The problem with Chinese EVs is that they show it’s possible to innovate, keep prices down, and mass produce.
Ford, GM, even Tesla, are spending all their time whining about how it’s just not possible to compete. They point the finger at worker wages, instead of improving engineering and design, materials, manufacturing processes, and not chasing stock-market gains.
Stop making $70K SUVs and start making $20K Taurus and Escort EVs. You did it once. You can do it again.
AFAIK major contributor into low Chinese EV prices are subsidies and tax breaks for manufacturers. I know they have significant tax breaks in US. It would be interesting to see how they compare. Because if they are mostly on par this is pure corporate greed stopping them. Especially in case of Tesla. They are not overpaying workers and don’t use luxury materials
Subsidies are another way to say State planning, which is how you direct the “free market”. No capitalist, which includes China, will “innovate” without being baited with money.
There are massive subsidies in the US as well, but these go into the pockets of the CEOs and political/financial class. If this were to happen in China they’d go missing like Jack Ma of Alibaba until he got his head right.
The problem with Chinese EVs is that they show it’s possible to innovate, keep prices down, and mass produce.
It’s not only possible, it’s easy: you just need terrible labor and environmental standards, poor welfare, cheap access to raw materials, and tons of state subsidies :)
It’s interesting to note that “we” knew all along it would end like this but just couldn’t resist moving/outsourcing production to China nor investing in China’s fast-growing economy.
“We” were chasing short-term profits and China was playing the long game. Apparently, both parties won, each at their own game.
Stop making $70K SUVs and start making $20K Taurus and Escort EVs. You did it once. You can do it again.
The cost of batteries is (relatively) higher for cheap vehicles, so that’s the segment where it makes the most difference.
This title totally made me laugh.
Lol, what a great title
