Comment by thelastgallon

Tesla promised a 35k Model 3 in 2016.

Entering that into a CPI inflation calculator, that is $50k in 2026 dollars due to inflation.

A Model 3 today starts at $38, which is WELL BELOW the 2016 promise. Corrected for inflation, that's roughly $28k in 2016 dollars

They effectively overdelivered on that promise.

The complaint here, is that Chinese manufacturers, who are mostly in a death battle against each other and not profitable are even cheaper than Tesla and Toyota. In the long run, I suspect that picture will simply not be sustainable for those companies.

The biggest obstacles to Chinese vehicle sales in the United States are political and they are tremendous. Whichever party is blamed for their entry will lose Michigan for a generation and car dealership owners across the country

That's where the power is

I would say it is more likely to do with the fact that:

* BYD is new in Japan (since 2023) compared to other automakers which have built up trust over many decades.

* There are only 55 BYD dealerships in Japan vs 5,000 Toyota dealerships, 2,200 Nissan dealerships, 2,200 Honda dealerships, 1,500 Suzuki dealerships, etc.

* BYD offers a limited range of models in Japan - 6 in total. No minivan, for example, where minivans make up 6 of the 10 best selling (non-kei) car models in Japan

* Japan is very slow to adopt EVs in general. Charging infrastructure is poor

* BYD EVs and PHEVs qualify for a much smaller CEV rebate [1] than Japanese models, Teslas, etc. This eats away at much of the cost benefits

* BYD only just introduced their first kei model to Japan last month. It has been well reviewed, but even BYD isn’t expecting to sell a ton of them in their first year, let alone first month, due to the aforementioned circumstances.

Or we could just say it’s because Japanese are racist and won’t buy Chinese things - despite the fact that 22% of all Japan’s imports currently come from China. Because that feels correct, I guess?

To be clear I do recognize that are tensions between Japan and China. And there are plenty of Japanese people who would prefer to buy Japanese-made goods, or prefer to avoid Chinese-made goods (to the extent that's even possible). But there are plenty of Americans, Europeans, etc who feel similarly - and they aren't typically called racist for having the same preferences. There are valid reasons like wanting to support domestic businesses, or not relying on geopolitical rivals for manufacturing, that have nothing to do with racism. Canadians are boycotting US goods right now, for example. Is that because Canadians are especially racist?

And Japanese consumers are just as price sensitive as anyone else. As the end of the day, if they can get more car for less money buying Chinese cars (and if the cars and sales and support process can be sufficiently tailored to Japanese preferences), then Chinese automakers can be successful in Japan.

[1] https://www.cev-pc.or.jp/hojo/pdf/R7ho/R7ho_meigaragotojouge...

Isn’t saying Japanese are known to be racists a bit racist?

Please don't. The arrogance with which they handle this situation is mind-boggling. Everyone else is blamed except their own greed and awful decision making. Germany and Europe will recover from this eventually and we're going to be better off without the auto lobby.

VW doesn't sell new ICE models in the sub 25k€ segment anymore. Their new entry level car ID. Polo is an EV and when decked out (slight hyperbole, I primarily mean the battery upgrade) is costing the same the hypothetical $35k base Model 3 that never really existed in the first place, maybe it does today. Not to mention the 25k€ base model is not only real, but it is even acceptable if you don't care about range. Might still want to have some addons though.

Personally I won't, the amount of greed and contempt for customers in the EU automotive world is absolutely insane, they need all to feel the pain, at least a bit to remember that their place isn't a given, that they have to work for customers.

A good chunk of them don't even follow EU laws on warranty.

Ehhh we should support them otherwise they will come to kill us all again?

No, if they do that it's 100% on them.

And the German auto industry is really corrupt. See what they did at Volkswagen scamming the system and then refusing to own up to it.

I don't buy any cars anymore and if I did it wouldn't be German.

Personally I think it's time for the personal car to disappear anyway. Even an EV still pollutes a lot, it's not just about CO2.

Dacia Spring is also made in China.

Europe isn't good example either as it's heavily tarriffed

Isn't that similar to how Emirates is profitable (~16% before tax as of the last fiscal year) while providing a more luxurious service? For both, the line between state and corporation is blurry enough that you could argue both are subsidized to starve out international competition.

Emirates claims no subsidies at all; BYD's disclosed direct grants alone are about a third of their cumulative lifetime profit, let alone indirect subsidies.

People don't buy a new car every 2 to 3 years. While people would like their car to work for at least 10 years if not more. It also has much higher resale value compare to a phone.

And while I think Nokia phone are quite sturdy, I wouldn't necessary put them equate it to "quality". Especially when it was compared to an iPhone.

Toyotas aren't just for show either, like they are the top of their game 4x4s, they sell everything from utility vehicles for mining and military use, all the way up to luxury models.