[Newsbot]

Title: GM Canada supports potential tariffs on Chinese EV imports amid market concerns
Category: Business
Posted By: DrCaleb
Date: 2024-08-06 19:53:24
Canadian

[DrCaleb]

Thats why you buy politicians early. When you can't compete on quality or price, have your budget minions ban the competitors.

[herbie]

But they'll hurt sales of the Hummer and Cadillac Lyriq. That's why they had to stop making the Chevy Bolt.

[DrCaleb]

They stopped the Bolt because they couldn't produce it at a competitive price. Trucks and SUVs don't have the crash protections and aren't subject to the same fees as cars and crossovers, so they have a higher profit margin. That's why 6/10 cars at a stop light are pickups.

But China has been a proper competitive market, where manufacturers had to compete on quality and price (even though they are heavily subsidized). So when those manufacturers come to NA via Mexico (yay NAFTA2!), even at 100% tarriff, they are going to crush GM, Stellantis,Tesla, and Ford in every respect because they have not had to really compete.

Why buy a faulty Tesla for $60k when a shiny new BYD can be had for $30k?

[herbie]

RAM filed a patent for a 3 row pickup.
Shows where their efforts are going, anything BUT competing with anyone.
Maybe NO Cdn tariff could be the 2x4 needed to hit the Big 3 in the head with

[DrCaleb]

I wanna see someone park it. 3 row pickup is called a 'van'.

I recall when the Japanese cars started rolling in. Me in my 75 Buick with 9 of my best friends, I laid eyes on a Toyota 'Five and Dime', and didn't think they would last. But they made all cars better with the added competition.

Now that the tiny Ford Ranger, that was influenced by the Toyota Hilux, is bigger than my 09 F150, it's time someone else stirred up the market.

If BYD is going to make a $20k EV in Mexico, more power to them. I for one can't afford the $120k for an F150 anymore. Let RAM build a 30 foot 11' high monstrosity. Good luck putting that in a garage anywhere.

[herbie]

I owned a Kei truck for years. An absolute miss for N America to buzz around town in small utilitarian vehicles with good ga mileage and less pollution & CO2.
The thing had a box bigger than the F250 we had and as I hauled mainly lightweight raio parts, I could crawl up mountintops with a full load easily.
Went to a Kei dealer in New West once an almost bought a van model for the wife. They had some issues, small gas tanks, at highway speeds power and gas mileage wasn't good and parts hard to get. Once reminding a coworker to put on his seatbelt, told him You ARE the crumple Zone.
But around town, the thing was superb.
Now that is what EVs should've begun as, small 2nd car replacements like our Austin Minis Hillman Minxs and Datsun 510s our Moms owned and filled our High school parking lots.

[DrCaleb]

Smallest car I owned was a Suzuki Sidekick. Soft top, 4WD. Peppy little 4 banger.

Rolled down the Forestry Road into Ram Falls with a few jeeps, and except for one big burm, I went everywhere they did. Even through a spring river.

[herbie]

Suzuki Chevy Pontiac Geo Asuna those cars were everywhere. Then, pop! They're gone. Nothing to replace that segment.
Like the old Jeep Cherokee, stopped making them in 2004 after selling four million.
Why?
Just can't figure out Big 3 thinking....

[DrCaleb]

herbie herbie:

Suzuki Chevy Pontiac Geo Asuna those cars were everywhere.

All built by Suzuki. Remember that 2 door model based on that chassis? Always wondered how they were. I suppose they were like most models, discontinued because they weren't profitable enough. SUVs and pickups are king. You can't buy a luxury car anymore. There are a few Caddies but they are mostly a performance sedan.

Like the Ford Ranger was pretty much a Mazda B2200 with a body kit. Now the Ranger is what regular pickups were 20 years ago, and everything else starts at $100k is designed to last 6 years and costs $5k a year to maintain.

And they wonder why everyone wants a BYD. 20k and you never service it for 10 years and your fuel comes from the sun.

[herbie]

If there WAS a Canadian EV I'd consider supporting tariffs.
As a goddam extreme leftist subversive I say Fuck that Noise, let
'em in and FORCE the Big 3 to compete.
Like they haven't done in 60 years with the Chicken Tax.

Just watched a video of the upcoming Maverick, up another $2500 on the base and a new hybrid 4wd coming. The presenter was moaning they can "only" tow 4,000 lbs, they should've upped it to 5.000....
Like HTG not just the execs dumb, the influencers and retailers are just as stupid. You're coming to buy a small truck, not one to seat 9 people and haul a 30 ft travel trailer.
Like the dummies still moaning you can't load up your kids, all your stuff, tie Granma on the roof and drive a BEV from Chicago to WallyWorld on single charge.

[DrCaleb]

The only car that could ever do that was the Buick Roadmaster. Still on my bucketlist. They don't build them like that any more.

[herbie]

Dad had a Polara wagon, one of the first cars I learned to drive in.
Damn thing was so long it yawed like a boat, was scary to drive at 70mph on the freeway. That 1967 power steering with only the vaguest sense of any road feel, 2 tons on drum brakes that took a block to stop from 30mph with all wheels locked and screaming,,,
The fun car was the Renault 10 I drove all thru college, have truck was a Dodge D50 4v4 from when I was married until the 2nd kid. My son cried at 4 yrs old, 'why did you have to have HER, I'd rather have our little blue truck back'.

[DrCaleb]

I forgot Roadmasters came in a wagon too. You could stack people up like cord wood in the back. I was thinking of more the Mercury Town and Country with the faux wood panelling. Pretty much the same as my 75 Buick, but wider.

[herbie]

1975
Malaise era, the worst of American cars. Worst car I ever had to drive was a 1975 Impala. Handled like shit, gutless as shit, brakes were shit, Sluge-o-matic tranny. Rear window was fogged over all the time in Vancouver weather. Gaps everywhere in body panels.
Went to a 1979 O24 that was almost as bad, paint blistered hood rusted through in 18 mos, Dodge de-EFI'd the VW licensed engine and it stalled if you made a hard turn..
not a good time for USA makers.

They've had 50 years to learn from mistakes and haven't. Protectionism sure isn't the answer.