Meanwhile China has dark factories.
I think there's a domestic brand or two that's gaining marketshare, but they're not there yet.
There's a myth of Chinese high-tech (esp in cars), that is not to say their stuff isn't technologically advanced, but the characterization that Chinese tech has left Europeans' behind just does not pass muster when one looks at mechanic videos of Chinese EVs.
Their cars look fancy and are full of futuristic screens and sensors, but the suspension setup and lot of engineering behind them is not exactly cutting edge.
That's why a lot of car reviewers say that a lot of their EVs don't drive particularly well
The driving feel is definitely a thing, the chinese cars are very soft and 'boaty' which is not as desirable elsewhere. They are also on average much larger and heavier than their western counterparts, cities in China have road infrastructure built in the past 20-30 years with spacious lanes.
Exactly my point - if premium Chinese cars use Western components are built by Western robots, and designed in Western offices - that means the Chinese technological superiority does not exist.
As for their cars and roads being big - I don't see that as an upside, I have heard from many Chinese residents that the physical size of their cities means (most European cities are denser than Chinese ones) that navigating them becomes that much harder and painful.
Which lays to rest another myth about how China is light-years ahead of the West in urban planning , when in reality they have their own issues.
I'd buy a Kia PV9 in a heartbeat.
To me, Kia/Hyundai is an example of a foreign manufacturer successively building EVs in North America for North America. Satisfying American standards, tastes, regulations, etc.
I expect the larger Chinese competitors to do the same.
Decades ago, European and then Japanese competitors did as well.
The sooner the better.
The owner family did the right thing at the right time. If the Europe and US business tanks they will be fine. BMW as a brand not necessarily.