From 'slippery slope' to 'existential threat,' auto CEOs sound alarm on Chinese competition

[Zorro]

Western automakers, from the Big Three to EV pure plays, are delivering the same stark warning: Chinese automakers pose a threat to their survival if domestic production isn't protected.

"China poses a clear and present threat to the auto industry in the U.S.," wrote the Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI), a trade group that reps the Big Three, among other automakers, ahead of a House hearing on Chinese vehicles last December.

The AAI said Congress needs to maintain the Commerce Department's Biden-era prohibition on importing certain technology and software from China, which effectively bars the import of vehicles from Chinese manufacturers.

In recent comments, corporate executives have hammered home a version of this messaging.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/from-slippery-slope-to-existential-threat-auto-ceos-sound-alarm-on-chinese-competition-153037342.html

Trump and the Republicans effectively ceded the EV market to the Chinese when they voted to kill EV tax credits last year; same thing with solar. They are determined to sacrifice our leadership in emerging technologies for the short-term benefit of the coal and gas industries, but even that won't help the likes of Chrysler/Stellantis.

[msongs]

1. a worker cannot live in the USA on slave wages paid in China too expensive here nt

[durablend]

2. That's why they're trying to get rid of us

[essaynnc]

3. If it isn't protected??

Really? Why don't they just get their shit together? We don't need protectionism, we need innovation! We need breakthroughs! We need to stop hanging on to to Old technology and old ways of doing things.

[newdeal2]

4. Not gonna happen with this president

[Raftergirl]

5. The only market they have is in the US and most be people (including every single person I know) doesn't drive

a car made by US car makers.

My car is a Lexus hybrid SUV and it’s made in Canada. I’m certainly not going to stop buying Lexus, even though my lease is more than my mortgage.

I’ll be getting a new one in a few months.

And Chinese car markets are grabbing the rest of the world, while no one wants the gas guzzling monster trucks than US car makers seem to only manufacture now.

[dsc]

6. In terms of actual cars the US companies have already lost it

I favor sedans over SUVs and had to buy a car in November. I literally had to buy foreign since there were no US choices. I got a Hyundai Elantra hybrid for around 30k and so far I love it. I got the mid level trim and it had all the safety tech except adaptive cruise control and most of the convenience tech, no heated seats and steering wheel and no power seats but otherwise it has everything.