US cities pay too much for buses

(www.bloomberg.com)

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isthispermanent ◴[26 Sep 25 17:32 UTC] No.45388969[source]▶

So the authors basic argument is to offshore bus production. As if that doesn’t carry any negative side effects.

This is exactly what the majority of Americans voted against and exactly why the left can’t find its footing. Everyone is now fully aware that offshoring for a cheap sticker price comes with higher, harder to price costs elsewhere.

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twoodfin ◴[26 Sep 25 17:45 UTC] No.45389111[source]▶

>>45388969 #

The side effects of “Buy American” rules do not include a dynamic, competitive domestic bus manufacturing industry. Just the opposite.

If the Chinese want to subsidize our mass transit buildout, why not let them? Are busses really critical national security concerns?

If we needed the existing NA producers to build military busses it sounds like we’d be screwed!

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1. jibe ◴[26 Sep 25 17:51 UTC] No.45389178[source]▶

>>45389111 #

A literal bus factory may not be critical for national security, but the ability to manufacture a vehicle is. So the know-how, the supply lines, and the manufacturing facility are important. The ability to manufacture a fuel injector, a transmission, a windshield is going going to apply to a bus, a plane, a tank..

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2. bradleybuda ◴[26 Sep 25 18:05 UTC] No.45389299[source]▶

>>45389178 (TP) #

If only there was an entire American city filled with people and companies who had this expertise. We could call it the "Motor City".

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3. dgfitz ◴[26 Sep 25 18:16 UTC] No.45389403[source]▶

>>45389299 #

You ignored "supply lines"

I encourage you to find a vehicle made in said city with zero parts sourced from China.

That is the point.

4. mike50 ◴[26 Sep 25 18:16 UTC] No.45389418[source]▶

>>45389178 (TP) #

Sure that's why the Hummer was a great vehicle with all the institutional knowledge from GM. /s Also modern engines in tanks and planes are turbine engines with nothing in common to lighter vehicles (APCs trucks etc). Tanks don't have windshields either.

5. supportengineer ◴[26 Sep 25 18:19 UTC] No.45389445[source]▶

>>45389299 #

Or “Fremont”

6. rsynnott ◴[27 Sep 25 08:42 UTC] No.45394147[source]▶

>>45389178 (TP) #

So subsidise the bus manufacturers to make competitive products directly, rather than an indirect subsidy via forcing transport authorities to buy uncompetitive junk.

Forcing transport authorities etc to buy local seems like clearly the worst way to subsidise industry; there is little incentive for the manufacturers to make a good or cost-competitive product.

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