Why Won't Our Government Let us Buy Inexpensive EVs?

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Sure, most of these are too small and insufficiently luxurious to appeal to the average American driver, but at these prices for commuting, grocery shopping, and a good bit more, these would be great 2nd cars for many and even the only car for some. Especially for city folks.

Is anyone else annoyed that our government keeps us from choosing whether these EVs fit our lifestyle or budget? Seems unAmerican to me.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Protecting GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

 

[billanole]

They should come to the market and be judged by sales.

 

[Gimmered]

BYD puts out a good car for a cheap price all over the world. That's why the US EU and Canada put on a 100% tariff.
In Albania nearly all of the taxis are EVs because of their relationship with China.
A couple can live well there on less than $15,000 a year.

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

You can get a 2015 Chevy Spark for under 10 grand on carvana.

 

[desihawk]

most of those cars look ridiculously unsuitable for america except on golf courses

 

[BioHawk]

Maybe some of those small cars don't meet US safety standards? Just guessing on it.

 

[billanole]

most of those cars look ridiculously unsuitable for america except on golf courses

On the interstate or around the neighborhood, town, club?

 

[billanole]

Maybe some of those small cars don't meet US safety standards? Just guessing on it.

The “off road” four wheel thingies driving all around ask you “what”?

 

[billanole]

most of those cars look ridiculously unsuitable for america except on golf courses

Take a look at the rides in the Villages complex in Florida.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

most of those cars look ridiculously unsuitable for america except on golf courses

Most, I agree, but clearly not all.

Once you eliminate the ones that seem like toys, you still have a number that seem like what we used to call compact or subcompact cars in size and can be purchased elsewhere for around and often less than $10K.

Suppose we ditched the tariffs. Are there other additions that would raise the prices here? For example, do these cars meet US standards on bumpers and such? I don't know. And Americans would probably demand fancier fabrics and whatnot. So I imagine they'd be a bit more expensive. Even so, many could still be a third of the price of what we are allowed to buy here.

If the better examples of these were available here, I'd definitely check them out. Anybody else?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

The biggest drawback to 70% of these inexpensive little EVs might be that many Americans are too big and fat to fit in them with anything resembling comfort. Myself possibly included.

It would be interesting to see the figures on shoulder and hip room for these compared with, say, the small offerings from Honda, GM and other cars you can buy here.

Raising the question: How many Americans would be willing to lose weight to save $20K on their next new car purchase? I mean, for some of us, $20K isn't chump change.

 

[Jerome Silberman]

On the interstate or around the neighborhood, town, club?

All of America is same!

Don't get cute.

 

[Bonerfarts]

Protecting GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

Add Telsa to that list.

 

[desihawk]

Most, I agree, but clearly not all.

Once you eliminate the ones that seem like toys, you still have a number that seem like what we used to call compact or subcompact cars in size and can be purchased elsewhere for around and often less than $10K.

Suppose we ditched the tariffs. Are there other additions that would raise the prices here? For example, do these cars meet US standards on bumpers and such? I don't know. And Americans would probably demand fancier fabrics and whatnot. So I imagine they'd be a bit more expensive. Even so, many could still be a third of the price of what we are allowed to buy here.

If the better examples of these were available here, I'd definitely check them out. Anybody else?

i would not want those cars here if they are from china for several reasons. one, they are hostile and intend us harm. that's the last place we should buy automobiles or anything from. i could be persuaded to import from non-hostile partner countries.
second, literally everything chinese engineered (ie not american designed and chinese manufactured such as iphones) that i've ever bought i have regretted buying. so that 20k car will almost certainly be garbage and a pollutant hazard in 5 years.

 

[seminole97]

i would not want those cars here if they are from china for several reasons. one, they are hostile and intend us harm. that's the last place we should buy automobiles or anything from. i could be persuaded to import from non-hostile partner countries.
second, literally everything chinese engineered (ie not american designed and chinese manufactured such as iphones) that i've ever bought i have regretted buying. so that 20k car will almost certainly be garbage and a pollutant hazard in 5 years.

 

[tumorboy]

i would not want those cars here if they are from china for several reasons. one, they are hostile and intend us harm. that's the last place we should buy automobiles or anything from. i could be persuaded to import from non-hostile partner countries.
second, literally everything chinese engineered (ie not american designed and chinese manufactured such as iphones) that i've ever bought i have regretted buying. so that 20k car will almost certainly be garbage and a pollutant hazard in 5 years.

Also is it a fair game? The China cars are heavily subsidized by government? The issue we currently have in the states by US Automakers. Is they focus on the most profitable vehicles. Of course with so many no longer selling. They may want to revisit that model.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Protecting GM, Ford, and Stellantis.

Absolutely.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Add Telsa to that list.

Yep. Unless Musk pisses Trump off. Then it could get interesting.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

A Fiat made in Yugoslavia. What could possibly go wrong?

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Sure, most of these are too small and insufficiently luxurious to appeal to the average American driver, but at these prices for commuting, grocery shopping, and a good bit more, these would be great 2nd cars for many and even the only car for some. Especially for city folks.

Is anyone else annoyed that our government keeps us from choosing whether these EVs fit our lifestyle or budget? Seems unAmerican to me.

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Who are you kidding, WWJD? You'd support a ban on all gas cars in a heartbeat. There wouldn't be any of this "shouldn't we get to choose" crap if that were the case. LOL.

 

[BelemNole]

Why? Because American automakers walk into congress like this

 

[seminole97]

Why? Because American automaker unions walk into congress like this

FTFY

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Who are you kidding, WWJD? You'd support a ban on all gas cars in a heartbeat. There wouldn't be any of this "shouldn't we get to choose" crap if that were the case. LOL.

Apples and oysters, Yellow.

Yes, we should be scaling up EVs and scaling back gas vehicles. That's one issue.

We should also be allowing Americans to access a free (or at least freer) market.

Free trade and free markets used to be 2 of America's top values. We've fought wars to open markets. Yes, I have been known to criticize free market zealots; but this is not just protectionism, it's protectionism that doesn't serve America, imo.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Sure, most of these are too small and insufficiently luxurious to appeal to the average American driver, but at these prices for commuting, grocery shopping, and a good bit more, these would be great 2nd cars for many and even the only car for some. Especially for city folks.

Is anyone else annoyed that our government keeps us from choosing whether these EVs fit our lifestyle or budget? Seems unAmerican to me.

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Order one and have it imported.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

FTFY

What unions?

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

Order one and have it imported.

Can you get it registered and tagged without great cost - or at all?

I'm guessing the ones made in Mexico will meet US regulations. But first, they aren't as cheap as the ones made in China and, second, I'm guessing there are lots of fees/taxes/whatever before you could actually use them here.

What if you buy a "used" EV in Mexico. Would that get around those fees and restrictions? I smell a business opportunity.

 

[Hawkeyenuts66]

Can you get it registered and tagged without great cost - or at all?

I'm guessing the ones made in Mexico will meet US regulations. But first, they aren't as cheap as the ones made in China and, second, I'm guessing there are lots of fees/taxes/whatever before you could actually use them here.

What if you buy a "used" EV in Mexico. Would that get around those fees and restrictions? I smell a business opportunity.

Your title implies you can't buy one; but you can. You just have to import it. Those import costs and ensuring it meets the safety regs are up to you.

 

[Moral]

FTFY

Unions don't get a seat at the table for legislation, trade deals, anything really. Only around 10% of American workers are in a union at this point. Not so much of a boogey man anymore.

 

[Gimmered]

Apples and oysters, Yellow.

Yes, we should be scaling up EVs and scaling back gas vehicles. That's one issue.

We should also be allowing Americans to access a free (or at least freer) market.

Free trade and free markets used to be 2 of America's top values. We've fought wars to open markets. Yes, I have been known to criticize free market zealots; but this is not just protectionism, it's protectionism that doesn't serve America, imo.

US auto makers could not compete with BYD. They have many EVs that are sub $20,000. They also extend all the way to a $150,000 super car.

 

[FAUlty Gator]

Apples and oysters, Yellow.

Yes, we should be scaling up EVs and scaling back gas vehicles. That's one issue.

We should also be allowing Americans to access a free (or at least freer) market.

Free trade and free markets used to be 2 of America's top values. We've fought wars to open markets. Yes, I have been known to criticize free market zealots; but this is not just protectionism, it's protectionism that doesn't serve America, imo.

I actually agree. Just haven't busted your stones in a while. I'd still take our government to allow us to import cheap meds first though. One day, that's gonna get looked back on as insane. Hopefully sooner than later.

 

[Gimmered]

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

FWIW, I would like to stop those large trucks from parking in the parking ramps in downtown Des Moines.

 

[SA_Hawk]

How come the government won’t let us buy cheap gasoline?

 

[CarolinaHawkeye]

How come the government won’t let us buy cheap gasoline?

It's the cheapest in the world, because of the subsidies oil companies receive. Because of that, I'm probably paying for the majority of the gas that free loading magats use.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

i would not want those cars here if they are from china for several reasons. one, they are hostile and intend us harm.

If that's the reason, ban everything Chinese. Period.

If you aren't doing that, it's not the reason.

 

[What Would Jesus Do?]

I actually agree. Just haven't busted your stones in a while. I'd still take our government to allow us to import cheap meds first though. One day, that's gonna get looked back on as insane. Hopefully sooner than later.

I agree with that as well. But here's the thing: why not allow both?

 

[desihawk]

If that's the reason, ban everything Chinese. Period.

If you aren't doing that, it's not the reason.

so far based on their tariff positions it seems to be the direction both political parties have converged upon. not an outright ban but at least trying to dig us out of a deep hole

 

[tumorboy]

How come the government won’t let us buy cheap gasoline?

We’d have to nationalize the industry. Similar to Venezuela.
Companies have to make a profit. There is a balance. If they produce too much. Some wells become unprofitable. Which cause companies to shutdown wells and fire workers.
The US can open more wells in North Dakota or other places again. But the Saudi’s will in turn flood the market until those wells can’t survive.

 

[Scruddy]

"Why won't our government let us"

Lol