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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: July 23rd, 2023

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  • This is a huge downside to USA protectionism of EVs. Because the USA slaps anyone who wants to import an EV, the really cheap EVs and many of the other models from overseas don’t land here. It makes Tesla seem more popular than it ought to be because they make up a huge part of the EV market in the USA. However, when you go elsewhere and the consumer can pick from the full range of EVs, they tend not to pick Tesla.

    If we allowed all the foreign EVs in the USA to be sold to citizens, then Tesla would “learn” how to compete. Since they don’t have that pressure, we have an noncompetitive product. This will end just like compact cars did in the 70s. American manufacturers said “Americans don’t want small cars”. Then, everyone started importing Japanese compacts. All of a sudden GM & co. figured out how to make a compact car.

    If you want your product to be a success globally, you can’t do that through tariffs and protectionism. This is not a new phenomenon.