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Comment by malwarebytess | Hacker News Reader

So, why can't we sell a car like this in the US at a similar price? Do we think there's no market?

The Smart car brand failed in the US, and the Fiat 500 will be discontinued in the US.

Americans just don't like small cars, (for obvious reasons, as if you are driving next to F-250 and GM Silverados, your car will feel unsafe).

Also, in Cities, registration/parking/insurance cost quiet a bit, and those cars are usually charged full prices for parking.

So, even in metro areas, the difference in total cost between a 13k (super small car) and a 23k midsize/compact car are not that much. If they have to go to the hassle of owning a car, folks in metro areas in the US, prefer a size up

Now, in europe is a total difference. If you have driven in some Italian towns, you would understand that anything larger than a Toyta Corolla/Honda civic, would not fit in many streets and parking would be super hard. By necessity, you have to go down a size.

I know, when I was looking to buy a car for my parent's home in Albania, I had to choose the smallest crossover possible, otherwise it wont be comfortable to drive in the tight roads of my neighborhood. (even VW Tiguan, would be too large).

Compact cars are popular in Australia, even though we have big open roads and most people live in the suburbs. I think running costs are a big factor in choosing a car, if you are comparing between 5L per 100KM and 15L per 100KM, and the price of petrol is around $1.40 per litre ($3.70 USD per gallon). Registration and insurance is also more expensive the bigger the engine. Once popular sedans like the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon have all but died out, as people no longer wanted a petrol guzzling 6 or 8 cylinder engine.

I think an electric car the size of a Toyota Yaris / Honda Jazz would be a big hit in Australia, since that category has been popular for decades. Whereas I think the only popular sedan nowadays would be the Camry, and they are mainly used for taxis. Family cars tend to be SUVs with underpowered petrol or diesel engines to try and get the fuel economy, even if it struggles to climb hills.

Another big seller I think would be a plug in hybrid ute similar to a Hilux, since they are the main vehicles used by tradies. If you could get maybe 100 - 200km of travel using electric only and then petrol for the rest, I think that would be suitable for people who mainly work in metropolitan areas. You could also use the battery instead of carrying a petrol generator.

> I think an electric car the size of a Toyota Yaris / Honda Jazz would be a big hit in Australia, since that category has been popular for decades.

I agree, but clearly it needs to come from the right brand. Renault currently sells the Zoe in Australia but it doesn't look like they're selling a lot - Renault's aren't popular in Australia and only have a few dealerships.

A student in my gf class got killed during commute in a morning as he exceptionally drove an old beater instead of his pick-up. A full-size transport truck crashed into it. He would probably still be alive had he been driving his pick-up.

I mean, that's true, but at 4320$ I can't help but believe that there would be a sizeable market for it in the US.

At that price, they won't pass us crash-safety tests.

Look at the British mini and compare it to the Cooper mini that ended up for sale here. And that's British vs US safety standards. I've spent enough time in China to know that the difference there would be even more extreme.

What's the demographic? If you can only afford a $4320 car, you're buying a 20 year old junker. (They aren't that expensive to maintain, if you only fix the drivetrain and safety parts. Find a shade tree mechanic (like me) that only charges $25 an hour.) If you can afford a more expensive car, the $4320 is going to be miserable to drive. Vague steering, poor brakes, terrible wind and tire noise, stiff suspension, uncomfortable seats, plasticy interior that rattles.

You're missing two key points, it's electric, and therefore doesn't need gas, and it's new, and therefore doesn't need much maintenance (plus being electrict).

It would be, by far, the cheapest way to own a car, and would be green to boot. Also, I'm not convinced the car is that bad, from the reviews I've read.

I'd buy one. The safety concerns people raise in this thread are worthy of discussion, but it is at least as safe as a motorcycle(cue the pedantic HN argument in 3..2..1..).

I would also buy it, but strictly only for city driving where safety concerns aren't nearly as big of a deal.

And yes, it's going to be safer than a motorcycle anywhere outside a highway.

At those prices, there are vastly bigger addressable markets elsewhere.

Safety standards would make it more than $5k.

You can probably find a high end enclosed golf cart with similar specs.

A less equipped Polaris runs north of $10k.

The Poliaris has a bunch more money tied up in suspension than an economy subcompact.

Partly practicality (overblown but still true) and also My car is bigger than your car-itis

maybe they d be good in population-dense europe , but US sprawl practically requires huge batteries

I drive a Fiat 500e with what they bill as an 84-mile range, and I live in a suburb of Dallas. I actually get closer to 100 than 84, but I am rarely concerned about the range, despite the extreme sprawl. But I know people who have commutes that would make driving my car nearly impossible, or at least impossible without mid-day charging.

^high speed/collisions in a tiny tin can.

tiny cars are popular already .

Not in the US, and especially not outside of cities. For the reasons I mentioned above. I'm a fan of them, but wouldn't want to be driving at full speed on a long-distance trip with one.

80% of Americans live in an urban area.

https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2016/cb16-210...

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