Comment Re:Screw the American auto industry (Score 1) 303
People seem less afraid of the OPEC boogeyman nowadays.
So many environmentally friendly ways to heat the cold. Fire is barbaric way to keep warm.
My point exactly. Most of them as technologically complex as cooling the heat. It used to be heating was easier than cooling, even a cave man could do it. Can't say cooling is harder anymore.
it's much easier to heat the cold then it is to cool the heat.
Not being able to burn anything reduces that spread considerably.
Then the Chinese will be competing with those non-shitty imported cars. Why should I care about other imported cars. Let them compete with each other for the cheapest price.
I'm fine with that. Most people don't buy the cheapest car as it is. Cheap is not the most desirable attribute for many things in life.
And you know this how?
Because it is a common trait among early adopters.
I'm seeing no indication that purchasing EV's will be anything other than voluntary.
Voluntary is not the same as no other choice. The late adopters are likely to be much less enthusiastic.
As for SUV sales, a lot of vehicles get lumped into that category that don't fit the definition of truck made for passengers.
Agreed SUV could be anything between CRV or Suburban. It's a wonderful thing people have such choice.
For many of these people who bought a so called SUV, an affordable 4 door EV car would be a nice upgrade. Especially when OPEC is jacking up fuel costs.
The 1970s called...
Then let China sell cars in the US.
I didn't say they shouldn't. Maybe every American will suddenly want a Chinese EV instead of what they are driving now, but I'm doubtful.
If you can't sell off your old car at a decent price (and your car dealership also has the lot full of them), your calculation for the next truck has to include a higher deterioration, which makes buying your next truck more expensive
Yup. Just like varying the residual on a lease.
And financing the truck with a loan also might get harder, because your bank might also look into the resale value of your truck
Of course, same as any collateral based loan.
Domestic pickups and Chinese EVs won't directly compete, but they will affect each others markets in subtle ways.
Is that your way of saying people in the US don't want to drive EVs? I think lots of people would like to drive an EV if charging stations were as common place as gas stations and EV price ranges matched ICE price ranges. Today, most EV's are luxury vehicles or nearly as expensive. Show me an EV that sells for 20k without rebates and I'll show you a vehicle that can't be kept in stock.
I don't think the typical person now driving a truck or SUV - the majority in most states - are going to drive a $20k electric car instead. You may compete with used trucks and SUVs. Or probably not. Mostly it will compete with used Camry's. That is not a bad thing but it may not be a cash cow.
I wouldn't have given a damn about all the horse buggy makers going out of business if they refused to start making automobiles.
Cars clearly have much more utility than horses. EVs may or may not have more utility than ICE, depends entirely on the use case. I expect they will be coexisting for a long long time to come.
the product, fossil fuel cars, is obsolete
If they are not banned I expect people will continue building them for a long time to come.
Perhaps the truth is Americans don't necessarily want to shitty cars that American producers are making, but have no alternative except to buy $50K+ SUVs and trucks
They do have a choice. There are many non-shitty imported cars to choose from also.
Yeah, they're catering almost exclusively to people who have $50k to spend (likely bought on credit) and who also don't mind dumping an extra $150-$200/mo into gas.
There are many people without that sort of budget who still need a set of wheels. I suspect cheap Chinese EVs would sell very well here, and US automakers are rightfully spooked.
Mostly I think they would capture a slice of the market that would otherwise buy used. How much that affects the used truck market is anyone's guess.
The US auto industry competes just fine at building what Americans want to drive. The challenge comes in switching over to building what the American government wants Americans to drive. They are far from the same thing.
$70k trucks with beds smaller than a the same model from 30 years ago and $100k SUVs with the all styling of a brick. https://www.caranddriver.com/j...
Yes, people seem to love them, and both pickups and SUVs have evolved to a mix of cargo and passenger space that buyers seem to prefer. I've driven many trucks myself and can see the attraction. Space, luxury, great visibility, plenty of power and all weather capable even if you never need it. I prefer sports coupes but not my place to judge others choices.
Anyone can make an omelet with eggs. The trick is to make one with none.
