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Why They Don’t Want You Driving a Chinese Car
(www.currentaffairs.org)
cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/49178
I took my first ride in a Chinese car recently. Not in the U.S., of course, since sky-high tariffs have made them almost impossible to import. I was visiting family in the U.K., and we rented a BYD Sealion SUV. And let me tell you: I saw immediately why American car companies are desperate to have these things kept out of this country. It was elegantly designed, incredibly comfortable, and a smooth ride.
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Most western countries subsidize the purchase of EVs, regardless of where they're manufactured. China subsidizes manufacturing EVs (and also purchase, but that's irrelevant if you're not buying in China). If you buy a Chinese EV in a western country that has EV subsidies, they get to double dip in subsidies, while also paying their employees significantly less due to the lower CoL in China.
Should European countries also start subsidizing manufacturing? I don't think we could afford it, particularly if we wanted to truly compete and subsidize cars sold to China as well, like they do. China simply has too much money and it's amplified even further by the super cheap labour.
How dare China offer citizens a higher standard of living at a lower cost, when prior generations worked so hard to checks notes do exactly this?
Not entirely sure that the standard of living for factory workers in China is as high as it is for union jobs in a non-American country in the west. For one, 996 is STILL a thing in many companies in China even if illegal officially. Try pulling that shit in Germany, see how far that gets you.
Germany is discussing a four-day workweek. BYD has a 14-day workweek
For the umpteenth time, 996 is illegal in China, and businesses caught doing this are prosecuted. And it's more than a fine that's pennies on the multimillions.