It means they don’t have to innovate. Heck they have gone backwards from 2016-2020 and 2024 now as regulations eased so no incentive to innovate to make short term gains and metrics. Talk to people outside the USA and they will say US cars might as well be forgotten.

---

There might be no fully free market capitalism as envisioned by Adam Smith but the economic philosophy of the USA is much closer to that original essence than China ever will be. Why you bother trying to hold a country that literally rebuilt itself on rampant censorship to the same standards as a country who touts itself as the world's shining beacon of freedom is beyond me. It's apples to oranges. Western countries literally carved China into spheres of influence during the imperialist era and even if the USA wasn't directly involved in pillaging China specifically, their alliance with European countries meant that they also reaped the benefits of forcing China to open its borders. The Western hemisphere spent centuries pillaging, razing and bullying the remainder of the world, I'm sorry if I feel 0 empathy that for once a country wouldn't let them have free reign over their consumers without also demanding some benefits in return. Your argument in favor of protectionism due to IP theft might have some merit if the USA didn't have also a history of employing the same tactics against Japan automakers when Toyota and co were first gaining a foothold. The USA doesn't like foreign competition, period. China's IP theft is only the cherry on top. As I said before, I am against IP theft in a perfect, meritocratic world. But this world is far from that and I quite frankly find it ironic to when the world's historical bully gets its shit stolen for once. And before you said anything, I'm American.

---

I think that argument is hugely overblown. The lithium in batteries can be recovered to 90-95% through new recycling practices. Lithium is abundant in solid form in the ground and in liquid form from wells in California, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The oil companies are clinging to disinformation while the walls crumble around them. GM and Ford will lose their global markets and be left with only the USA. The rest of the world zooms past us. Pure electric vehicles are far more efficient and have about 70% fewer moving parts, meaning low maintenance.

---

Yes, protectionism is rampant in China but that's not nearly as hypocritical considering they don't fully subscribe to capitalism like the Western world does. You can't build your economy on capitalism and a supposed "free market" where competition is seen as beneficial for both consumers and innovation and then clamp down when said competition isn't coming from inside the house. I don't understand the point of your second paragraph. The Western world quite literally forced China to open its borders to them and crippled their monarchy. The USA views every other country through the lens of either 1. pillaging their resources or 2. market of consumers to sell goods to and make money off of. I certainly don't support IP theft but I think it's extremely hypocritical and short sighted for Westerners to bring up the quid pro quo business arrangements China made with American businesses before letting them do business in the country.

---

Yes and no. Tldr: American automakers have to put an effort to compete and catch up during the time when protectionism exists. Germany is doing the same thing. I can explain it in the case of South Korea protectionism. They had extremely high tariffs for most foreign goods. They spent decades to catch up to Japanese companies and they even copied Japanese international marketing strategy from the 90-2000s. Now China is doing the same... But obviously countries are scared and trying to limit their influence. 20 years ago I remember a dealership in Seoul was selling imported vehicles 1.5-2.5x the cost of American sticker price. It wasn't even just cars too. My aunt would buy electronics in the USA and bring them to South Korea cause it was way cheaper than purchasing it in South Korea. Even LG and Samsung products... Now... South Korea has lessened the tariff burden of imports but they are a country that used protectism policy to ensure that Korean manufacturers had some level of financial security. Even as a Korean american I wouldn't buy a Korean car 2 decades ago. Korea focused on developing reliable cars and their flagship cars were the sonata, elantra and Santa Cruz. Their marketing scheme was similar to the Japanese focusing on reliabliablity (10 year warranty) with newer electronic features being standard on lower models. Next was improving fuel efficiency. This is how Hyundai and Kia got to what they are today. Hyundai is now trying to enter the ev market and improve their luxury brand. Present gm and Ford are kind of stuck in the mud now. They are just constantly behind and are just planning enough to reach annual goals. They don't have the capital to make decisive and risky decisions looking 4-5 years ahead. After they got bailed out I remember gm and Ford focused on their flagship cars and discontinued unprofitable cars and brands. They also focused on reliabliablity. Then they invested into fuel efficiency but right when this happened Tesla exploded and now we have the EV craze. Every automobile company is scared of Chinese EV. The margins and logistics Chinese auto manufacturers have developed is next level.

---

Yes. That's why I only get my phone made in the USA

---

For example, all the environmental issues in the USA from companies that wanted to maximize profits over people's wellbeing?

---

>USA PUSHES FOR 50% STEEL TARIFFS AMONG G20 PARTNERS ah, yes, more tariffs, because that's exactly what this situation needs. lol, clown stuff

---

indeed. and the fundamental lesson to be learned is to never ever bet against the growth and success of the USA. bers are scavengers and while they might eat once or twice a month, the bulls and the visionaries and the innovators feast year over year since the beginning of time

---

DIESEL SHORTAGES AND MOTOR SHORTAGES ARE ONLY IN THE TRUMP ECONOMY USA USA USA

---