Massachusetts man reveals how driving cheap Chinese cars helped him finally understand why they’re illegal in the US
Published on Mar 17, 2026 at 3:34 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Mar 27, 2026 at 5:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A YouTuber from Massachusetts drove a bunch of different Chinese cars, including a lot of BYD vehicles, and he’s finally found the answer to a question everyone’s asking.
The thing is, many of these vehicles are either banned completely in the US or are so heavily burdened by tariffs that it makes no financial sense to buy them.
What they all have in common is that you can’t go out and buy one from a dealer.
And this YouTuber may have found an explanation for that.
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This is why so many Chinese automakers are conquering the market
Modern cars heavily rely on software
This is why so many ‘legacy’ automakers are struggling to keep up.
They’re great at building engines and designing cars, but they’re not tech companies, which they also need to be.
As a result, they’re now being forced to completely rethink their manufacturing processes to include more tech, and that takes time and money.
By contrast, most Chinese automakers started from scratch, which explains how they were able to adapt quickly and easily.
That’s also why so many tech companies, from Huawei to Xiaomi, are now making cars.
YouTuber’s theory on why these Chinese cars are banned
Massachusetts-based YouTuber Rich Benoit – he goes by Rich Rebuilds on his channel – traveled all the way to Alaska to test a few different Chinese vehicles.
He tested the BYD Yangwang U8, the SUV that can famously float and do tank turns, and a hybrid sedan that looks like a Taycan but only costs $45,700.
According to Benoit, the one thing all these Chinese cars have in common is that they all look and feel more expensive than they actually are.
Officially – if we wanted to use that word – these cars aren’t available in the US for reasons that we could describe as ‘political’.
Tariffs, security concerns over privacy and software, and so on and so forth.
But, in his opinion, it may also be because they could potentially disrupt the market.
Which is also a big reason not to have them on sale in the US…
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
