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The withering dream of a cheap American electric car

(www.wsj.com)
152 points voisin | 1 comments | 17 Nov 24 23:52 UTC | HN request time: 0.2s | source
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latentcall ◴[18 Nov 24 16:08 UTC] No.42173727[source]▶
I would love a 10-15K BYD. I was told recently desiring a BYD is un-American when I can spend 3 times the price on a Tesla. No thanks! I’ll hold out for something truly cheap. Cars in America are insanely priced.
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rootusrootus ◴[18 Nov 24 16:20 UTC] No.42173877[source]▶
Protecting local manufacturers from cheap offshore labor is rational, especially if the offshore products are being subsidized specifically to undermine incumbents and put them out of business. I get that individual consumers want the cheapest trinket they can find, but the gov't has to be more strategic. And every country does this, including the one that would be the source of these trinkets.
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glial ◴[18 Nov 24 16:54 UTC] No.42174270[source]▶
I exclusively buy Toyotas because they are cheaper to maintain than American cars. Is your argument that I shouldn't have access to Japanese cars either?

I understand the desire to have a strategic reserve of manufacturing capacity. However, the US also subsidizes the US auto industry heavily by e.g. bailing out GM and Chrysler. It frustrates me that US car manufacturers continue to make exclusively heavy, low-efficiency vehicles. Give me something inexpensive, safe, efficient, reliable, and I'll buy it.

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1. rootusrootus ◴[18 Nov 24 17:32 UTC] No.42174711[source]▶
> I exclusively buy Toyotas because they are cheaper to maintain than American cars.

I think Teslas are actually cheapest, by brand.

> It frustrates me that US car manufacturers continue to make exclusively heavy, low-efficiency vehicles.

The market has decided that they want cars from Toyota and trucks from Detroit. I can't really blame the automakers from focusing on what makes them the best profit.

I'd dispute the low efficiency claim. My Ford pickup is way more efficient than anything Toyota makes. And even strictly comparing like-for-like, Toyota is on the lower efficiency end of that market.