The car, Seagull, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around $12,000 in China.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/21120107

A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling.

The car, launched last year by Chinese automaker BYD, sells for around $12,000 in China, but drives well and is put together with craftsmanship that rivals U.S.-made electric vehicles that cost three times as much. A shorter-range version costs under $10,000.

Tariffs on imported Chinese vehicles probably will keep the Seagull away from America’s shores for now, and it likely would sell for more than 12 grand if imported.

But the rapid emergence of low-priced EVs from China could shake up the global auto industry in ways not seen since Japanese makers exploded on the scene during the oil crises of the 1970s. BYD, which stands for “Build Your Dreams,” could be a nightmare for the U.S. auto industry.

“Any car company that’s not paying attention to them as a competitor is going to be lost when they hit their market,” said Sam Fiorani, a vice president at AutoForecast Solutions near Philadelphia. “BYD’s entry into the U.S. market isn’t an if. It’s a when.”

  • ChocoboRocket@lemmy.worldEnglish
    9·
    6 months ago

    Oh no!

    If only capitalism could have predicted the types of electric vehicles people wanted were affordable, small, reliable vehicles to cheaply get around town in!

    Thank goodness business and industry don’t actually have to worry about that pesky competition part of capitalism, that’s just for workers and small businesses who are the only ones actually competing with each other to the benefit of businesses and industry, instead of the other way around

    • Toneswirly@lemmy.worldEnglish
      5·
      6 months ago

      I mean Chinese manufacturing is under a command economy; they can make it as cheap as they want without regard for cost