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Comment by IncreasePosts | Hacker News Reader

Assuming the blue wave continues for 2 more years, I've been wondering if the Democrats are going to open up America to Chinese EVs as a way to punish Elon for his engagement with the GOP

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No they won’t as they have auto unions to protect

American auto unions largely aren't competing in the EV space. 80%+ of EVs sold in America aren't built using American union labor - Tesla at 60% sales is non-union, Rivian at 10%, Toyota imports EVs, Ford and Chevrolet build the Mach E and Equinox EV in Mexico

It doesn't refute GPs point. If foreign EVs are better than ICE vehicles manufactured by union labor, the unions are going to have a problem letting the foreign EVs in.

USA bans the onboard Chinese automotive software for national security reasons, effectively banning Chinese cars. This isn't a partisan political thing, Biden was the one that signed the Secure Equipment Act and Connected Vehicle Restrictions.

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/fact-sheet-safegua...

For all the talk about data and technology sovereignty in Europe, you would think they would take that more seriously too. Instead Europe is flooded with underpriced Chinese cars that they have no control over.

There's also the 100% tariff to overcome. But I'm sure with a friendlier tax/tariff regime, Chinese companies wouldn't be opposed to bringing 98% complete vehicles from China to the US and then finishing them with American comms equipment.

they wouldn't mind standing up factories and importing the parts for assembly.

> Instead Europe is flooded with underpriced Chinese cars that they have no control over.

Please someone fact check that, as far as I know there are import taxes on Chinese EVs, and protectionist measures. The only "loophole" I know is for vehicles built in the EU, which is fine as it employs local workforce.

The link says restrictions on software take effect in model year 2027 and hardware in 2030. So those rules are not in force yet right?

And if this were really the issue, why wouldn't BYD build vehicles with swappable control software and hardware? Ship unfinished vehicles to the US and install approved electronics in them?

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