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A Reddit forum discussion titled “Now I get why the US will never let China sell cars here: they’re actually good cars” shows that after experiencing a Chinese-made EV, a Tesla owner is ready to switch teams.
I’m in Costa Rica for a month and have been using Uber to get around. A lot of cars here are Chinese, and I’ve ridden in several EVs. I own 2 Teslas and realize now Tesla’s quality issues aren’t just due to cost-cutting and cutting corners: they have everything to do with how terrible Tesla is at manufacturing and how good China is at it. Their quality is on par with Toyota and higher-end GM vehicles. ‒Rude-Future-7967
The OP elaborates on his opinion with his observations about why he prefers EVs made in China over his Tesla models.
“The EVs I rode in all had between 40-60k miles, drive on terrible, unmaintained roads all day and had no rattles, no misaligned interior panels and had pleasing designs: all things Tesla just can’t do right.
My 2022 Model 3, with 20k miles driven on far smoother roads, rattles everywhere. The Chinese cars all have better suspensions and have real buttons for climate control, gear shifts, etc.”
Related article: I own a Model 3 2024 ( purchased in September 2024 ). I have a few concerns regarding the exterior paint work on this.
And shares what many analysts have already said about the Chinese EV import block.
Now I understand how s**t-scared US manufacturers are of China and why they keep warning us Chinese cars will end our auto industry: their products are built better and are inexpensive. Once they sell $25k Model Y competitors on US soil it’s game over.”
And US automakers should be worried.
In a July 2025 issue of The Economist, an article titled “China’s smartphone champion has triumphed where Apple failed,” subtitled “Having conquered car-making, Xiaomi now has its sights set on world domination,” the story points to some predictors of success that extend not just from smartphones but to EVs as well.
“Ever since he co-founded Xiaomi in 2010, Lei Jun, the chief executive of the Chinese tech giant, has pulled off feat after feat of salesmanship. A decade ago, he earned a Guinness World Record for selling 2.1 million smartphones online in 24 hours. These days, though, he is not just flogging cheap phones. Last month Xiaomi sold more than 200,000 of its first electric SUV, the YU7, within three minutes of bringing it onto the market.” ‒The Economist July 2025
The Economist article expands further with this, noting that:
With the successful release of the YU7 (its second electric vehicle (EV) after the SU7, a sporty sedan launched in March last year) Xiaomi has pulled off a feat that eluded Apple, which ditched plans to make its own EV after burning billions of dollars on the effort over a decade. Xiaomi, which announced its car-making ambitions in 2021, has put more than 300,000 of its EVs on Chinese roads over the past 15 months, and has a backlog of orders that will take more than a year to fill.”
Why the US Is Blocking Chinese EV Imports
There are multiple reasons for blocking Chinese EV imports, a few of which include:
- Concerns about unfair competitive practices, in particular, massive Chinese state subsidies and overcapacity allow Chinese EVs to be sold at artificially low prices.
- Government industrial policy aimed at protecting US auto jobs and nurturing a domestic EV supply chain.
- National security concerns around connected-vehicle software, potential data collection, and “smartphone‑on‑wheels” vulnerabilities.
However, some experts argue that blocking Chinese EV imports is contrary to the primary EV end-goal of broader EV adoption in the US, focused on cleaner transportation to meet climate goals.
A moot point today in the US―in case you have been living under a rock this past year.
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Despite these political obstacles, EV owners from around the world share the OP’s observations in Costa Rica and also recommend Chinese EVs.
I’ve been driving a BYD EV in Australia for two and a half years, and it’s been largely flawless. It’s as good as any Toyota I’ve ever owned. The US doesn’t seem to understand. They think Chinese cars are crap, but actually, US-made cars are pretty crap. It’s just politics stopping them from affordable EVs. We’ll have access to US$20,000 affordable EVs by the end of this year in Australia. ‒Suntzu_AU
I have owned 2 Chinese cars when living in the UAE (United Arab Emirates), one was a daily work car, which I had for 8 years no repair bills, just regular tires and oil. The other car is an upscale SUV, with all the equipment for the top model, including self-driving. Paid $25K US, wanted to bring it back to the US, but could not import. Great cars.” ‒LopSidedPosition489
Thread Responses Show Many Believe China is the New Japan
The thread theme from the forum discussion points to the flaws of US manufacturing as one reason why (when it comes to EVs) Made-in-China is better than Made-in-USA.
It’s the 1980s all over again when Japanese cars took over the US market.
US manufacturers never learned their lesson and continue instead to spend $ on lobbying efforts and just modifying legacy engine blocks…just like Boeing limping along with their 737 rather than investing for the future.” ‒SK10504
Related article: All Cars Built In Japan Are Safe To Buy, And They’re Reliable Long Term…Well, That Used To Be The Case, But Not Anymore, Admits Mechanic From Japan
As Akihito Toyota said when asked why he makes better cars, “When a new regulation is proposed, I hire 50 engineers, and GM hires 50 lawyers” ‒itasofd
When the whole world uses you as their manufacturer, you get good at building things. ‒Sir-Kyle-of-Reddit
An interesting thread comment from this post points out that it’s not just manufacturing to blame, but that this is also rooted in a modern day sociological phenomenon with today’s young adults:
“Ask anyone who is cheering on Trump’s tariffs if they want one of those manufacturing jobs. Ask current manufacturers in the US how much they struggle to fill open positions. Americans do not want to work in “dead-end” manufacturing jobs, and it’s never been truer than in the current crop of young workers. A Gen-Z will happily drive Uber/DoorDash and side hustle to make ends meet before they’ll go spend 8 hours a day in a factory doing the same task over and over for a steady paycheck, and I don’t blame them.” ‒moneygrowsontrees
What Do You Think? Do you believe that Chinese EV imports should be allowed, or are US automakers and their lobbyists too scared to risk the competition? Would you buy a Chinese EV today if they were available in the US? What about the Gen-Z adults? Do they need an attitude adjustment, or is this what US manufacturing (and poor parenting) brought upon itself?
We would like to hear from you in the comments section below.
For additional recent articles related to Tesla, here are two for your consideration titled “Elon Musk Fired My Wife…” and “While Driving My Cyberbeast, I Gave My First Thumbs Down To A Model 3 Owner.”
Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and restores older vehicles, often incorporating engine modifications for improved performance. He also covers modern cars—including EVs—with a focus on DIY mechanics, tool use and selection, and other topics related to automotive repair. Follow Tim on Twitter (@TimBoyerWrites) and Facebook for daily updates and insights on new and used cars and trucks.
Image Source: Deposit Photos
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Source: torquenews.com
