What Happened To the Chinese Automakers Wanting a Piece of the U.S. Market?

American automakers can usually count on selling just below 3 million vehicle sales in China every year. While that figure includes the caveat that the Chinese Communist Party requires foreign manufacturers to partner up with established local companies, it remains substantially larger than the number of cars Chinese brands manage to move in the United States per annum — which is effectively zero.

From BYD to Zoyte, just about every large Chinese manufacturer has issued a deluge of promises about breaking into our market over the last decade — including most of the names we’ll be mentioning below. Consider this sort of the “Where Are They Now?” of evergreen automotive content about regional disparities. Because very little has moved in regard to China’s involvement with the North American auto market and the current geopolitical climate doesn’t make us think that’s likely to change anytime soon.

But it hasn’t been for a lack of trying.

Read more
  • FreedMike I guess there's no Rivian love for Mitsubishi Mirage owners. Darn.
  • MaintenanceCosts I already have one EV but lower prices might make me a bit more likely to replace our other car with another one.
  • FreedMike I'd take one of these with fewer miles, or the last-gen V90 (NO Cross Country frippery, thanks), which was a lovely car.
  • 3-On-The-Tree I had a 69 Thunderbird with a 429 and it did the same thing.
  • Lou_BC No. An EV would have to replace my primary vehicle. That means it has to be able to do everything my current vehicle does.