BYD can capture the US EV market share easily - why isn’t it released here?

  • rimalp@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    They are.

    Just not with passenger cars. They are one of biggest (if not the biggest) EV bus/truck maker in the US.

  • OkStandard8965@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    People don’t want products made by Chinese companies, there is still a large stigma.

    Also, BYD stands for “build your dreams” marketing matters and it’s a hopelessly stupid name. People want cars to be cool.

  • ineedafastercar@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    EU spec cars are banned for that exact reason: they would take over the market because they are built better.

    Yes, I know VAG and BMW are terrible, but they are still better quality than US builders. But my EU Toyota is light-years better than my US Toyota. It’s actually frustrating.

    • DuncanIdaho88@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      The quality of the BMW i3 was amazing. While we can’t know for sure with the i4 yet, it appears to be a good car so far.

      BMWs from the mid 2000s to early 2010s were notoriously difficult and expensive to service. Many of them also end up being neglected by the second owner, and many are driven roughly.

    • dima1109@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      they are built better

      i’ve heard lots of shitty takes but this one takes the cake

      • ineedafastercar@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        Says someone that’s never been in an EU spec car? There’s no comparison. EU automotive offerings would decimate the US domestic market, which is why they are not allowed to import within 25 years of production date.

  • jorsiem@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Someone from a country in which Chinese EVs are ubiquitous. BYDs are the meh ones.

    • Exurbain@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      And that division appears to be a complete mess so I wonder if they’ve gotten cold feet about further expansion in North America.

      It’s really quite impressive how many systems have tested and ordered their buses only to back out despite them trying to get a foothold for over a decade now. Aside from any political considerations, given how many QA issues, long replacement part lead times and general sub-par support reported by agencies that tried BYD buses, I don’t know that I would trust a BYD car built in the States if it’s the same group of middle managers that would be put in charge of that plant.

      Even in Europe, their bus division seems to be struggling (one especially funny but also alarming story out of the UK even states they had issues with the first batch of Enviros built on BYD chassises had their steering wheels coming off in revenue service) while Yutong has quickly gained ground across the continent.

  • Pokerhobo@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    The reality is that BYD builds only in China currently because labor costs (and probably parts costs sourced locally) are low. If they build locally in the US to avoid the tariffs, the price of their EVs will go up and won’t be as competitive (assuming they want to make profit). Better to sell to Europe until Europe also has a tariff on imports.

    • laduzi_xiansheng@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      Labour costs are higher than ever in China, but supply chain and logistics are so efficient that its offset easily.

      • Treewithatea@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        The majority of batteries are produced in China. Thats really their biggest advantage. I dont think any other manufacturer is planning their own battery production besides VW

        • chr1spe@alien.topB
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          10 months ago

          What are you talking about? GM and Ford both have multiple battery factories planned in the US. Most manufacturers are planning their own battery production.

          • Lower_Chance8849@alien.topB
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            10 months ago

            Yes, but it’s not about manufacturers making batteries, it’s about China’s dominance of the supply chain as a country. China refines 95% of the battery materials and makes 75% of the batteries. Much of that is because the Chinese government has subsidised battery manufacturing to put themselves in a dominant position, on average Chinese battery factories are running at half utilisation which is not viable for western companies. Also, they have much reduced labour and environmental protections and they ignore IP (the LFP patents which just expired).

            • Jzeeee@alien.topB
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              10 months ago

              China did not ignore the LFP patent. Hydro Quebec (LFP+C Consortium), the owners of the LFP patent had an agreement with China, that Chinese companies can make LFP batteries in China without a license fee as long as those batteries are sold to the local market. Reason was the original 1997 Patent sold by UT Austin to Hydro Quebec was not accepted under Chinese jurisdiction. Hydro Quebec didn’t want another long costly legal battle in China with only 10 years left on their LFP patent, so they made an agreement.

      • thewavefixation@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        You don’t know much about this - they have d great European and Australian safety ratings - usa ones aren’t tougher

  • lostinheadguy@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    Friendly reminder that Ford and CATL were chased out of Virginia because of the slightest hint of Chinese influence.

  • mtnviewcansurvive@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    just wait.

    Last year, Chinese EV champion BYD dethroned Tesla as the world’s biggest seller of electric vehicles, counting both full-electric and plug-in hybrid cars

  • sarhoshamiral@alien.topB
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    10 months ago

    A likely big reason is it being a Chinese brand. Politics change here every 2 years, even if current administration lifted tariffs which they won’t there is no guarantee that they won’t be backup in few years. It is not worth investing here for BYD right now.

    • libach81@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      Chinese brand

      And a new one as well. Buying a car is not the same a buying groceries, it’s a large investment and people are hesitant when it comes to brands they’ve never heard of. That’s what’s happening in Europe, the Chinese manufacturers are taking off, but at a slow pace as consumers are skeptical, even though most of the cars get really good reviews by motor journalists.
      But the Chinese know this and are offering really good deals to entice buyers and it’s working.

      • locksmack@alien.topB
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        10 months ago

        BYD launched in Australia last year. I can already tell that sentiment towards them is improving (which is an uphill battle), and they are absolutely everywhere already.

    • Neat_Onion@alien.topB
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      10 months ago

      They don’t want to get Huawei’d

      This is exactly it … BYD executives probably don’t want to be randomly arrested for transiting through a Western country.