i hate musk, but i am not wild about our dependence on china either, so i am not really sure who to root for in this fight...

USA could have spent money developing an electrified economy but the republicans are focusing on bringing back coal mining and reshoring shoe manufacturing instead.

This admin has set the USA back 100 years.

ETA - what I mean is that China is rampaging on in electrification, developing manufacturing skills, infrastructure, and design/engineering/technology around renewables and electrification. Europe is thinking about it but not going crazy to the extent China is, because legacy - China doesn’t have 100 years of cars and 150 years of trains; they’re building new. USA meanwhile is actively regressing under Republican policies.

Competition is good for the consumer. More options from more players will encourage more charging infrastructure and (ostensibly) more innovation. It's not just Elon Musk vs China. Every automaker that wants to sell cars in the USA is on notice. If they want to compete in the EV subcategory, they need to focus on price and performance. People want budget-conscious EVs.

I would say go with whatever company that doesn't have a CEO throwing Nazi salutes.

Yeah, the Chinese manufacturers are out to make money, and at least we know what to expect from them.

Besides, being profitable usually means making a better product than your competitors.

Not super into cars but is there even any reason other than environmental friendliness to get an EV? Where I'm from, EVs are all wildly expensive compared to their combustion peers and they all frankly look really ugly to me. The coil whine of the EVs also drive me crazy.

Everywhere is depndent on China, buy the car that isnt overtly a fascist car. They also suck.

So support the country committing a genocide against the uyghurs? Because you think a salute is worse than a Holocaust, got it.

They make decent "point A to point B" cars, but that's about it. They take a long time to charge, and when that battery is due for replacement, it might just total the car.

If you don't see musk as one of the singular greatest threats to this planet, I dunno what to tell you. It is certainly not just the salute, that was just the most public he's been about his true self. If I recall those Nazis had some thoughts on the Holocaust as well.

Hahaha.

As opposed to supporting a country that... (fill in the blanks, there is an infinite supply)

The article title is a bit sensational. The share of the market for all Chinese EV is 5,6%. It’s not ( yet ? ) a tsunami.

Even the cheap ones accelerate faster, ride smoother, and are quieter. You don’t have to get oil changes, and the brakes don’t wear down as fast. Plus I can recharge at home, which is loads cheaper than buying gasoline.

And this is all with a relatively ancient Nissan Leaf, the new vehicles are all far better.

Oh, and let’s not forget that even very small air quality improvements have noticeable improvements in lung health! Humans were not meant to be breathing gasoline fumes or combustion exhaust.

Especially when you see some of the tech being rocked in Asian cities

i am afraid it is just that most CEOs are sane enough to keep their embarrassing moments for their private life. do you think musk is the only narcissistic psychopath on drugs in the business world?

this is not advocating for musk, but it is important to be grounded in reality

They make decent “point A to point B” cars

which is, coincidentally, what most people need from a car

But… but… those good ol’ days felt so good! We need to relive those days!

buy the car that isnt overtly a fascist car.

that isn't really an argument in favor of china

I have no doubt most CEOs are psychopaths, but they also don't own a global Nazi mouthpiece like twitter, or have more money and resources than several small nations.

Feet firmly planted in reality, thanks. You definitely sound like your advocating for musk.

With that level of indirection gymnastics, you can accuse anyone of anything.

(This comment written in the language of a brutally colonizing and genocidal empire.)