AutoPacific: Younger Buyers More Willing to Look At Chinese Brands
The U.S. is set to implement harsh tariffs on Chinese vehicles, and many lawmakers have expressed grave privacy concerns, but those issues haven’t squashed younger buyers’ curiosity. AutoPacific’s recent study found that 35 percent of respondents between 18 and 80 years old said they would consider a Chinese car, and a whopping 76 percent of people under 40 responded that way.
AutoPacific president and chief analyst Ed Kim said, “Social media has simply made the world a lot smaller. It is extremely easy for anyone to see what’s happening in other parts of the world, to see what products are available in other parts of the world.” Chinese cars aren’t currently sold here, but they’re creeping on our borders. BYD will build a factory in Mexico to build its new hybrid pickup, and brands like Volvo and Lotus are owned by Chinese giant Geely.
Even with that positive survey response, potential buyers are still worried about privacy. Around half of them said that they would be concerned if Chinese vehicles came here, and 34 percent said they would be “somewhat concerned.” Across the board, 70 percent of people said they’d have some concerns.
People said that they would be more likely to purchase if the Chinese vehicles were built in the U.S., with 16 percent saying they’d be more willing to look at one. Kim attributed this to buyers’ view that domestic manufacturing makes the cars more American, making a contribution to the economy and paying workers.
[Image: Shutterstock]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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As a kid, it was Germany, then Japan, then Korea, now China.
Italy was and still is, the maker of needy mistresses.
For better or worse, younger folk do not have an internalized understanding of history. My father's generation, who fought in WWII, would not by Japanese cars, but he did not try to stop me from buying a German car for my first vehicle purchase.
For the first time in a generation, China is no longer the #1 exporter to the US. Our dependence on China reduces with every battery, EV and solar panel factory that is built -- over $200B in the last two years alone.
All because of a certain bill called the Inflation Reduction Act. And all because of the man who pushed it through Congress.
While we discuss Chinese cars, Chinese politics, and Chinese global desires, I'm looking at TTAC and Google display advertising for Chinese tires.
They have nukes aimed at us but their money and products are acceptable to consumers and business?