This is why Chinese EVs will never cost $10,000 in the US

Chinese EVs are some of the most popular vehicles in the world, and it’s not hard to see why, but there’s a huge debate around their price.

In China itself, the cars are known to be a fraction of the price of those in the US, but it isn’t for one sole reason.

As you can imagine, shipping costs and parts come into play, but that’s not the whole story.

Due to rules varying from country to country, it isn’t as easy as snapping up a Chinese EV for just $10,000 from the shop floor in the US.

VISIT SBX CARS – View live supercar auctions powered by Supercar Blondie

Chinese EVs carry super cheap price tags

Over in China, the country is ahead of the electric car game in more ways than one, but when it comes to paying thousands of dollars for a car, the country has solutions.

Vehicles, including the BYD Seagull, are reportedly on sale for under $10,000, but just how is this possible?

Well, the US has different rules when it comes to safety and road rules, so vehicles compliant in China may not be suitable for all American roads.

For example, in previous reports, the BYD Seagull was said to need lots of modifications to make it road-ready and raring to go, which could result in prices rising by a couple of thousand dollars alone, according to Caresoft President Terry Woychowski and AP.

Plus, when it comes to actually selling the cars, new dealerships, staff, and strategies would also need to be thought up, resulting in huge costs and a whole lot of planning.

BYD has also reportedly received billions of dollars in government handouts to help with various EV elements, something which is not widely available in the US.

Why the US will never see one of the EVs on sale for as little as $10,000

There are, of course, a variety of reasons, but we’ve broken down some of the main ones for you below.

Firstly, tariffs have been put into play in the US, affecting parts too, alongside vehicles as a whole.

If a vehicle such as the BYD Seagull were to be imported, a huge tariff would reportedly be added on as it was manufactured in China, doubling the price compared to other countries.

Now, these vehicles are obviously made cheaply in the country, but getting them from the factory to the US shop floor would be a whole different ball game.

We all get infuriated when ordering items online, like clothes with a shipping cost attached, so just imagine the extra damage to your bank account when whole shipments of cars are concerned.

Finally, Chinese EVs often suit a different market entirely. The US favors sprawling SUVs rather than tiny sedans. The Seagull itself only has 300km of range and is just over 62 inches high.

So, there you have it, whilst the idea of having a $10,00 Chinese EV on your drive sounds like the dream, it is simply not possible.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie