Ford’s affordable EV project faces Chinese competitors with 20 years of experience and intense government backing.
“Far Superior” Cars
Car Dealership Guy quotes Ford CEO Jim Farley China’s EV costs, tech, and quality “far superior” to the West
Ford found that Chinese EVs integrate with technology seamlessly. Drivers get in the car and their phone pairs automatically, and an AI companion equivalent to ChatGPT handles everything from navigation to entertainment. The vehicles also have facial recognition that knows which seat someone is in and adjusts media preferences.
“Their cost, their quality of their vehicles is far superior to what I see in the West,” Farley said. “We are in a global competition with China, and it’s not just EVs.”
Between the lines: China built massive overcapacity that creates export power.
- The country has 20 million units of domestic demand but 40 million units of manufacturing capacity, meaning they can flood global markets without building additional plants.
- That manufacturing base also gets government support American companies don’t receive.
And that dependence on Chinese suppliers is already causing problems. Ford shut down plants for three weeks recently because they couldn’t source high-power magnets that go into speakers, seat motors, wipers, and door systems.
“We cannot get any high power magnets without China,” Farley said.
Ford’s answer: Three years ago, Farley created a Skunkworks facility in Southern California, completely separate from Ford’s traditional operations. The team includes Alan Clarke, who was the chief engineer of the Model Y and Model 3 at Tesla before joining Ford. And the group has one goal: building the “Model T of EVs” for the super-affordable segment.
Bottom line: Ford’s affordable EV project will need to internalize lessons from global competition, and build domestic capabilities that can genuinely compete on cost and quality.
The opening paragraph says it all.
To repeat “Drivers get in the car and their phone pairs automatically, and an AI companion equivalent to ChatGPT handles everything from navigation to entertainment. The vehicles also have facial recognition that knows which seat someone is in and adjusts media preferences.“
The Western manufacturers do not have that at any price.
BYD Pricing
In China, BYD offers a range of electric vehicles (EVs) at various price points, with some models starting under $10,000. For example, the BYD Seagull EV has a starting price of 69,800 yuan (approximately $9,555) and can be found with discounts down to 55,800 yuan (about $7,780). The company also offers more premium models like the Han EV, which starts at around $32,800.
- “God’s Eye” Technology:BYD has equipped many of its models with advanced driver-assistance systems, including its “God’s Eye” technology, even on lower-priced vehicles.
- Price War Concerns:BYD’s aggressive pricing has triggered concerns about a potential price war in the Chinese EV market, prompting warnings from industry associations.
- Model Variations:BYD offers various trims and configurations for each model, allowing customers to choose options that fit their budget and needs.
- BYD Seagull: Starts at 69,800 yuan (around $9,555) and has been discounted to 55,800 yuan (~$7,780).
- BYD Seal 06 EV: Launches at 109,800 yuan (approximately $15,300).
- BYD e7 EV Sedan: Priced at $14,400, according to CarNewsChina.com.
- BYD Han EV: Extended-range version starts at 229,800 RMB (approximately $32,800).
- BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up): Starts at around 100,000 yuan (approximately $20,000) in China.
The above pricing details from AI.
Imagine buying a car for about $7,780 or a luxury EV for around $32,800.
Why Is BYD So Cheap in China?
Given that both BYD and Tesla are manufacturing in China, with the same labour costs and similar public subsidies, the explanation for BYD’s lower manufacturing costs is all about manufacturing process, product design, and vertical integration. BYD just straightforwardly sets up cheaper manufacturing processes
Technology
BYD leads in battery tech with its LFP Blade Battery, which is safer, more durable, and supports ultra-fast charging (400 km range in 5 minutes). Its 10C charging rate outpaces Tesla’s Superchargers (~275 km in 10 minutes).
The BYD Blade Battery
BYD explains the Blade Battery and its Impact on the EV Industry.
Unrivaled Safety – The Most Secure EV Battery Ever Built
Extreme Fire Resistance – Unlike traditional batteries that can overheat and explode, the Blade Battery remains stable even under extreme conditions.#Puncture-Proof Protection – Passed the nail penetration test without catching fire.
Longer Lifespan & Superior Durability
4X the lifespan of traditional lithium-ion batteries.Lasts over 1 million km (3,000 charge cycles), making it one of the most durable EV batteries ever created.
Does Tesla Use BYD Batteries?
Yes, Tesla does use BYD batteries in some of its vehicles, specifically the Model Y produced at the Berlin gigafactory. These batteries are BYD’s Blade Battery, which are lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. This partnership allows Tesla to increase charging speeds and diversify its battery supply chain.
The above answer from AI.
Blade Batter Pros and Cons
- Pros:
- Cost-effective: LFP batteries are generally cheaper to produce than NCM batteries.
- Safer: LFP batteries are more thermally stable and less prone to thermal runaway.
- Longer lifespan: LFP batteries can typically handle more charge cycles than NCM batteries.
- Cons:
- Lower energy density: LFP batteries have a lower energy density compared to NCM batteries, meaning they store less energy per unit of weight or volume.
- Potentially lower performance: Lower energy density can lead to reduced range or the need for larger battery packs.
BYD Europe
- Sales Surge: BYD’s EV sales in Europe saw a significant increase, with registrations jumping by 169% in April compared to the previous year, according to Electrek.
- Outpacing Tesla: In April, BYD’s EV registrations (7,231) surpassed Tesla’s (7,165), marking a notable shift in the European EV market.
- European Headquarters: BYD is establishing its European headquarters in Budapest, Hungary, with plans to create 2,000 jobs.
- New Models: BYD is launching new models like the Dolphin Surf, a compact electric car, with a starting price of €22,990 in Germany.
- Partnerships: BYD is forming partnerships with European companies like voestalpine, a steel manufacturer, to support its European expansion.
- Market Penetration: BYD is outselling established European brands like Fiat, Dacia, and Seat in some countries.
- Overall: BYD’s rapid growth in Europe demonstrates the increasing competitiveness of Chinese automakers in the global EV market. While facing challenges like potential tariffs, BYD is aggressively expanding its presence through new models, partnerships, and investments.
Trump’s Tariffs
Trump’s high tariffs and regulation restrictions are so high there is no US BYD market.
Tariffs protect the weak and the inefficient.
Also America has a love affair with big cars.
Is that a Boomer thing?
I suspect but cannot prove Zoomers would love a $15,000 middle of the road BYD but Trump says no.
I love my Toyota 4-Runner and would not consider an EV. But for tens of millions of city drivers who seldom escape the city, a cheap BYD with safer battery technology would be the ticket.
EVs Will Eventually Win
I have correctly mocked the rate at which EVs would take over in the US. And Trump has set the rate of advancement back as I stated in advance may times.
But battery technology will get cheaper. Manufacturing costs will drop, and fewer people will be needed by the manufacturers.
China, not Tesla or the US is leading the way.
Ford’s CEO at least understands the issues.
But Trump’s tariffs inhibit innovation. And Trump’s tariffs on Steel and Aluminum are very counterproductive.
Unions costs are a big issue and they will fight the job losses that are guaranteed once the gasoline engine goes away.
Related Posts
February 10, 2025: Trump to Impose 25 Percent Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum, Expect Higher Prices
All US consumers of steel and aluminum will pay higher prices, especially the automakers.
February 11, 2025: Trump’s Steel Tariffs Now Will Work as Good as the First Time
Q: How’s that? A: Very poorly.
March 11, 2025: Hello Automakers, Trump Hikes Canada Steel and Aluminum Tariffs to 50 Percent
If Trump wants to clobber automakers, he sure knows how to do it.
Everything Trump does increases costs. And he expects to increase exports while making the US the high cost producer with consumers paying the price.
Trump’s model is fantasyland material.
The Chinese are just better scientists and engineers. Their governance is also superior to our own.
5 decades of anti-intellectualism and neglecting the education system will do that.
Leapmotor CEO says $7000 electric SUVs are coming.
Megacastings + EV tech are what’s making it possible.
All technology legacy US automakers brushed off or want nothing to do with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnpMKnuzzeA
US restrictions will keep them out of the US. Who would want a new ev for $7000 we’d rather purchase a Tesla for $70,000. Stupid Americans do not recognize the power 300m people could weld if organized. The rich keep us divided because they know that is the only way they continue to enjoy their status.
86/47
China beat the US in 5G and EV. They also beat the US in foldable smartphones. Now they’re in the process of beating the US in AI. The problem is that the brightest minds in the US don’t work in medicine or engineering or research. They work on crypto trading, running hedge funds, and for private equity firms. There is so much rot in the system that it will take at least a generation of sustained effort to get back to being a technology leader. And the reversal has not yet even begun.
China has also built their own space station wale the ISS is near EOL and is slated to be decommissioned in 2030. NASA will not be constructing a replacement. Instead, we are asking commercial vendors to construct stations that we will lease time on! This wouldn’t seem to be a great plan for military research.
SImilarly, China has plans for a Moon base and might achieve it before the US.
Due to political and Congressional ineptitude the US squandered its massive lead in space technology and now stands a good chance of becoming subservient to China. With a Moon base, China will have the means to launch into the rest of the solar system and take control.
https://babylonbee.com/news/ford-debuts-worlds-first-autonomous-car-to-leave-factory-and-drive-straight-to-shop-for-repairs/
Hilarious article, thanks for the link!
This is what happens when corporations use lowered corporate tax rates for stock buybacks instead of factory and technological advancement.
Capital investments in factories and modernization are tax deductible and are therefore ialready ncentives.
American CEO’s have been taught a bunch of balony about how to run a company in Student Loan funded MBA programs at American Universities.
Before Reagan stock buybacks were considered stock market manipulation and outlawed. Thank Reagan and Congress for making the stock market manipulation not only legal but preferred.
86/47
The U.S. is about to lead the world again technologically with the Quantum Scape (QS) Solid State EV battery technology.
It is a massive step forward, and after 14 years and billions invested the batteries are going into production in 2026.
As good as BYD’s Blade Batteries are; Quantum Scape’s leapfrog them in a step change!
Never underestimate American ingenuity, creativity or determination!
>
I have been following solid state battery tech for 30 years now. Even invested in a few of them. Lots of promises. None have been successful yet. There are several companies in China, Japan and Korea that claim the same or better than QS.
Much like SMRs and fusion. Just around the corner.
I truly hope solid state batteries are available soon. But I expect it will take much longer than the companies are promising.
I see you have not stayed “Current” (pun intended) with the actual advances. This announcement is only a week old. The QS product is in baseline production and will be shipping in 2016.
:https://ir.quantumscape.com/resources/press-releases/news-details/2025/QuantumScape-Achieves-Major-Milestone-Cobra-Separator-Process-Enters-Baseline-Production/default.aspx
https://www.quantumscape.com/technology/#faqs
Quantum Scape will be the supplier of batteries to the VW group under an existing license through VW’s wholly owned subsidiary PowerCo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mEqI53PS-A
There are three Giga Factories under construction to produce these batteries. Together they will be able to produce enough batteries for 2 million cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mEqI53PS-A
I agree that others like Toyota have overpromised and failed to deliver.
Read into this and do some reading to confirm the ancillary component pipeline being built to supply these factories. Did you know that every Porsche/Audi/VW dealer in the nation is putting in 800 volt charging stations to demonstrate how fast they can be charged with the infrastructure being installed in the EU?
Supplier of the ceramics:
https://ir.quantumscape.com/resources/press-releases/news-details/2025/QuantumScape-and-Murata-Announce-Framework-for-Ceramics-Collaboration/default.aspx
Fortunately these batteries charge from 10-80% in under 12 minutes on a lower grade Tesla charger.
Brands already licensed to have these batteries:
Porsche, Audi, Bentley, VW, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ducati, Skoda, Seat. Plus: VW Commercial Vehicles, Scania and MAN Truck & Bus in the commercial space.
From and investment QS has a chart that looks well? Not so good. Lower highs and lower lows. That said it has about a billion in cash and no debt with production and revenues starting in 2026. Sometimes you have to look again.
This news has caused a bump in the price on high volume bit as with most news bumps it is being sold into. I’m looking to add under $5.00 FWIW.
I will look into it. I wish you luck with it. Thanks.
Thanks! I am interested in your opinion and will check back with this thread for a week or so.
🙂
China has 20 years experience.
West has over 100 years experience
Just an excuse.
Uncompetitive due to various factors and left further and further behind.
Another downside is much of our infrastructure is 100 years old and falling apart. Theirs is relatively new and far more efficient.
This is from an AI search:
China has been investing heavily in new and modern infrastructure, particularly in areas like high-speed rail, 5G networks, and computing power. This “new infrastructure” initiative is a national priority aimed at boosting economic growth and future job creation. Key projects include the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a massive cross-sea engineering project, and the development of national computing hubs and data center clusters.
Here’s a more detailed look at China’s infrastructure development:
1. National Strategy & Focus:
“New Infrastructure”:
This initiative, prioritized by the Chinese government, focuses on information-based, integrated, and innovative infrastructure.
Economic Growth Driver:
Infrastructure development is seen as a key engine for China’s economic growth, with a focus on long-term development and addressing weak links.
Addressing Imbalances:
China is also working to address historical development imbalances between urban and rural areas, particularly in the western regions.
2. Key Infrastructure Projects:
Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link:
This cross-sea project combines bridges, tunnels, and an underwater interchange, utilizing advanced technologies like fiber optic sensors and intelligent concrete pouring robots.
5G Networks:
China has been rapidly expanding its 5G infrastructure, which is a core component of the “new infrastructure” strategy.
Computing Power:
China is investing in national computing hubs and data center clusters to improve computing capacity and resource efficiency.
3. Technological Advancements:
AI and Robotics:
China is utilizing AI and robotics in construction, such as with the Yangqu Dam project, which is being built with 3D printing and autonomous technology.
Smart Construction:
The use of intelligent construction robots and self-compacting concrete are examples of how China is leveraging technology to improve efficiency and quality.
Advanced Materials:
Innovative materials like steel-concrete sandwich structures and anti-corrosion coatings are being used in projects like the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link.
4. Global Impact:
Belt and Road Initiative:
China’s infrastructure investments extend beyond its borders through the Belt and Road Initiative, a global strategy to invest in infrastructure projects in other countries.
Redefining Construction Expectations:
China’s infrastructure projects, both domestic and international, are setting new standards for speed, precision, and technological innovation.
5. Future Directions:
Continued Investment:
China is expected to continue investing heavily in infrastructure development as part of its national strategy.
Focus on Sustainability:
There’s a growing emphasis on sustainable infrastructure development, including renewable energy and green building practices.
Innovation and Technological Advancement:
China is committed to pushing the boundaries of infrastructure technology and innovation
Interesting what happens when ever decision isn’t tied to the next quarterly profit report, or when getting reelected isn’t tied to how much money a pol can raise.
86/47
Nope!
Stop degrading our great nation. Sure there are a bunch of fat slobs that have no motivation, but there are also millions of people that believe in excellence.
>
… and the slobs are hell bent on dragging those back into the crab bucket.
China is doing so many things, so well. Their system of centralized planning has been making a surprisingly large number of smart bets on the future. Which is fascinating considering how poorly other central planning regimes like Russia and North Korea are doing.
I am an advocate for free markets, but at this point in time, free market capitalism is struggling, while China’s central planning is winning the competition in many areas. I’m not sure how they have managed to consistently do this for the last few decades.
First: It all starts with the internal supply chain system that China has developed. They have been deliberately and painstakingly developing it for 4 decades. It lhas been designed to be completely self-sufficient and modern. And to be competitive. Dozens of regions within China compete to be the supplier of choice to China’s manufacturers. They don’t want or need to rely on foreign supply chains if possible.
Manufacturing is a bit different. Each of China’s 18 megacities (over 10 million population) and many of their 95 other major cities (1 million+) has been designated as a manufacturing hub in a particular area. One for autos (Shanghai), one for textiles (Shaoxing), batteries (Yibin), footwear (Wenzhou), solar panels (Wuxi) etc. Of course, manufacturers can set up where they want, but it is often in their best interest to set up in a city designated for their area of manufacturing because it makes for a more efficient supply chain. The Chinese supply chain efficiency is the number one reason why China is the most efficient manufacturer of autos, batteries, solar panels, steel, electronics etc. Yes, lower wages and state support also help. But it is mostly about the supply chain .
Second: Energy and electrification
China is not blessed with enough coal, oil or gas to meet it’s own energy needs, so it must import a lot of energy. It is the largest importer of oil in the world at over 11 mbpd. This reduces it’s competitiveness. To change this dependence on imported energy, and improve its competitiveness, it has embarked on a plan to become the world’s largest producer of electricity using coal, natural gas, hydro dams, solar panels, windmills, nuclear power, etc.
As it builds out hydro, wind, solar and nuclear it is reducing its dependence on coal. In the last 10 years, electricity from coal has dropped from 70% to 50%.
China adds more solar, wind and nuclear generation each year than the rest of the world combined. China has 58 operating nuclear plants (57 GW) and 30 more under construction (35 W) and 30 more in the planning stages.
In 2024, China added 277 GW of solar, bringing its total to 887 GW. Wind added another 80 GW in 2024 for a total of 520 GW.
Every year China rapidly expands its Ultra High Voltage supergrid ($90 billion in spending on the grid each year)to handle this huge amount of electricity it is adding.
High speed electric trains. China has built 26000 miles of high speed electric train track and is still expanding it.
EV charging infrastructure. China has over 11 million EV charging stations and adds over 3 million more each year.
EVs and PHEVs. In 2024 China’s domestic vehicle sales were 31.5 million, and 12.9 million of them were EV/PHEV.
As Mish points out, their vehicle prices are often less than half of ours thanks to their efficient supply chain system. If we allowed them to be sold in the US without tariffs, our domestic auto industry would be in big trouble.
And what are we doing in the US to be able to compete with China? We put tariffs on manufactured imports to protect our manufacturers and keep them uncompetitive.
But even worse, we are putting tariffs on imports of materials that our manufacturers need (steel, aluminum, copper etc). This only raises costs for our manufacturers, making them less competitive.
And we are not rapidly building out our electricity capacity or our electric grid to prepare for a future with more electricity demand (data centers, AI, crypto, EVs etc). Instead we are trying to stifle more electricity from wind and solar. And we have zero new nuclear plants under construction.
I was hoping we would be able to expand our electricity generation from natural gas, but currently there is a 3 year backlog in getting gas turbines due to exceptionally strong worldwide demand. China added 12 GW of natgas generation in 2023 and in 2024. The US added 8 GW each year.
Good post, thx.
I am not as pessimistic as you are, because I see a tremendous amount or great things being done here. I think our interstate system is simply unparalleled in terms of consistent design and signage. I can go anywhere I want quickly and efficiently. There are tons of massive improvements being done and while there are lots of 100 year old structures to be replaced. It is way better than it was in the many states I travel through in a year.
Near me they are re-opening a nuclear plant that only shut down a few years ago.
Trump may be hurting our nation, but he can’t kill it!
We need to be building dozens of new nuclear power plants right now; not refurbishing one old plant.
We need to be building way more solar and wind generation than what we are doing now. And lots of battery storage systems to go with them.
We need lots of new gas generation as well.
And we need to be spending a trillion on our grids.
Businesses will have to leave the US for other countries if we don’t have the power they need.
I believe you will find this interesting.
Low cost electricity provides a competitive advantage and will attract business investment.
Score a point for the big fusion reactor in the sky.
Wait until we get some on Earth. Virtually FREE power for anything we want, especially when we get rid of human workers.
Yet for some reason household electricity prices in Germany are over 2 times that of the USA. Somehow Norway is the only country in the EU with lower electricity prices than the US.
Because regardless of efficiencies, PEOPLE, the most expensive component and in Germany, probably all unionized, must be paid their contracted salaries and benefits.
This is why people need to be replaced by robots!
“I think our interstate system is simply unparalleled in terms of consistent design and signage.”
Let me guess you only drive on one interstate in western KS.
86/47
VG post but there are also many headwinds that China is facing. For example:
“President, International Christian Concern”
Says everything you need to know about the bias of this article.
86/47
It’s sad that I have to keep reminding adults that you should criticize the CONTENT, not the person or the delivery vehicle.
Now, your issue with the CONTENT is what?
It doesn’t jive with other articles and videos I have seen about current China. Let’s not forget China is a country that’s territory is almost 4,000,000 square miles it’s population is almost 1.5B. In that population you could find almost any circumstances you’d like to highlight. The article in question has only one view point that of the author who is a one idea person.
86/47
That’s lame response. What specifically do you disagree with and what can you offer to support any opposition to the observations of this person.
Let’s see the quality of your reading material: “It doesn’t jive with other articles and videos I have seen about current China”. I’d wager that you just pulled this statement out of your arse.
Here ya go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2TfbN3v8h8&t=42s
86/47
All countries have issues; including China. My simple focus here is often on energy, because to have economic growth you need energy growth. And each year, more of that energy growth is in electricty production. And in this area, China is executing well.
Of course but the macro view develops based on all the many pieces working together. One or a few pieces turning bad could implode a whole country.
Chinese Luigi.
Could it be that China has leaders that care more about their country and countrymen than padding their own pockets? Their govt understands that much more can be accomplished with sugar than vinegar? China’s last “war” was in 1979. The last 50 years or so have seen minor border conflicts. It’s easy to see why China is succeeding if you look.
86/47
I am no expert on what motivates leadership. I simply observe what countries are doing. And China seems to be executing on a well thought out plan to electrify their economy, build a fabulous internal supply chain, and become the world’s dominant manufacturer.
I agree that in the US we seem overly focused on the short term (in corporate profits and politics) while failing to plan for the long term. We need a lot of new electricity supply in the next decade yet we have no plan on how to supply it. Why are we not planning and building more nuclear generation? Why are we trying to stop more renewables? Why are we not investing in our electric grid?
Could it be that oil companies have an unbelievable amount of political power in the US.
I am sure they have influence. However, we do not use oil for electricity generation.
To quote a famous sports star “You cannot be serious?”
Benevolent dictatorship can work wonders… for as long as the benovelnce and competance hold out.
Maybe Farley should try to figure out why his company can’t put cars together correctly anymore. Ford has more recalls than every other car company, and it’s not a close call.
I don’t understand why anyone would want this tech. I buy older cars that require the actual joy of driving, and i fix them myself.
They can keep all the future garbage. It’s creating idiots that know nothing about the real world.
There is a wide spectrum of transportation choices available. And many justifiable attitudes towards different technologies. I recall Elderly people telling me about their grandfathers model T and how that generation loved those cars. Then the Model A and so forth. In the early 70’s the cars started to get emission devices and my grandfather lamented how “They don’t make em like they used to” as if cars of the fifties were fantastic with their belchfire motors and massive everything!
Cars of the 80’s and 90’s are the hot collectables now and of course anything Porsche or Ferrari.
My favorite cars were from 2016 – 2018 as they still had buttons for most important controls but they also have back up cameras. Newer all screen cars do not appeal as the menus are not intuitive for me and I like to be involved with driving a bit spiritedly. PDK gearboxes in manual mode are fun but stirring a seven speed Porsche or gate shifted Ferrari gives me my best motoring thrills.
many drivers today simply want to get from point A to B and stay connected to their screens. Screens seem to be an addiction!
Electric cars are the future due to their efficiency. Centralized power generation is far more efficient than transporting gasoline and diesel allover the place and burning it in ICEs.
I’m not buying an electric car until they have Solid State batteries. So in about two years Porsche would have 800 volt Hot Rod EV’s that will shake me out of my ICE daydreams.
Sorry – this blog worships the stock market and the b.s. GDP inputs.
Not everyone is a gear head. My neighbor loves doing what you do as well. He’s always in his garage working on one of his many families vehicles. But he, like you is an exception, not the rule.
Most people just want to drive the car where they need to go.
I like mine because it’s ridiculously fast. I would have had to have spent another 50k to get this accelleration in an ICE car.
I’ve got an old F150 with power nothing for when I want to be my grampa and ride around with my arm on the window sill.
Government can’t support the uncompetitive companies forever. Holden was Australian brand but not competitive. When gov decided to stop support it has gone.
Ford Australia also pulled out. Everyone thought that the city of Geelong (where GM Holden and Ford had their factories) would fall apart but it is doing just great. Without the industrial atmosphere, the cities real estate values have risen and while some of the older workers have not adjusted, most of the residents are super happy that the auto industry is gone.
Government subsidy
This is always the go-to explanation.
Nobody ever bothers to explain how they can afford to subsidize all the stuff that they are “dumping”, or why not everybody plays their game to get even.
“God’s Eye”? More like Xi Jingping’s eye. Nobody heard of the “Geo fencing” they do with these things in China? Doing 10mph over? Rolling Stop? Decide to bob your head to the music? Ticket! Ticket! DYI! Don’t scoff it, Biden made the law already.
“Far Superior cars”? Made in china? Showroom fires? Somebody has a government bail out to sell you… or they make really crappy cars. I’m think both.
No thanks. Hard pass for me. And I’ve been an EV enthusiast since the EV1, but after 25 years it’s still a no go.
Chinese quality? Sorry, personal and professional experience says there is none, at least where metals are concerned.
Plastics and ceramics are better if they actually use what they say they will use. Ordered low-boron ceramic part, got boron saturated part.
The last thing I want is to own a car that pairs with any phone, has any AI, or an entertainment system; even an ICE car. The more things that can go wrong, the more thing WILL go wrong. All those gadgets are temptations that distract drivers from safely operating the vehicle.
EVs in China. Look at China’s coal consumption. Wow. Those EVs are saving the environment though, yeah? China powers its grid with coal.
Maybe Zohran will turn more to Mao than Marx and we can do away with pesky auto unions and go back to wage slaves in a great leap forward.
China has been retiring coal plants like crazy and going Nat Gas as they develop the South China Sea resources and are building two pipelines directly to Russia.
You really gotta get out more!
They also plant trees all over their cities. Every street has trees! Replanting deserts and it’s beautiful. Trees offset the carbon from cars!
The future is bright Comrade! https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/coal-consumption-by-country
…but FRED says US labor contribution to automotive costs really hasn’t changed in some 25 years?
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/IPUEN336111U100000000
…and in per unit costs, US isn’t THAT far away from China ($880 in the US v $585 in China for ICE cars.
https://www.oliverwyman.com/our-expertise/insights/2025/apr/why-automakers-must-focus-on-labor-cost-per-vehicle.html
We need to find out where the flow of money goes before making generalizations about labor unions, higher costs in the US, etc
Driving a BYD Mish?
“Drivers get in the car and their phone pairs automatically, and an AI companion equivalent to ChatGPT handles everything from navigation to entertainment. The vehicles also have facial recognition that knows which seat someone is in and adjusts media preferences.”
I imagine one has to be over a certain age to find this dystopian.
How many web-connected vehicles would a foreign country need to take over to win a war? Good thing programs no longer have back doors!
If you got a phone to begin with, you’re tracked. The car has nothing to do with it.
Most modern cars have a “black box,” officially known as an Event Data Recorder (EDR) similar to a flight data recorder in planes. If they don’t track your travel now they probably will in the future.
86/47
Vietnam is apparently a big car manufacturer also. I saw a car named VINFAST the other day. It was a VFB(or 8) model. That was the only badging I saw on the rear of the car. I looked it up and it is from Vietnam. First one of these I have ever seen. Looked like a nicely designed mid-range SUV type car.
Vietnam has better demographics to support that industry. Their reproduction rates isn’t high enough so eventually there will be problems down the road in a few decades. Population 100m
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Vietnam
only 7.6% geezers
0–14 years 24%
15–64 years 68.4%
65 and over 7.6%
Vinfast are not good cars. Significant mechanical and electrical problems in the US.
Maybe that is why I have only seen one of them! [lol]
I can’t imagine that building a car company is easy.
Their stock has imploded! Not sure that company will survive!
I checked out the BYD in Buenos Aires Argentina a few months ago
NICE CAR
My BYD stock was called away at $110 two weeks ago and I am not investing in it again regardless of potential profits. Better places to vote with my dollars!
😉
Last week American Solid State battery technology company Quantum Scape (QS) announced that their new manufacturing process is 25 times faster than the old process on a dramatically smaller robotic footprint. They are starting shipping in volume to testers for final adoption of the product.
Already licensed to VW group: VW, Audi, Porsche, Skoda, Lamborghini, Bentley etc.
In terms of production ~ first major production should be heading out the door from the plant in Germany late 2026, then Spain, then Canada with all plants already under construction. The German plant is nearly complete and when completed and optional capacity is built out the three plants will be able to produce batteries for 2 million batteries per year. Plants also being considered for Australia, China and the recalcitrant U.S.
Two weeks ago Jim Farley was at a car event where I have part of my collection and Tom Gayle (former head of design and father of the Viper), Jim and I discussed the QS technology favorably with Ford considering a license on the technology. We were touring my and a friends car collections and private hydrocarbon museum.
Ford is admittedly way behind… Capacity through a license is only a couple years out.
FWIW ~ The QS battery packaging is almost identical in size to the blade
https://ir.quantumscape.com/home/default.aspx
PowerCo is the owner of the factories and has paid a licensing fee to QS.
Way worth your time to read up on this step change in battery technology.
Disclosure: I am long QS and a huge fan!
Everyone is excited about self-driving cars and debating EV or ICE but they are all missing the real future.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/joby-stock-aviation-uae-evtol.html
It’s starts slow like AI has then it takes over the world in a blink of an eye. The real question is why is this happening in Dubai and not the US?
How cool is that!
Also should point out that PowerCo has purchased 9.9% of North American company Patriot Battery Metals which owns the 8th largest deposit of lithium pegmatite in the world. They have a 10 year agreement of purchase 100,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per annum.
I am a big fan of stabilizing our sources of raw materials and North American production is lithium is important. There is also a huge lithium resource under the Salton Sea in California.
I believe Ford has invested in, among other most likely, Solid Power. I believe their battery tech is a sulfide-based solid electrolyte which is what CATL has heavily invested in.
I’m sure there are several reasons why CATL is so far ahead in their battery development compared to the west, but government subsidies backed up by a more urgent R&D process would be the main reasons.
IMHO, China is kicking our butts in all sorts of technologies these days, including all sorts of military related tech. We’ve been asleep at the wheel for at least 10 years.
Ford has mostly old technology. They say they are working on LMR cells because of the environmental benefits, but I do not like that technology (unstable) or their Director of EV’s. Charles is all over the place on technologies and they have three batteries in different vehicles. He needs to be replaced asap!
Quantum Scape (QS) is about to leapfrog everyone else with its production of the first truly Solid State batteries in 2026. I will not buy an electric vehicle until we have Solid State batteries and a decent charging infrastructure.
Solid Power’s tech is fully SS. Again, CATL, the largest SSB battery maker on earth, has invested heavily in sulfide-based SSB. How much better QS is or is not than SLDP. I really don’t know. I would imagine QS will make it to full commercialization a little sooner.
I agree with waiting on SSB. It just makes sense in terms of additional range & playing nice with insurance.
I wonder how you square “subventions are evil” with lauding BYD’s cars and market growth when BYD depends 100% on Chinese government financial backing that permitted it to invest without worrying about things like debt load and cash flow? Normally your Libertarian instincts should be screaming “this is wrong” but I don’t hear a peep. Are you now proposing we imitate China in that way?
The U.S. is already behaving the same way. Farm subsidies, steel tariffs, etc. What’s the difference exactly? Didn’t GM get a huge bailout not that long ago?
I know. I was asking Mish if his admiration of BYD clashes with his Libertarian ideology since it got there by massive government subsidies over decades. I was not trying to be holier than thou but genuinely puzzled.
I don’t know what’s in Mish’s mind but it is interesting that while both China and the US subsidize their auto manufacturing (and other industries), China is coming up on top with autos in cost, quality and innovation.
GM got a $33 billion bailout.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Chapter_11_reorganization
Being a legacy car manufacturer has its drawbacks. Starting from zero allows you to experiment more fully. Tesla came up with the vertical integration operation because they were not tied into any other company. BYD is probably the same.
China subsidizes innovation while the U.S. subsidies maintain the current state of things (e.g. bail out management failure, support untenable pension/benefit plans).
Both auto industry, but different purposes for the funds.
Ford was offered a bailout and elected to retain its integrity. I admire that!
China’s biggest advantage is labor costs. They can afford to hire way more in terms of R&D. Sure, they have advantages with manufacturing labor, but it’s the R&D that’s really putting them ahead. And, my guess is they’re much further along than we are with integrated AI with their R&D, so they’re gains are coming though faster iterations by leveraging AI more strategically.
American manufacturing has enjoyed a trillion dollar support in the form of the Military Industrial Complex, for generations.
Lots of Western modern ideologies conflict with China’s industrial advancements. Including that of “racial diversity”.
Farley was personally responsible for the Ford EV division that has lost $4-6 BILLION within the past few years. And now he comes out with this?
OK – what did he say that you can dispute?
Please educate us instead of attacking the source.
Not disputing anything. Just pointing out his very poor leadership. He pumped up EV’s as the future and didn’t deliver.
The only people who don’t know about the superior Chinese cars are Americans trapped in the Matrix. I moved my family down to Mexico last year. Nothing to do with Trump, I just wanted to live in a country more aligned with my personal morals and values. But since we’ve been here I have driven som BYDs and other Chinese vehicles…the US manufacturers aren’t even close. After getting out of some of the Chinese vehicles and back in to US or Japanese vehicles, its like going back in time. Americans have zero idea on how much they are screwed over….they are forced to pay much more for inferior products….it’s crazy! Most of the newer cars here in Mexico that I see are Chinese brands. Mish is right, “Tariffs protect the weak and the inefficient”. In the end, this all hurts the American public.
“Tariffs protect the weak and the inefficient”.
It’s as though no one remembers or has the ability to search what happened to the cost of American cars in the early 80s when tariffs were applied to Japanese cars. Tariffs increase the cost of finished goods because weak, inefficient companies see an opportunity to fatten their margins instead of improving their product.
I drove a few Chinese vehicles in Australia and New Zealand a few years ago and they were cheap shitboxes. Now everyone I talk to loves the new ones from the modernized plants. I’ll be in Europe soon and check the new version out.
Check out the BYD Seal, Sealion7 and Song plus. Also a few Xpengs
Great, just what I want ,facial recognition. More govt surveillance. As far as the other things like auto connect to phones etc most if not all new US vehicles do that. As far as quality, that remains to be seen. Not that impressed anymore with GM, I have had my Yukon in service for a defect for 2 months and counting. My loaner is an GMC Acadia, which is great but the sticker was in the back seat and its 52k. WTF that’s a middle of the road middle class suv but the price is insane for that vehicle. Seems unaffordable for the middle class. Also how much of the cheap Chinese price is because of govt subsidies?? Not convinced EV’s are the future I am inclned to believe hybrids are going to be the dominant vehicle. Back in the 80’s and 90’s everyone thought Japan was going to be the world’s leading economic power but things didn’t quite work out that way. I suspect China is in the midst of a state sponsered MOAB,(mother of all bubbles.)
Oh the horror of China subsidizing amazing cars and selling them at a loss for the consumer! Please make it stop! /s
The problem isn’t just with cars but with everything in America. So many intermediaries get in between the producer and consumer now that it’s not sustainable. Personally, I’m cashing out. I went to a dentist in a foreign country and the total cost for the same level service in USA was $45. No insurance, no intermediaries, no medical complex to support.
Pharma drugs anywhere outside the US are 1/10th the cost. Cars, housing, medicine, services, all better quality of life can be found if you just walk out the door.
Like I said in another post, if I end up needing a car, I will buy a BYD one in a country that sells them cheap and doesn’t have an intermediary complex to support.
And people here are confused as to why New York citizens want a socialist as mayor. At this point, people are willing to try anything for real change. I’ll be watching how it works out from afar with some popcorn.
I am happy to buy subsidized products that are manufactured at a loss. It raises the bar of competition and essentially imports deflation for printed dollars that have to be re-invested in our bonds!
This strengthens our dollar dominance and economic system while reducing cost.
My brother had a hip replacement in Poland, GBP5.5K. Service was superb, modern equipment etc, personal physio, chaffeured around by his own driver whilst there. He’s going to have the other one done there next year.
How much would this be in the states I wonder?
Battery technology means nothing. The lithium iron phosphate battery was developed by A123 Systems, which was an American company until the Chinese bought its’ assets in bankruptcy. The key technology needed is a grid that can handle transfer of the added demands that will be caused by EVs. Until the grid is modernized and more base load nuclear power is developed, battery technology is moot. Trump is right to focus on streamlining more nuke capacity and gutting onerous NRC regulations
Having more nuclear generation would be great, but the grid itself is not in that bad of a shape.
The vast majority of people only drive 30-40 miles a day. That type of usage can be easily topped off using super slow trickle charging on a simple 115v household outlet overnight when folks are asleep anyway and electrical consumption is already low and without overly taxing the grid.
How long before every house and apartment in America has 1 or 2 dedicated 20 amp circuits, with outdoor access with enough high power semiconductors to regulate said 20 amp service? On top of that, compete with all the new data centers gobbling up all the excess power? I give it 20 years. Throw in zoning over power lines, make it 30
1MW of power supplies 800-1000 homes. So that’s (1,000,000watts/900homes) =1,111watts average. If those watts are supplied at 120v then (1,111/120) = 9.26amps (average).
My understanding is that to “fully” recharge, the Tesla Model S it takes 4 days at 120V (20amps max) or 6-30 hours at 240v (80 amps max).
Using 120V it can charge ~2miles of range/hour. So, if you plug it into 120v at 6pm and leave for work at 7am you’re good…as long as your commute is <26 miles round trip and you be careful cranking the AC (speculating here, but physics and Kirchhoff’s Law are hard to get around).
There are ~142M homes in US, so if they’re all pulling 9.26amps before EV (at 120v), that’s (142M*1,111watts) 157.8 GW.
There are ~115,000,000 cars hitting the road every day in the US. If we assume say 10% electric and that they drive 20 miles/day, that’s 230,000,000 miles that need to be charged. That’s 10 hours at 120v and 20 amps max or 120*20amps*115M*0.1 or 27.6GW.
So, 10% EV adds 17.5% higher grid load during those 10 hours.
I’m just spit-balling here, but you’re right that we need more grid. It’s very expensive to build additional substations. These costs are passed along to all of their consumer.
It’s also my understanding that purchasing transformers ( ie. 230kVto115kV or 115kVto13.8kV or even 13.8kvto240v) has months/years long lead times.
Also, many folks miss that there is a hidden cost to energize transformers (Volt Amps) that do no “useful” work.
Additionally, utilities must size their substation transformers and wire for peak load.
Also, utilities have an obligation to maintain acceptable voltage to the “end” customer. So, farmer John at the end of a rural feeder buys a Tesla. It’s his right. The voltage sags for everyone on the feeder. The utility has to add auto tapping voltage regulators to keep everyone in band…or buy everyone appliances now and again!
Check my math, but I think I’m in the ballpark.
Imagine that. Someone other than the US can innovate. We have 4% of the world’s population, are obsessed with sports and culture wars, and another country obsessed with education is going to come up with good products and processes. Our response should definitely be to stop those smart foreign students from studying here, falling in love with America and staying to build their enterprises and fortunes here. We can’t have that.
All salient points proving that the US SHOULD NOT be manufacturing stuff. Our costs are too high, too many of our workers, especially on the Gen-Z side that would be most likely to work in factories, are too lazy and unfocused on the job at hand.
Regardless, I continue to stick to my prediction that this all goes out the window in 10 years or so, when autonomous cars eliminate human drivers AND individual ownership of cars.
Once we are forced to transition to the Uber/Lyft/fleet model where you call for a car whenever you need one (humans are too dangerous to be allowed behind the wheel of a car), there will be not be any need for multiple car manufactures or even to differentiate cars from year to year.
Cars will look the same, offer the same amenities and do the job they were intended to do from the beginning – get you from point A to point B.
Labor costs are high because the U.S. is in a demographic death spiral. Even Italy’s far right government has opened the door to 500,000 immigrants. China and India have 1+ billion people each which is why manufacturing will stay in the area.
https://archive.is/wxIFs
The future will be a war for labor between U.S. states and countries. Meanwhile ICE is wasting billions of dollars, tearing families apart, only to be begging for immigrants in about 5 years. Just wait and watch. 60m+ boomers in 2030, it’s going to be fun.
The immigrants that are wanted are working age people, preferably educated in something (even a trade). What isn’t wanted is their kids or their too old parents (something even you don’t like).
China’s demographics are worse than America’s. The US is just ahead of China in the aging game but China will get to where the US is now in another 10 years only they have it worse due to decades of 1 child policy so they are going to be even more top heavy than the US is.
“What isn’t wanted is their kids or their too old parents”
Lol. Didn’t you bring your kids with you when you came to America? If Trump decides your time here is done are you going to take them with you or leave them behind?
It will be hard to attract people to come work here if they can’t being their family with them. Sure there will be some single people but that won’t be enough.
I was the perfect immigrant. Late 20s, single and educated. I got married and had kids *after* I came to America (anchor babies don’t ya know 😉 ).
There are LOTS of such dreamers willing to come to America.
It’s amazing how anyone can be so blind to the IMMINENT future of automation and robotics that will remove the need for human workers!
It’s well underway now with Uber/Lyft/taxi drivers being replaced by autonomous vehicles. WAYMO is doing 250k AUTONOMOUS rides a month now and the adoption/embrace slope is almost exponential. Zoox is ready to jump into this pool and is Tesla and others.
Autonomous trucks are on the roads now and similarly to cars will be expanding quickly.
Houses are being manufactured as modules that only need to be glued together and wired on site. Some houses are being 3-D printed and only need labor to again, install wiring, plumbing, etc.
The need for more labor is a facility promoted by people who are unable to understand that the historical economic model of more people, working at more jobs and paying more taxes is near its end due to AI and automation/robotics.
We have too many bodies that need special support including food stamps, medical expense support, childcare, special education, psychiatric support, etc. It’s time to clear out this DETRITUS!
And are all those autonomous trucks and cars going to pay FICA for you to collect social security? I don’t think you’re capable of thinking things through from all angles because if what you say comes to fruition, there won’t be money for social security and medicare.
As a socialist that begs for every nickel and dime SS COLA that should be your primary concern. 80m “American” socialists draining social security and medicare won’t work out well for you.
I’d love to see AI and robots wipe your ass when you’re in the nursing home too. Maybe the robots can be programmed to inject you with something that will put you to sleep permanently as a cost saving measure?
But you go ahead and enjoy your automation utopia. It’s all yours buddy.
Drop the vitriol. The bigger issue that doesn’t get addressed is exactly how the economics will work out. No one knows the future and it’s true, when human energy was replaced with water and then coal, the amount of work increased. However, we are now replacing dexterity and thinking with automation; how will that increase economic activity?
No, I don’t have any answers but shutting down inconvenient comments does not help.
As I said, you lack the vision to see further than your nose. When everything is automated, then everything will be free.
You and so many others simply do not have the imagination to envision a world with machines do all the work and humans no longer need money for anything.
But let’s back up to square one. It is a FACT that WAYMO adoption is increasing on a strong upward slope. Each ride that Waymo completes is one less ride completed by a human driver (Uber/Lyft, etc.). No taxes, such as FICA are paid by autonomous vehicles and to my best knowledge, no political entity has yet introduced any legislation that attempts to assess such taxes on autonomous vehicles.
Any attempt to do so would open up a Pandora’s box of problems including whether such taxes only applied to humans and if they were applied to autonomous vehicles, then do AI intelligences now have personhood and should they be allowed to vote? Lawyers would have years of back and forth on these questions and by then, there wouldn’t be many humans left working!
So what is your plan for other gainful employment for the ever increasing number of generally low-skilled, displaced service car drivers?
And same question for any other group that gets replaced by AI? Because a lot of white-collar jobs are also being googgle up by AI, which again is not paying FICA and other taxes. And as I mentioned, even blue-collar jobs are or could be eaten up by AI.
Are you advocating for a luddite solution? Ban all technology because it is at the state that will radically change the world as we have known it?
Oh, and please try to be serious.
“in 10 years when autonomous cars eliminate human drivers AND individual ownership of cars.” Nope. autonomous cars are decades away. We’re nowhere near as close as you think we are.
Nope, you’re wrong.
Don’t argue with those who know – you won’t change their mind. After all, they have seen the future and you haven’t.
Private ownership of cars is going to be almost impossible to get rid of.
Hailing robot community cars sounds great until you realize you are getting into a car after:
1) Prior occupant was smoking or left traces of something you are allergic to (ate something that had peanuts if you have peanut allergy. Perfume or cologne you allergic to).
2) Prior occupant had kids (or late night drunks) who were eating food that’s been spilt all over the seats you are going to sit in.
3) Prior occupant had pets with them who you might be allergic to (cats) or left all kinds of pet hair / smells everywhere.
4) Prior occupants hauled items with them that made a mess (garden stuff from home depot).
5) Prior occupants smelled (people after playing sports that didn’t or could not shower).
Then what about kids who need car seats still? I doubt every robot car has the right size seat and people don’t want to carry car seats in and out of cars etc.
Community cars only makes sense in the movies where everyone is single and fabulously dressed and leaves the car meticulous.
Your response is emblematic of why it is so difficult here in the US and perhaps the EU to make changes to anything.
There are always thousands of reasons why things are structured as they are and nobody wants to rock the boat by taking anything away from people.
This is NOT how things work in China, for example.
I’ve made the argument for eliminating human drivers multiple times and it is quite simple – 41,000+ DEATHS in auto accidents EVERY SINGLE YEAR in the USA alone. Plus hundreds of thousands of injuries and crippled people.
As to your nitpicking list, all fleet cars, just as with rentals, will be cleaned and refreshed as necessary before being sent out to the next customer. If a baby seat is needed, the person will check that box on the dispatch call and perhaps also enter the weight and size of the baby so that a proper size seat was sent.
Was that so difficult? Sheese..
You really think that after someone takes a 10 minute ride in a car that we are going to be able to send that car back to some facility to have to cleaned / refurbished (a process that would take at least an hour when you include time to/from facility) before being sent out again for another 10 minute ride? That model is absolutely doomed to failure because the cars won’t be available enough. It works with rental cars because people rent for a full day and usually a lot longer.
When anyone today needs to quickly go to Walmart/Grocery store for a couple of needed items they want a car *now*, not an hour from now. These cars would need to arrive within 10 minutes, wait for someone at the store (or if they don’t wait then that person at the store needs another car within 10 minutes of checking out to take them home) then take them home. These kinds of errands happen in every day life all the time. Common ride share that requires cars to be cleaned after every ride ain’t gonna work.
Welcome to the lack of vision crowd!
There will be tens of thousands of cars in fleet pools, distributed as necessary to meet performance requirements. Local pools in each town might have 100-5000 cars. Cars will move autonomously between pools as necessary to keep the inventory where it needs to be as defined by load balancing algorithms. Cleaning will be done by people at first but will then be eventually be done by machines.
Most people will show care with their ride and will not unnecessarily dirty up the ride. I said MOST. Cars will be able to evaluate if they need cleaning or maintenance.
You’re arguments are facetious at best.
Quite right – except…. why would baby seats be needed?
Texas raised the point. People do want to take their kids with them.
While autonomous cars will prove out to be so safe that an accident almost never occurs, kids should have seats that fit them for comfort.
Other than your first paragraph, I not only agree but have seen this coming now for a decade. Further, there will be no road sign or traffic light makers. Also, lawyers, insurers and repair shops will be looking for work.
I’m 76 and have a couple of old (’50s) cars and two miniature steam engines but even we old fogies will not be able to ignore the appeal and convenience of risk-free roads.
Finally, the government will not be able to resist the control of our freedom, knowing our habits and having control of our movements.
Sure the transition will face resistance and take time. So did the industrial revolution. Sure you can whine and complain, and so did the Luddites. But change comes.
China has approximately 400 auto manufacturers and thousands of suppliers to that industry. BYD is the Evergreen Real Estate of EV manufacturers. They can’t sell hundreds of thousands of cars in China, so what do they do? Label them as “used” cars to get around the EU and other countries’ restrictions on imports of new Chinese vehicles.
The suppliers in China don’t get paid for 200-300 days, if ever, so they borrow from the banks who are instructed by the government to lend. All part of the gigantic “stimulus”. Same as the millions of unoccupied Chinese apartments.
The entire edifice is built on one objective; keep people employed so they don’t revolt. China has enormous overcapacity in autos, just as it does in most industries.
And they will figure a way to screw the world just to keep going. You see, every piece of the car is all part of that great GDP growth they are proud of lying about.
Yes this is a dirty secret that’s gradually coming to light.
More importantly in their own domestic car market margins are so thin it makes more sense for them to export even with tariffs because the prices they command in other countries makes more profits.
The USA policy is incoherence, disruption to domestic producers, and ostrich head-burying. It has a late USSR feel to it.
We could be building ice engines a lot cheaper too if it weren’t for all our government regulations the us is under. My car has three timing chains now instead of one it used to have . And I’m sure if we were back by unlimited government resources, we’d be ahead in the battery race too.
Farley is right. The US (including Tesla) is way behind in all metrics… production, cost, features, technology, everything.
EVs have some ways to go but the technology is getting incrementally better every year, while the juice out of ICE technology has been pretty much all squeezed out.
Watch this and you’ll be blown away at what’s available in China (and at what cost!): https://youtu.be/mi7c3yplHiQ
An educated, competent population and a willingness to destroy your environment does wonders for production.
This is why the Solid State Battery is so important. It removes the flammable organic solution that the ions travel through, the graphite, cobalt & nickel. The only things to recycle are the case, connectors, membrane, lithium (or FeO2) and ceramic.
And if this is true then they may not need to be recycled at all until end of life for the car which would remove the fear of needing to spend 10K to replace a battery.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reviving-dead-lithium-ion-batteries-with-an-ai-derived-electrolyte-solution/
Love Canal anyone?
Good to know. I’ll buy some dead grandpa’s low-mileage mint Grand Marquis. Maybe the fedora will be in the back seat.
Thank you “massa” taco for all of your support for the US auto industry.
lol, orange man bad is to blame for Chinese EVs being better than the crap Ford and GM pop out. The brain rot you’re suffering from should not be something to be proud of, but here you are anyway.
Damn well should be, as they have sold and manufactured Millions upon Millions of them. They also have the perfect set up for them from the start.
We will never need nearly as many, they crush Union jobs, we don’t have a grid in place to support it yet, without potential breakdowns. Etc.
Boomers don’t want them, and they are arguably the largest vehicle buyers for themselves and family members. In fact in 10 years we will need less…
Let the continue, and we will learn and be ready when needed…