as complicated as some people think. 90% of the extra shit on them are unnecessary for it to work but what those things are and what they do and why it broke or failed or how important they are is essentially obfuscated from the general public so they seem like overly complicated magic. The vast majority of cars I see do not fail…

Ok fine, take that as a baseline for "not very complicated". EVs are less complicated, and take less maintenance.

Post by ponector » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 10:17 AM UTC

Tade0 wrote: post #84

IshKebab wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To be fair taxis have unique requirements. Taxis in the UK were like 80% Prius for a long time because they drive very long distances and hybrids are very cost effective for city driving where you're doing a lot of low speed driving and don't have convenient recharging opportunities. But most people aren't in that situation. Still, I think BYD are kind of killing it.

> But most people aren't in that situation. Those who commute from the suburbs actually save even more as hybrids achieve their lowest consumption going a steady 50-70km/h. Of course the same people could just get an EV and charge at home, but in terms of cost-effectiveness hybrids still win in this use case.

Post by ponector » Sun, Nov 30, 2025, 1:16 PM UTC

noosphr wrote: post #17

paxys wrote: post #7

Tesla was dead in the water when it became obvious that they couldn't make a sub-$30K car happen. They will still probably do well as a luxury brand, but China is going to fill in the demand for affordable EVs in the rest of the world outside USA/EU.

I don't think we've seen the end game yet. I have an electric cargo bike. During a kids party yesterday I ran 5 different errands with it while someone with a car managed to get stuck in traffic, not find a parking spot, and miss the whole thing. The only reason why cars are the size and shape they are is because ICE engines couldn't be made smaller. Electric engines on the other hand are small enough that I can have…