A small, cheap EV you can’t buy in the US? We test the BYD Dolphin.
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Biden's decision to essentially ban all Chinese EVs is one of his worst moves. I understand he was forced to be protectionist by the auto sector and auto workers, but US customers are quickly going to be missing multiple generational leaps in value and efficiency. And without those value-adds, it's even harder to convince people to move on from ICE cars. A downward spiral all the way....
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I'm a bit surprised its not better. And yikes, the "acrid" smell sounds brutal - would have me walking away immediately
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Not missing much now for their entry level model. But they're innovating quickly (see recent reports about 80% charging in less than 15 minutes), and the US market will be shut out of all of that.
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A few months back, I was looking at some of BYD's lineup, and I noticed that they pretty much made my perfect electric car in the Qi Plus. Basically a fully electric Corolla, with the range to match the ICE version, at a sub-$20k price point. If BYD could somehow make that available in the US, I'd sell my Prius right now to buy it. Of course, I know that it'll never make it stateside officially and the import fees would push the price directly into "just buy a used domestic EV" territory, but it's at least comforting to know that perfection is out there.
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I miss the days where judges weren't being thrown in prison for defying the White House, when people weren't being disappeared off the street for opposing the White House, and when the global economy wasn't collapsing because of the idiots in the White House. But we can't have everything, can we?
Also, you haven't actually been here that long if you think this is out of character. This article predates your account by eight whole years. https://meincmagazine.com/uncategorized/2005/03/4737-2/
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There is a market for what really falls into "Adequate Transport" While it's great when a car is fun to drive, it's even better when it's practical EVERY DAY. Our CRV Hybrid isn't as fun to drive as our 12 year old MB C250 Sport, but it's far more practical day to day. That said, I'm glad we have both.
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It doesn't even crack the top 100, because Chinese cars were basically effectively banned already due to the ~30% tariffs that were already in place (the only ones that were sold in the US were from companies that could avoid the tariffs by offsetting them with exports from the US) and EVs even more so due to limited tax credit eligibility (only via the leasing loophole). The massive increase in tariffs on them was almost pure theater.
You can debate the merits of the original ~30% tariffs, but a move that basically did nothing can't qualify as one of Biden's worst moves.
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The entry level Model Y MSRP's at $42k.
We'll set aside the Chinese MSRP of ~$15k as heavily subsidized and just look at what the Dolphin costs in Europe and Mexico: About $28k, with all the usual caveats about currency conversion and local markets.
That's the difference. One is an actual economy car.
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Yep, good points all. Maybe I'd revise to say it's disappointing he didn't make things better on this issue and instead just joined the ongoing dogpile.
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How is this article in any way polarizing?
As a ps, in the Netherlands the Dolphin costs 50% less than the cheapest Tesla, btw
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Linux-Is-Best
Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
I may not be able to buy one in the United States, but I would have one shipped over.
BYD understands something American car makers, like Tesla, want to deny. People want to own their car - all of it.
I do not want a subscription fee for features in my car. If I pay extra for a feature, I want to own that feature, and not be told I paid extra only to be required to sign up for a lifetime paid subscription.
BYD understands something American car makers, like Tesla, want to deny. People want to own their car - all of it.
I do not want a subscription fee for features in my car. If I pay extra for a feature, I want to own that feature, and not be told I paid extra only to be required to sign up for a lifetime paid subscription.
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The time period when Chinese cars are still just OK seems like a really good time for American manufacturing to not be hamstrung by a stupid tariff war.
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It acknowledges the presence of non-US tech that US people might be interested it, obviously.
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I own a Model 3 and have test driven a Seal myself and I found the Seal good, really good particularly if one prefers a more convencional layout.
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I sarcastically posted something like that a bit back and it didn't go over well, but I am sick of every goddamn article that even mentions politics offhand getting a I DON'T COME HERE FOR POLITICS comment.
Everything is political. It always has been, but especially now one party has made everything political and if you're unhappy about that, blame Republicans, vote against them, and try to move on with your life.
Anyway I would love a car like this. I have a little Porsche for fun but really want a nice little electric car for trips that aren't supposed to be fun (like winter commutes) and Tesla is not an appealing brand to me. I could get one of the Porsche EVs but a huge expensive EV feels like it's missing the point (especially since my local race tracks ban EVs due to fire concerns).
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If they had a strong support system for them in the USA, I might consider one. In the meantime I’m pretty happy with my ID.4 Pro S AWD, there are VW dealers everywhere, easy to get service and parts, insurance is cheap. Bought it used for $30k back in 2023, put 50k miles on it since then with no issues.
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Translation: “there’s an awful lot of reminders that my political party is evil and smart people don’t like them. I miss the days of my party not actively sabotaging every facet of our existence.”
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Seems almost identical to the 2017-2022 Chevy Bolt EV. Check out the dimensions: https://www.carsized.com/en/cars/co...hevrolet-bolt-ev-2016-5-door-hatchback/front/
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There was an interesting article in the FT recently about American car tariffs. I didn't realise, but apparently to this day American imposes Johnson-era tariffs on foreign light trucks. That's one reason American manufacturers have gone so heavily down the SUV / pick-ups / giant-cars-in-general route - by focusing on that part of the market they didn't have to worry about foreign competition. But that decision, in turn, is one of the main reasons America doesn't export many cars to other countries. The trend towards gigantism means they just don't fit down streets or in parking spaces in much of the rest of the world.
https://www.ft.com/content/a2aa265f-c852-43cd-804f-f175c24c5248
Obviously EVs are a much bigger change to the car industry than the rise of SUVs was. But the EV tariffs make me wonder if America will continue to diverge from the rest of the world when it comes to electric cars as well, and if so what that will look like in practice.
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Am I missing something, what the fuck is polarizing about this article about an EV sold in the UK?
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To Musk fans, discussion of any alternative to Tesla is polarizing. It's kind of like any movie with gays in it is political.
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I just found out last night that Ford is making a competitor to a lot of these Chinese crossover sized vehicles that we can't have, and its called the Ford Explorer EV… except we Americans can't have THAT European built vehicle either
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If I had the money and was looking for a new car, I can see the appeal at 28k including vat. not sure I'd get one, but it looks nice for the price.
Yes, I'd assume it has some kind of spyware being Chinese, but I'd assume the same thing with Tesla. It will probably hold the resell value better.
Lastly not sure why people are calling this article controversial, it's a car review.
Yes, I'd assume it has some kind of spyware being Chinese, but I'd assume the same thing with Tesla. It will probably hold the resell value better.
Lastly not sure why people are calling this article controversial, it's a car review.
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The Seal is not their entry-level car. BYD has been making EV's for longer than Tesla.
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Anything that hurts a MAGA'ts feelings or makes Pumpkin Spice Palpatine look bad is polarizing.
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The problem with this is that you're going to find it challenging to get parts and, more importantly, diagnostic servicing. It's one thing if you're handy enough to wrench on a simple car yourself and the parts are widely distributed across the planet, but even then keeping something like a Kei truck working as an actual daily use vehicle (with the attendant wear and replacement needs) is moderately challenging. And, again, that's for the sort of enthusiast who is willing to go to those extremes.
At a bare minimum I'd want to make sure I had the inevitable diagnostic laptop shipped with the car, and god knows how much that adds to it.
Having a car that's generally available in your country is a real boon in terms of the support infrastructure needed to keep it on the road as a daily driver.
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