The U.S. has used tariffs and security rules to keep Chinese cars off dealer lots. Alphabet’s robotaxi company appears to be buying them by the boatload.
  • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
    21 days

    Article is paywalled but the reason Google can get away with it is because they’re getting them shipped without any connectivity.

    • blargh513@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      21 days

      Self driving cars

      Shipped without connectivity

      Weird

      Also, can I buy a new car without telemetry? I guess I know the answer to that already.

    • benny@reddthat.comEnglish
      21 days

      Why don’t Chinese manufacturers do the same? Sell cars without connectivity, make updates or whatever available on a website.

      • jerakor@startrek.websiteEnglish
        20 days

        It is hardware. The embargo is on the connectivity silicon used in China because it is full of Chinese backdoors. Unlike the chips made elsewhere that have US backdoors

      • boonhet@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        20 days

        Why would China want you to have a car that doesn’t send data back?

        I mean neither would any other manufacturer, but with China you just know the government probably requires all that surveillance tech be added. Like voice control microphones on the OUTSIDE of some new Chinese cars. Why else would you have that?

    • majster@lemmy.zipEnglish
      21 days

      So Chinese automakers cannot import because they rather stay out of market than turn off connectivity?

  • melsaskca@lemmy.caEnglish
    21 days

    So cheap cars are out there and the corporations are grabbing them all up before the citizens. Now that capitalism is in it’s last death throes they need to amass even more power and control before it all explodes and comes crashing down.

  • MrSulu@lemmy.mlEnglish
    21 days

    Can Americans buy 2nd hand Chinese EVs or will these then become recycling nightmares as a giant outfit cuts every possible corner in a very loosly regulated area?

    • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
      21 days

      You can import them after they’re 25 years old but good luck getting parts or repairing them.

        • artyom@piefed.socialEnglish
          20 days

          I mean I don’t think 25 year old Chinese EVs exist. This would be a hypothetical future.

  • eicker@lemmy.worldEnglish
    20 days

    Unpopular opinion: Google’s approach actually makes sense here. The value isn’t the rolling metal box, it’s the autonomous driving stack. If Zeekr can build a high quality EV platform more cheaply, why reinvent it? Buy the best chassis, replace the electronics you don’t trust, and focus engineering effort where your competitive advantage actually is.

    • driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.brEnglish
      20 days

      I don’t think anyone is thinking Google is in doing the wrong decision. The problem is that Google, and other corporations, work with a set of rules different to normal, not corporate entities, don’t. Like they can bought the most competitive cars on the global markets, while regular Americans are stuck to whatever Ford and GM want to sell them.

      • eicker@lemmy.worldEnglish
        20 days

        Google isn’t getting special treatment here because it’s Google: Waymo isn’t importing finished consumer cars, it’s importing a vehicle platform, removing the original electronics, and integrating its own autonomous system. That’s much closer to sourcing components than selling Chinese EVs directly to the public, so it’s not really an apples to apples comparison.

  • TIEPilot@lemmy.worldEnglish
    21 days

    Rolling spy machines… No worries in 2027 its coming to American cars.

      • TIEPilot@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21 days

        US technology isn’t also spying on everyone

        Uh thats what I said…

        All you know of China is red scare propaganda you’re stupid enough to fall for

        Nope seen enough videos of people not able to get out of their BYD and burning to death to know I don’t want them.

        I don’t shill for the ccp like you.

          • TIEPilot@lemmy.worldEnglish
            21 days

            Let me indulge in watching china/ccp fall. Biggest employer is food delivery and they make shit construction. Belt and roads is being rebuffed by anyone that can’t be bribed or black mailed into a bad deal. Oh and tell me about that dam that just failed, or is it a couple of them?

            How many factories have been torched this week by disgruntled workers? 3 gorges dam is also nearing failure, let me guess only 29 lives will be lost. Those that know 30 deaths kick off the ccp. Mass flooding and you want to try to shit on America, lol.

            Also Taiwan #1

              • TIEPilot@lemmy.worldEnglish
                21 days

                lol I nothing you. ccp is shit and you know it. Digging into my posts only tells me how desperate you are to justify your position.

                Again Taiwan #1

    • Passerby6497@lemmy.worldEnglish
      21 days

      Could you imagine being spied on in your own car?? Good thing my car from 2016 with OnStar totally isn’t spying on me!!1!

      • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
        20 days

        Good thing my neighbors Tesla cameras aren’t recording my whole neighborhood 24/7!

    • TheFogan@programming.devEnglish
      21 days

      Well yes, but it’s America so, why not build the spy machines into something that pays the oil industry more.